Thanks again for all these replies. Interesting reading.

Yes, understand an appointment would be necessary. I wouldn't rock up anywhere unannounced let alone a school asking to be shown around. Child protection and all that. Thanks dmu for your very comprehensive reply. In honesty I've swung back and forth about BIS approach but have (until now) not found favourable reviews of French state schooling. It is really good to hear positive things, I'm happy to be challenged on this.

We don't want to create a 'English bubble' whilst living in France, frankly what would be the point? If that were the case, we would be better off buying a holiday home and spending our summers in an idyllic rural gite; eating croissants and sipping chardonnay. We absolutely want to integrate into French life but education is paramount - if the research stacks up we will absolutely consider a local French school. My husband will be relocating his business and will eventually recruit a local team - our intention is to make our move to France a permanent one.

Thanks Chatter Static - we have been going to Steiner playgroup and whilst there are many benefits I am not sure I'm wholly convinced on the methodology. Teaching the 'hand; heart; head' resonates massively though - hence my aversion to learning by rote. That said, the French language is very different to English and almost suits that approach though. Hmmmm. Decisions, decisions.

Anybody have any experience of Jeanne d'Arc in Pressac?

IME ecoles maternelles are great. I have nothing but good things to say about them. My children loved it. They are really creative and whilst there are things the kids have to learn there isn't anything approaching the learn by rote system. My only complaint was that the kids had an afternoon nap long after the age where they needed it and it was tricky to get them to sleep at night at what I considered a reasonable time.

My older children had a good primaire. Yes some learning by rote but not sure how you get around times tables. historical dates, spelling and grammar without it. It gave the kids a good solid grounding in grammar and maths that has stood them in good stead since our move stateside. Eldest is now a math/comp science major at university and still rates the discipline she learned through her french schooling as a major factor in her successful studies here.

Youngest had an awful primaire. Terrible directrice, horrible teachers. Nightmare - had we stayed she would have gone to the British section at a local college.

Halte garderie was great too. It was basically where my youngest learned to speak french since we were totally anglophone at home.

I know it seems a long way off (but it arrives horribly quickly believe me) but where do you think the kids will go to university? If you think/hope France then they really will be better off starting in the french system. Even if you decide elsewhere like the UK or another EU country then the French Bac will cover all bases. If the BIS doesn't do the french bac, does only IB or A Levels or AP (USA) then you'll need to look at the number of subjects they cover and the sort of results they get.


Think about a montessori school for before age 6 perhaps? There are usually quite a few around and they don't cost too much since the state pays towards the cost.

yeuch. This smacks of trolling.

Of course parents find a way out of the vaccines if they really want to. The attitude towards vaccines in France is very, very good generally anyway so the odd person opting out for medical reasons is not such a big deal.

Thanks so much Petitefrancaise. We discussed over lunch that we might opt for maternelle and then decide re International school at age 6.
Lots to think about. Thanks for all comments, a different spin on our forthcoming reccy!

you might want to take a look at this:
sia

Sorry, it's an evening of fits and starts as far as occurring thoughts are concerned.
The school holidays start this coming Wednesday midday, until the morning of Thursday 3rd November. Which means that only the Mairies will be able to give info if you're here on your reccy during this period.

Petitefrancaise -any idea how you can tell the good primaire from the not so good? I can't find any French equivalent to Ofsted (I know Ofsted is no guarantee, and at times questionable, but an indication at least). Our move will be guided almost entirely on school choice

Thanks have school viewing appointments confirmed for 3rd Nov. Hurrah.

Someone may be able to correct me but AFAIK, there are no publicly available measures to show how a primary school is doing.

Generally, pick a good area to live in and the schools will probably be good too. Private schools are also an option (again not so expensive as the UK since the state helps to pay for it) - these are usually religious ones - Catholic/Jewish/Muslim that may also accept local children who are not religious.

A good way to start if you have absolutely no idea is with the Brevet results of the local colleges. This the final exam for colleges and determines entry to Lycee programs (kind of). Since entry to schools is generally based on where you live, you will need to look at the geographic boundaries for the schools.
Here is a list of the colleges with the best Brevet results for Bordeaux in 2016.
Le classement des meilleurs collèges de l'académie Bordeaux

The primaire that my daughter attended that was dreadful was not due to the education standards, it was due to the attitude of the teachers which permeated the whole culture of the school. Initially I thought it was good that my small village school had almost no foreigners there but hindsight tells me that having a more culturally varied background amongst the kids would have probably meant a different teaching environment. I learned from that and used it when I searched for schools here in the USA. So, i think I'd be asking about how many non-french kids there are in each school.

btw I thought this was good.
http://americanmominbordeaux.blogspo...rience-of.html

I was looking for some schools that had either a British Section or American Section

College Alain Fournier and Lycee Francois Magendie are both French schools that have an american section. You could look around these areas for primaire?

