French International School

J

john-cannuck

New member
Need some helps and advice from parents out there who have kids studying at the French International School (i.e. Lycee)...

(1) How's the reputation and quality of the school?

(2) I know that the school has an "International Section" which uses English as the teaching language, and French is taught as a second language. How's their quality of education when compare to the "French Section"?

(3) Does the school have a long waiting list? Is it too late to apply now?

(4) How well does the school handle parents who are not French speaking?

Thanks!

John
 
I have the exactly same questions about French Int'l School. My kid will be 3 yr old at 2010 Sept entrance. Would anyone pls give me some advice on this?

Thank you very much!
 
French school

Not sure if I can help you other than to tell you that we put our daughters name down to start reception Sept 2009 in February (international stream) and were offered an interview in March/April and she recieved a place.
The wait list, I was told at the time, was very large (130 from memory) but as it turned out, there were alot of people relocating and several positions came up. So don't be put off. They were also very upfront about this and told me this was likely to happen unlike some of the schools who just asked for more money to keep her on the wait list!
Can't comment on the education though as she's yet to start. However, people I know who send their children there and are very pleased. Their only criticism is that it is very academic and one family mentioned that their son was further ahead by leaps and bounds when compared to cousins in a year above in other schools? Not sure if this is true, just what I have been told.
I liked the international section. It seemd the most culturally diverse international school (lots of nationalities represented unlike kellet and canadian) and that appealed to me. We also loved HK academy, but the school is moving to Sai Kung. So it was out of Bradbury or French in the end. We thought that the smaller class size at French was a small advantage. Also have had friends that are teachers at Bradbury and although they speak really highly of the school the turn over of people, staff and students, is really high and seemed to be more than other schools?
 
Thank you very much, sea princess, for sharing your experience.

My husband side is French-speaker (but not French), so it's actually a big thing for us if my kid goes to the school or not... I am a bit relieved to hear that there might be still a chance. Again, thanks a lot!

And, more comments/advice would be appreciated!!
 
sea princess, just wondering at what age was your child when you applied to the school? My child is waitlisted there since she was 2 weeks old to start reception in 2012 but I have no idea how big the list is.
 
Hi, just read all of your postings. Very interesting to us because we are also considering the French international schools. My husband is French and we would like our child to be able to learn French and think that French schools would be the best way to do it here in Hong Kong.
I am due in a week or so. Would it be too early to apply now or do I have to wait for our kid to be born first?
Appreciate any info on this. Merci!
 
hi, i hope to shed some light on your question. my daughter was six months when i placed her name on the list for the international stream at FIS (for reception in 2010). although at the time, they did not let me know what number she was on the list, i was told that there is usually 300-400 applications for about 50 slots. once your child passes the interview, siblings of existing FIS students as well as debenture holders get first priority. then they go down the list.

again, this is for the international stream.

good luck!
 
Hi Aber97
We arrived less than a year ago when my daughter was three (she is now four) and her applucation went in about 8 months before the place was offered. I think it really depends on what's happening in HK. We were really feeling the stress that we had nowhere for her, but in the end we were offered places at three of the international schools. Most people I talk to say that it just seems to have a way of turning out? Not sure if that's true, but it was with us!
 
Oh, and we didn't have a debenture at any of the schools by the way or any siblings at the schools, but certainly those two things help as Happy Baby suggests.
 
My daughter is 10 mnths old and I havent applied anywhere...somehow this thread gives me a nagging doubt that my daughters' not gonna have a place anywhere..where do I start applying ? and how?
 
Hi all!
Thank you very much for the information. I don't have any friends going to the school, so it's really helpful. Merci!!!!

To Mommytobe,
I believe they have a priority for French National, so I guess if your husband is French, you don't need to worry so much, probably....
 
Hi sea princess,
My daughter will also be starting RC at FIS next week. She is really looking forward to it. Our girls might be in the same class ...
 
hi tulip

My daughter is very excited too. It would be great if they were in the same class :) Mine is in RCA. I might see you Tuesday at the parents information morning otherwise look out for a very emotional mum saying goodbye on Thursday morning at the classroom door!
 
My daughter is in RCB. Make it two emotional mums on Thrusday morning! Let me know if you would like us to meet up on Tuesday, I'll pm you my phone number.
 
Hi, my daughter will be starting at the petite section of the french international school in September this year (2010)hence would be great to hear some comments/ information that could help to understand about the class/ school.
Thank you in advance.....
 
kcinhk said:
Hi, my daughter will be starting at the petite section of the french international school in September this year (2010)hence would be great to hear some comments/ information that could help to understand about the class/ school.
Thank you in advance.....
Click to expand...


Hello, any comments? Many thanks.
 
Hi sea princess..
I was wondering if you can give me any feedback on your daughters experience in fis (international stream). Are you happy with her there? Is your daughter happy? is it as accademic as people say it is? also.... if you dont mind me asking.... what nationality is your daughter?
my son has just been accepted to fis (international stream) and I am eager to find out more about the school. I also fell in love with school when i visited it and loved the fact that it was super international. i was born here and my son has no french in him.... I also dont think we will ever move out of hk so am looking for a long term school for him. He is interested and very good at mandarin and am wondering if canadian international school may be a better option for him as i hear the mandarin is quite intense there. or.... have him in fis and study mandarin on the side. Also..... I know french is taught 3 times a week at fis international stream. Do you know how fluend the students are expected to be in the french language?
looking forward to hearing from you.
 
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