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Secondary education

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Original poster

French exchanges - do children in England still do these and how are they organised?

88 replies

Anna8888 · 03/07/2008 11:12

We were talking about this last night. Both of us remember from our youth that schools in England and France had long-standing agreements and sent children back and forth at the end of the summer term on a regular basis, with children attending school either end.

Does this still happen? If not, how do parents ensure their children learn French (and other languages) beyond what they acquire in the classroom?

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Original poster
Anna8888 · 03/07/2008 13:39

I'm thinking out loud IYSWIM - my elder stepson is quite advanced in English (since he hears so much at home) and has just done a course at the American School here where he was tested and put in the group of children a year older than him (he has just finished the second year of secondary school). So perhaps in terms of level of language he might be looking at an English boy slightly older than him? Is your DS very mature?

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frogs · 03/07/2008 13:40

Riding: check
Play instrument: check
Slightly impecunious but upfront about it: check
Well-behaved kids: check (mainly)
Mother has science PhD: check
Dh not a lawyer, though.

Sounds like it could work...

I'm not really thinking any fixed time, though summer 2009 sounds good. Or possibly before for a visit of other child here -- autumn or spring half term is often a good time for us, as I tend to take the kids to my mums where they can all go native in the woods, go to beach etc.

Original poster
Anna8888 · 03/07/2008 13:52

frogs - crikey, what a check-list

let me talk to them and then, if they are OK on principle, I'll put the two of you in touch so you can do your own negotiation

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snorkle · 03/07/2008 14:09

Yes he's finishing 3rd year of secondary school tomorrow! I hadn't appreciated you had 2 stepsons Anna. I think you will definitely find your sds1's language skills are very much ahead of your typical English child's. DS is very good at languages compared to his peers and does very well at school (generally as well as at languages) - but to be honest, the language work isn't very demanding here. When we had the French lad over from the school trip his English was still way, way better than ds's French (but they had many more hours of English tuition per week than we do French). Ds is physically mature for his age, his interests are music and swimming. He's learnt French, Spanish and Latin for the last 2 (3 for French) years and will take French and Latin to GCSE (next 2 years). I'm afraid Latin (the most useless of all) is his favorite!

snorkle · 03/07/2008 14:12

I ought to add we're a bit impecunious too (largely owing to extortionate school fees)!

Original poster
Anna8888 · 03/07/2008 14:27

My DSS1 has done English for five years I think - 3 years in primary school, two years in secondary school. Plus 4 weeks of British Council/American School summer tuition, plus quite a few trips to UK (inc a week all "on his own" to my parents' last summer ie I was there but not my DP or DSS2). He has done Latin for 1 year (and loves it) and will start Spanish next year. He will continue with English and Spanish until 18 ie baccalauréat. Not musical (did violin for 3 years but has given up), loves swimming and tennis. He is tall for his age (born 21/4/1995) but still pre-pubertal - has just got braces on his teeth and voice hasn't broken yet. Beginning to get interested in girls, we think, however .

Any good?

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Original poster
Anna8888 · 03/07/2008 14:31

Oh I should say - DSS1 very good academically .

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snorkle · 03/07/2008 15:22

Anna, I don't know! Ds is really quite huge and has had a deep growly voice for what seems like ages. That isn't necessarily a problem though, they are only 13 months apart in age and several of his friends are still tiny in any case (but I should warn you, if he's interested in girls he's closer in age to dd who will quite likely try to befriend him). It's just so hard to know what makes children click (or not), but ds is quite geeky. Would you be thinking of 2 or 3 weeks each way or what and would it be next summer or Easter (or one of each)? I could ask ds what he thinks about it if you like? If he's not enthusiastic then it's probably a non-starter. If you wanted to explore the idea further then maybe they (and us too) could e-mail each other a little.

Original poster
Anna8888 · 03/07/2008 17:24

Our totally ideal scenario would be for DSS1 to actually go to school (we realise this requires the other child's parent to negotiate and us to pay) in England for a couple of weeks, preferably during the French February holidays (two weeks from mid-Feb to beginning March - but of course don't know what the English holidays look like at that time).

