International Schooling

[MarillionFan]

Generic question really for those who have moved abroad with families.

Who has put their kids into international schools? Are these preferable to local schools? Are they mostly English speaking, are they more popular in countries where they don't speak English? In particular does anyone have any insight into international schools in the US?

[NotAllThere]

Most people use international schools to give their kids an education in their own language and/or to get qualifications recognised in their home country.

Where I live there are three international schools locally. One is bilingual German/English. We put our kids into local school because it is 20'000CHF per kid per year cheaper (which pays for a LOT of tutoring, if needed), we've no plans to return to the UK, and it gets the children better integrated into Swiss society. Downside is that the criteria for university are much higher, with the result that children who don't get a matura from a Gymnasium, don't go to university. The gym matura is a requirement for UK universities as well. However, there are other routes to getting a degree and a masters, so it doesn't really matter.

[d000hg]

Most people use international schools to give their kids an education in their own language and/or to get qualifications recognised in their home country.

+1

If you're looking at the US then there are English schools there which do GCSEs, etc - the wife looked briefly into this. But they're far more common in foreign-speaking nations, especially ones lots of people move to for work (such as Dubai).

As NAT said, these are all going to be expensive private schools though.

[speling bee]

My half American nephews were born and educated in the American system. When they moved to the U.K. permanently at late primary stage, they had no problems with the transition.