Any Awty moms on? (Houston, Van: home, transferring to, middle school)

[VanCamps]

What are the chances of DC entering Awty's French section (mid-primary) and then transferring to Awty's international section for middle school? DC born in Houston - but has been in French school in France since maternelle. DC currently in an aefe bilingual school in London.

[fnh]

I would say pretty good actually. A few years ago it was easy to switch from FBS to Int'l even in Primary but it has gotten much more difficult due to 1) full enrollment in the Int'l section and 2) the more rapid pace of the Int'l section curriculum in Primary. I understand students are now tested to prove readiness to transfer into the Int'l section even when transferring from FBS at the same grade at school, but that may apply only for Primary transfers. Middle School has historically been a popular time to transition FBS to Int'l. (The reverse almost never happens, for obvious reasons.)

In the last year or so the Proviseur has approved a new policy in Middle School whereby FBS students have the option of taking certain core courses in FBS (French) or through the Int'l Section (English). I don't have a middle schooler yet, my FBS child is in CE1, but other FBS parents of middle schoolers that I know are thrilled with this option. I think it has helped retain students in the FBS who otherwise might have switched. As Americans we would love for our FBS child to continue in the FBS and perhaps do the French Bac with the OIB. But, Awty Upper School is very challenging, Int'l or FBS, and I'm not sure either of our children will be cut out for it. Having been at Awty from PK3 does NOT guarantee a spot in Upper School so I guess we'll see when we get there.

For reference:
http://www.awty.org/uploaded/news_an...le_1213_FR.pdf
http://www.awty.org/uploaded/news_an...ofile_1213.pdf

[VanCamps]

Thanks for the information, fnh!

If I understand you correctly, the good news is that French Section Middle School students may take some courses in English (though, I thought this was always the case as the French Section is advertised as Fr/Eng bilingual). And the bad news that I was not expecting to hear is that Awty Middle School students do not have a right to automatically matriculate to the Upper School. Wow. I guess another application and testing is required?

Even at the Lycee in London (which is massively oversubscribed), all lower school students at aefe schools in London have a right to attend the Lycee at the end of primary school (or college).

[fnh]

I should clarify that your middle schooler is first in line for Upper School and need not go through competitive admissions, but not every child is deemed likely to succeed at the IB or French Bac. Some students are quietly asked to leave after 8th, some are offered a first year spot in US on a provisional basis. This is not common but it happens, and it is really best for the child too. The IB/Bac is not for everyone. Either way, Middle School at Awty would be terrific prep for it.

Awty's 100% pass rate is partially by design, ha ha.

[fnh]

Originally Posted by VanCamps

Thanks for the information, fnh!

If I understand you correctly, the good news is that French Section Middle School students may take some courses in English (though, I thought this was always the case as the French Section is advertised as Fr/Eng bilingual). And the bad news that I was not expecting to hear is that Awty Middle School students do not have a right to automatically matriculate to the Upper School. Wow. I guess another application and testing is required?

Even at the Lycee in London (which is massively oversubscribed), all lower school students at aefe schools in London have a right to attend the Lycee at the end of primary school (or college).

I neglected to point out that FBS is bilingual in that secondary courses (e.g. art, computer, Phys Ed) are taught in English. Primary subjects are taught exclusively in French. The option to take core courses in English beginning at MS is a big change.

[VanCamps]

Thanks, again fnh.

Awty can be very difficult to figure-out from the outside. The website is less than stellar.

DC has two more years of primary after this year. So, we could actually delay our application to Awty FBS and apply for 6th grade admittance. To me, that would be less anxiety-filled than competing with hundreds for a slot in the international section. Hopefully, Awty will not change it's admission criteria to the FBS (which is very favorable for DC).

At DC's school in London. It's 1/2 week taught by aefe French teacher and 1/2 week taught by British certified teacher. Of course English is always taught by English teacher and vice versa for French. But the curriculum for math, history, science, music, art, geography, physEd and all other subjects are covered in both languages - by whichever teacher happens to be in the room on that day. So, a math homework sheet (for example) may come home in French or English, depending on which teacher handed out the assignment.

Glad that the FBS now allows choice of some core courses taught in English at sixth grade and above. Am more comfortable with DC learning history and geography in English, so I can supplement as needed. We do like math and science in French, though!

[fnh]

If I were you I would contact the Proviseur directly. I think you are fairly assured admission to the FBS at this time, coming directly from a Fr/Eng program, and you would be first in line for open slots in Int'l at MS in a couple of years if you choose. No competitive admissions, just a section transfer request. I predict it would be approved but even if the unlikely happens and your request is denied, you would still remain at Awty in FBS. The hardest part is simply getting in initially, and the FBS early years (Maternelle/CP) are hardest to get into.

Primary FBS students do have English L2 class every day and the students are grouped by level of fluency. My DC is with other native English/bilingual FBS students and therefore has high level English work. (Not just spelling and grammar but reading comprehension and analysis, writing, research papers, poetry, etc. at CE1.) FBS students with more limited English are taught separately with a much narrower focus on English proficiency.

Yes the website is very confusing, and it's a huge improvement over how it used to be. To be fair, the structure of the school is very unique and complicated, so the information is difficult to convey clearly.

[VanCamps]

... Just wanted to clarify my comment about the website. I'm specifically talking about the FBS pages which gives you no real sense of how the bilingual education is meted out. Just says 66% French and 34% English. If FBS primary allows only art, sport and computer classes to be taught in English, then that is not really a bilingual education.

[fnh]

Goodness, those are awfully precise percentages. I don't know why you would even bother to put that.

I was posting at the same time as you apparently, but I think I explained part of your comment!

[VanCamps]

Ha! We cross-posted! Yes. I'll contact the FBS admissions via the numbers on the website. Thanks!!