Having said that, there are also the two weeks of Easter holiday (which start here on Good Friday) and of course summer. Would your DS want (feel brave enough?) to go to school in France (holidays permitting) or would he rather be on holiday with us (it will be with us, rather than at DSS1's mother's house, but we are a French-speaking household)?

Agree that getting the two of them emailing would be a very good idea, but let's try to imagine a workable scenario first...

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snorkle · 03/07/2008 18:01

We have a single weeks holiday from school 15th-22 Feb, but ds is already going to Barcelona with one of his orchestras for some of that, so I don't think it would work then. I'm not sure how amenable the school would be to having an extra along, but they may be OK.

I'm going to try and figure out how to register to send a CAT to you Anna - something I've been meaning to do but not yet got around to...

Original poster
Anna8888 · 03/07/2008 20:10

Me too, I must register (and pay) for CAT. Tomorrow, because children and DP around and needing attention

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Original poster
Anna8888 · 03/07/2008 21:10

frogs Spoke to my partner's cousin's wife this evening who would definitely like to follow up on opportunity with your DD. I will CAT you tomorrow

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frogs · 04/07/2008 08:48

Anna -- that's very kind of you! Will await your CAT.

But I should warn you that my French is pretty basic.

grassland · 04/07/2008 23:24

Just wondering how different schools organise exchanges, if at all. Our dcs go to a school that sets up exchanges but only a few of them can go and it's all done by lottery. Is the way it works everywhere else? Would be interested to know if this is typical?

WendyWeber · 04/07/2008 23:28

Our grammar school does French/German/Spanish exchanges in Y10/11 & anyone who wants to can go (if they pay c. £300 per exchange )

grassland · 04/07/2008 23:37

Is this because there are lots of places available or that not that many want to go? Our school is only offering a handful of places and double that number actually applied so there are quite a few disappointed kids. I feel a bit miffed as the school's been encouraging people to apply by stressing what a wonderful experience it could be, benefits etc etc but then ends telling half of them they've missed out.... Our dc was one of the unlucky ones - but you've probably guessed that

WendyWeber · 04/07/2008 23:47

Well I suppose it partly depends on the number of exchangees - our German trip had twice the number of the French trip, and there were more French girls than French boys who wanted to exchange so quite a few of the English boys had a French girl.

I wasn't aware of anybody missing out but maybe some did, I will ask DS2.

Look at the links earlier on this thread about DIY exchanges though, grassland - it's actually cheaper

snorkle · 05/07/2008 10:44

Thanks for your CAT Anna,I have replied, but ds wants to stay with the family he exchanged with last time again - apparently the lads have been discussing it already but not thought to mention it to me .

snorkle · 05/07/2008 11:02

grassland, I think there are limits on numbers for the exchanges at dc's school and places are offered on first come first served basis, but they take several weeks to fill up usually (if they do get completely full) so I don't think it's usual for anyone whose really keen to be disappointed. Can you ask the school if it's possible to expand the numbers? (Of course this is only possible if the exchange school can increase their numbers too)

Original poster
Anna8888 · 05/07/2008 21:32

Thanks for asking him snorkle

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grassland · 05/07/2008 21:39

Thanks everyone. I have asked the school why there are so few places and it's to do with the numbers coming from the exchange school. I think they might be running another one the following year so hope dc will get a chance then.

Brangelina · 05/07/2008 21:46

Oh, is it really possible for a non resident child to attend school in the UK for a short time? Or does it only apply to private schools?

I did wonder about this as my DD (OK, she's only 3, but I'm thinking ahead a bit) will have a whole bl*°dy 3 months of summer holidays when she goes to elementary school so I had thought wouldn't it be a wonderful thing for her to attend school in the UK with her cousins for the month before schools break up there. However I was told it wouldn't be possible as child has to register, be resident in the area bla-de-bla etc. etc. Is it possible after all? Has anyone ever done anything like this successfully?

Original poster
Anna8888 · 05/07/2008 21:49

Brangelina - think it might be very difficult in a state school. Some private schools have a regular thing going, taking on foreign students for short periods (but you pay £££££££).

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Brangelina · 05/07/2008 21:50

Oh I wouldn't mind paying, I'd be paying £££££ (or rather ?????) for summer activities here. How expensive would it be?

Brangelina · 05/07/2008 21:51

The ? was supposed to be euros.