School Advice - Nyon Area

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
Hi, this is my first post and i hope it is in correct place..

My family will be moving to Geneva area in summer time from Scotland as my husband has a new job. I have 2 boys age 11 and 8 and priority for me just now is to get an idea on a good school before we find somewhere to live.

My preference is a village outside Geneva but not too far from airport with a local school although my husbands company will pay for private education.

Can anyone advise

Thanks

2
Welcome ..

There are a zillion threads on the pros and cons or private vs standard schools.. I'd have a read through them. We use the standard school in a small village near Nyon and really like it. Good school and good mix of people.

We consider ourselves to be here for the long term though so prefered that stability of long term friendships for the kids.

But there are loads of private schools around the area and loads of villages too, and some Glasgow people!

Enjoy .. Sure somebody will be along soon with some specific school knowledge.

3
If you plan to stay long or short term is important. The 11 year old might be difficult to put in local schools, due to the streaming that takes place at that age. If no french, he will be at a significant disadvantage at a critical time in the school determination phase. Most local schools in the area do not vary too much, so you will be facing the same type of school, same curricula, etc..

There a many options for private schooling in the area, including bilingual, depends on what you are looking for in terms of language, degree, curriculum... etc.. Nearly everthing exists. A good place to start research on private schools is http://www.avdep.ch/default.cfm?lng=2 for Vaud, and http://www.agep.ch/eng/ for Geneva.

4
Thanks for your replies.

I like idea of village as feel it would help the children settle if they could meet others.

I like to think of it as long term too. I understand it might be harder with 11 year old but won't worry about maybe keeping him back a year. Not sure if this would be possible.

5
Yup staying back is possible for sure (local school), i know people who have done it by choice.. Or the school can decide it.

Have you been here to look around? Or staying in some temp accommodation while you find a place?

6
Keeping him back a year will almost be a given with no French. The bigger issue I was trying to tell you is the streaming issue, which means he will be in the lowest stream, training in the trades like apprenticeship, not going to university.

7
Thanks for advice. Have researched further and def looks as though international school will be better particularly for my eldest.

Now to visit some of them!

8
Hi Glasgow1,

Welcome!

I was in Switzerland with my family when I was 9. I didn't speak French at all and I was in a "classe d'accueil" in the beginning (I had extra hours of French class but I follow the normal class for math, and other fun classes). After (almost) a year the teacher saw my progress and I was soon integrated in a normal class with the local kids.

I think kids at that age learn language super fast so there is nothing to be worried about. Back then I was so motivated to learn French cuz I couldn't even play with my classmates during ours breaks haha !

I don't get the streaming issue though, I'm doing a PhD in Engineering now...

Good luck!