Not everyone benefits from the education allowance and so may struggle to find the most appropriate educational solution for their bilingual child. These programmes are for those who are native English speakers or who have English as a dual language or speak English fluently. They are not for second language learners.
How to choose?
One significant factor could be cost, particularly if you do not benefit from an education grant. But another important one is what possible future education your child will follow and in which country. If your child takes A levels then Britain is the logical choice. The International Baccalauréat is more transportable.
Institutions in order of cost
Name of institution, Location
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Levels of instruction
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English programmes offered
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Approximate cost per year (2014)
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Playgroup, Ferney Voltaire, France
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Pre-Literacy and Literacy programmes
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Primary literacy for 4-11 year olds
(1-2 hours a week)
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CHF 450-530 (if you volunteer or join the board it may be free)
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Jeanne d’Arc, Gex
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Le programme bilingue
Wednesday mornings English + French programme. For secondary, the programme is integrated.
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Primary – secondary
GCSE and AS levels
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1129 euros (already in school)
1192 euros (students not in school)
+ fees for French private school (reasonable)
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Lycée International, Ferney Voltaire, France
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The English National Programme (Primary – secondary) + French with local French children
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Primary (3 hours/week)
Collège (6 hours a week)
Lycée (6-7 hours a week)
International Option of the Baccalaureat (OIB)
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Full rate - education grant and/or Swiss resident: 2060-3708 euros
Reduced rate -no education grant, resident in France - 1030 – 1854 euros
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La découverte
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Primary bilingual programme (Swiss system)
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Can take Cambridge exams
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CHF 12,200
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The British School of Geneva
Av. de Châtelaine 95A 1219 Châtelaine Tel: 022 795 75 10 Fax: 022 795 75 11 info@britishschoolgeneva.ch www.britishschoolgeneva.ch, Chatelaine |
Whole school is English instruction
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Primary, secondary : IGCSEs and A level college
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CHF 18,700 – 21,000 (+ one off 2,000 and 500 per year administration)
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Geneva English School
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Primary programme in English in Genthod, Secondary in Versoix
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CHF 22,000 up
|
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Institut International de Lancy
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Reception – secondary (French and English programmes)
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IGCSE
International Baccalaureate
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CHF 13,100 (nursery) – 24,600 + 350 CHF books
All students receive an iPad.
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Ecole Internationale de Genève
(3 campuses), near Divonne, near WHO / ILO, in Geneva
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Reception – secondary
(French and English programmes)
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Full time
IGCSE
International Baccalaureate
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CHF 24,930 (reception) - 31,645 (+ additional 6,500 on initial enrolment)
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College du Léman
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Reception – secondary
(French and English programmes)
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International Baccalaureate
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CHF 19,500 (2 yrs) - 32,750 (+3,600 on initial enrolment)
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1 The primary – secondary programme at the Lycée International in Ferney Voltaire is a high quality low cost option for those wishing to access a true bilingual programme. It leads to the International Option of the Baccalauréat (OIB).
2 The private lycée Jeanne d’Arc in Gex offers a programme leading to British qualifications (Edexcel iGCSEs and A-levels) complementing the French Baccalauréat. It is reasonably priced.
3 The primary literacy programme at Playgroup in Ferney Voltaire is a reasonably priced programme which complements Swiss schooling. It does not lead to any qualifications but gives a solid grounding in literacy.
Children enter the primary bilingual programme from the age of 7. They go for an afternoon of English once a week and do the rest of their studies in the local primary schools. When they enter the collège at 10-11 years of age, the programme is integrated into the mainstream programme and they study 6 hours a week, including some geography/ history and / or mathematics in English.
They then prepare for the International Option of the Baccalauréat (OIB).
Advantages:
The Lycée International in Ferney Voltaire has a bilingual programme of study. It is a truly bilingual programme as all the subjects are taught in French and students are part of the main French programme, with an English component consisting of 6 hours a week of study. The English part is conducted following the British curriculum and using English teaching methodology.
The English National Programme accepts true native speakers of English and those who may have acquired their English through an international school system or who may have parents who are not native speakers, but who have somehow managed to get to fluency through a myriad of means.
The students taking the OIB are given support in applying for university courses and career guidance.
Downside:
Perhaps the only downside is ensuring that universities understand the results of the OIB. As the French education system rates 17/20 as a top mark, it is in stark contrast with the debates in England about how too many A grades or A star grades are given.
Another downside could be that some of the students and parents have a hard time understanding the French methods of teaching, which are rather traditional and often favour memorization.
Dutch, German, British, Spanish, Italian
New Lycée International will be built in St Genis-Pouilly with an anticipated entry of 2015-2016.
Intends to have an English and Italian bilingual programme.
Cost
If you live in France and have no educational assistance from your employer, then you get a reduction on the fees. They are reasonable.
If you live in Switzerland, and have your kids in a Swiss school studying in French, then you can enrol them in the primary programme at Ferney Voltaire from 7-11 years old. They can study on Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday afternoons. The cost is reasonable, but you pay the full price.
Primary age children
English National Programme, Ferney Voltaire
The English National Programme is conducted on the premises of the Lycée International. Children come for their classes from all over the Pays de Gex. The local primary schools give your children dispensation for attending this programme.
Playgroup, Ferney Voltaire
Another option for English for primary level children (4-10) is to do the literacy programme offered at Playgroup in Ferney-Voltaire.
Jeanne d’Arc in Gex
The private school Jeanne d’Arc in Gex also offers English concurrently with the French programme.
In collaboration with Institut Jeanne d’Arc, ASC International House offers the following programmes in the Pays de Gex :
For those students already enrolled in Jeanne d’Arc
Primary
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Cross-curricular English classes for mother-tongue English children from year 2 (CP) following English national Curriculum(Wednesday am)
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Collège
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English and History/ Geography lessons for mother-tongue English children integrated into the normal weekly curriculum, leading to Edexcel IGCSEs
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Lycée
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English and History classes for mother-tongue English children integrated into the normal weekly curriculum, leading to Edexcel A-level in English Language and Literature
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