January 31, 2008
With our eldest fast approaching school age (3 years old) we’ve been doing some research into international schooling options in Strasbourg. ‘International’ meaning bi- or multi-lingual schooling.
You only qualify for international schooling if your child’s ‘langue maternale’ (mother tongue) is something other than French, so the ream of schools offering bi-linguilism do so only to foreigners, immigrants and mixed-origin families; much to the chagrin of local all-French families, because it is reputed that international schooling is far better than regular state schooling.
Nonetheless this doesn’t stop countless competitive French parents from applying … hoping that their claims to bilingualism will be believed.
Fees and main teaching language are the other big questions. With regards to fees, rarely is it a matter of affordability, as private schools here cost approximately half that of those in the UK. The question is whether you want to pay at all. And as for main teaching language it usually comes down to mother tongue or French.
So here are our options in a nutshell:
- Strasbourg International School | up to €12,000 per year | main language: English
- Strasbourg European School (opening Sept 2008) | no fees | main language: English
- Bilingual International School of Strasbourg (BISS) at Lucie Berger | up to €6000 per year | main language: English
- Robert Schuman International School / Conseil de Quinze International School | no fees | main language: French
If your child’s mother tongue is German however - there are many, many more options.
When you compare our situation with that of our counterparts back in Britain - there are almost no parallels. Here we have real choice, not just over the school, but the type of school too. Here, we are automatically eligible for some of the best state schools in the country. Here, our children can benefit from multi-lingual teaching from age three.
Can anyone give me a better reason not to move back to the UK?
February 11th, 2008 at 10:30
The Playgroup at The Meinau
http://www.playgroup.fr/index.php
is great for English speaking pre-schoolers.
We sent our first boy there. Unfortunately we couldn’t send the second one due to job changes and consequent logistics reasons. Now, at 5, he definitely needs a lot more support from me with the Britspeak. If any extra-curricular English-speaking pre-school kids groups exist in Strasbourg, I’m interested. Tony
February 24th, 2008 at 11:09
FYI - if you haven’t heard yet - Strasbourg INternational School has gone bankrupt. As of now, it is closed. Much to the sadness and frustration of parents who have children attending! We are in the middle of looking for schools for our 10 and 13 year old Anglo Canadian kids. Lucie Berger is most likely where our youngest will go, but our older son has fewer choices.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:15
I had heard rumours of the closure. Was there an explanation given for the bankruptcy? Too few students? Wages too high? Building costs …?
March 24th, 2008 at 16:31
The reasons we got for the closure were that there were never enough students to make it work and that it had never made enough to cover all the costs.
May 21st, 2008 at 8:37
Has anyone heard about the opening of Schola Europaea in Strasbourg in Sept 2008?
Also, what are the options in Strasbourg for 6 and 10 year old native English speakers with no other language skills?
Thanks
May 21st, 2008 at 10:10
Yes William - that would be point 2 above. I’ve added a link that goes to the official SE website, unfortunately though this will offer you precisely no insight - as the SE Strasbourg is in a bit of a mix up at the moment.
I believe they are still finding teachers, pupils and space to get the school off of the ground.
Since the international school closed the only other option now is BISS at Lucy Berger.
If you want to talk to someone or sign-up to the SE - I believe this is the best place to start http://www.ac-strasbourg.fr which is effectively the educational clearing house for the region. Good luck!