There is also a private Catholic school that has a British section that starts in Primaire and goes through to Lycee. Assomption Sainte Clotilde - Bordeaux
That might be a really good place to take a look at?

Alain Fournier is about the best public college in the area according to that list of Brevet results with the private catholic college coming in soon after it. Definitely look in the area of those 2 schools.

I'm a bit cynical with the results of the private schools. The private schools rely on these results to get students through the door, they weed out weaker students early on and they are encouraged to leave. Yes, I have had friends have this happen to their kids... That catholic school though, well it's not the very best results (good in my eyes), it is international all the way through and has funding for it from the government.

As mentioned, if you want a State School (Maternelle or Primaire), the Mairie will allocate the ones nearest to your domicile. PF had an unfortunate experience, but hers is the only negative comment that I've ever heard against State Primaires. Derogations are apparently possible, but why decide to live in one Commune and choose a school in another, with all the practical (and administrative) complications that that entails?
For Collège/Lycée, there's more choice geographically, but the OP's got plenty of time to think about secondary education!

Are you a French or EU citizen? I am just wondering because of Brexit if you have considered your visa options for France or if this is already been taken care of. Just saying because I know a few EU citizens living in the UK now and they are worrying about being able to stay.

Independently of the question of schooling, and notwithstanding the unknown consequences of Brexit for UK citizens, the OP should consider another point mentioned briefly, namely the type of business structure that her OH will have to set up if physically working in France, and particularly employing personnel. If the info in the above "Read-Me Moving to France FAQs" isn't sufficient, maybe she should start another thread, and those in the know will be able to advise.

Mine is the only derogatory comment about primaires that you've heard???
Are you kidding??? Nothwithstanding the unhappy expats in France that start out in french schools near Toulouse then put their kids into the IST (fees ++ paid for by Airbus), where I live in Austin, I meet a lot of French parents who were unhappy with aspects of the french system, especially the primaire level. I guess though, that these are people who have seen different systems and are able to make a direct comparison? French education has some very good points but to say you've never heard a negative comment is frankly unbelievable.

I am also a VERY VERY firm believer in choosing where you live based on middle/high school. If you choose a lovely little village with a quaint school, get your kids settled in there and have them make friends, the LAST thing you will want to do is up sticks and move because the secondary school to which you are assigned is less than you'd wish. Derogations are few and far between and you must have a very good reason to ask for one. In my experience though, wanting to go to a college/lycee with a Euro or International section is a valid reason.

I was under the impression that the OP had not yet decided where they wanted to live and so I would highly encourage them to look at the college first and then choose a primaire based on catchment area for the college they'd like.

Also, in regards to having other international kids around, maybe you'd like to look into the research being done regarding Third Culture Kids? There's a good TED talk on it. Basically, they really, really need other kids like them around to feel part of a social group.

I've never heard of French people finding fault with their Primaires. Maybe as they've nothing to compare with (and I haven't either, as I've no experience with British Education apart from my own).
Not a bad idea to choose a highly-rated Collège and look to settle in a Commune included in its catchment area! (Provided that there's little risk of its rating having lowered in 7 years' time...)
All the best to the OP in their search!

Thanks dmu - I have evenings (weeks even) where thoughts occur in fits and starts! Yes, hubby has read the forum pages and luckily our accountant is heavily involved regarding the legalities, tax implications and new legislation we need to adhere to when migrating the business. We are maintaining a UK R&D centre and gifting the manager a share percentage so have that to factor in too. I'm sure he'll post here if we need to question anything.

I think I should perhaps rename the thread to 'Moving to Toulouse' as both husband and I are moving away from the BIS requirement but keen to explore English 31. Toulouse was my husband's first choice so he is happy about the u-turn. Whilst wiping the egg off my face, I'd like to thank all the people who have commented here and guided us. We will still visit Bordeaux schools and plan to spend a couple of days sight seeing there, but the bulk of our stay will now be in Toulouse.

Re: Brexit - yes, it is a little uncertain. Our hopes (hopefully not entirely unfounded) are that once living in France and contributing to the economy before Article 51 is issued then we stand a better chance of applying for residency. Brexit is pushing us to leave UK, we feel we want to be European (business wise; raising our children etc). Hope I wont start a debate on the Brexit topic!!