École de Wix vs Belleville Webb's Post Reply

[virginiafal]

Hi,

Our son is set to start reception in École de Wix next fall (French class). He doesn't speak French but both myself and his father do (we aren't French tho). We have been unexpectedly offered a place in Belleville Webb's Road site, so are now pondering.

Does anyone have experiences with either school or both and could share their thoughts?

Many thanks

Virginia

[noddy]

Hi! My son got a place at Ecole de Wix (french section) last year and does speak french but we decided a curriculum which included more extra curricular activities closer to the British system would suit him better. In addition- they only have 2-3h English per week in the french section if I remember well, which wasn’t ideal. My son is probably going to Belleville Webb’s Road in September as we have only heard good things about the school and it is meant to be academically rigorous as well. Lots of after school clubs and if you are interested in french the “French between the Commons” is also offered on Wednesdays for native French speakers. Pm me if you want to discuss more. Good luck!

[parrat01]

Beliville Webb’s is a really good school with great attainment. All the parents here will tell you that. I don’t have personal experience with Wix french section (as mine both go to Webbs) but for the English section it was struggling until it got taken over by the Belleville trust and headteacher.

[szerma]

I am a parent of a daughter in Year 1 at Belleville, and my son is about to start nursery there in September. I agree with the previous poster that Belleville is a great school, and definitely has more clubs / activities / academic rigour (in English) than Wix at the moment. 

However, if your objective is for your son to learn French, then I doubt that Belleville will help him much. I understand from other French parents at Belleville that French between the commons is suitable for kids who already speak French, not for those who don't. So, if you choose Belleville over Wix, you will most likely have to give up on your son becoming fluent in French, but you will gain him going to an excellent school instead.

What are your long-term plans - do you plan to continue living in the UK  (or any other English-speaking country) and pursuing his secondary and tertiary education in English? If yes, then Belleville might be a better option than a French-only stream at Wix, but at the expense of his French.

I do know other family whose kids go to Wix and they are very happy there (the family are French speaking), and they take the kids to extra curricular activities elsewhere (e.g. at Belleville), but you have to do the pickup and dropoff (not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, of course!).

Also just wondering - does Wix provide any help for kids to pursue the French stream, who don't speak French? Just wondering if you are planning any catch-up / camps for the summer so your son isn't completely lost on Day 1.

Best of luck - whatever decision you make, I am sure that your son will get an excellent education.
M

[virginiafal]

Thanks for the replies, all very useful pointers.

We are leaning towards Belleville at the moment, as French is not a must for our family but rather nice to have. The biggest sticking point at this stage is that in the French stream we would get a guaranteed spot at the French Lycée and it does seem like a great secondary school. Whereas in the British system we won't know until we get there.

Does anyone know if it is possible for a child in the British system to go to the French Lycée (if passing tests and having a good level of French)?

Thanks a mill

Virginia

[kidzibuzi]

Hi,
I have two kids who have attended the bilingual classes at Wix, one is now at the French Lycee and the other one in Year 5.
As a French parent living in the UK, I thought it was important for them to learn how to write French but also to have the possibility to join the English system in secondary school if they wish, this is why I didn't choose the French class but the bilingual class, but not sure if this is relevant for you.
Children in the bilingual classes who are registered from the Lycee have also priority to join the French Lycee after Year 6. The only important consideration with bilingual classes is that there is a bit more work...
I think that any child can apply for secondary school at the Lycee depending on space available. Given the current situation and since the Brexit announcement, the Lycee definitely offers some extra places but the child will need a basic level of French to feel comfortable, unless he joins the British section.
Regarding Wix's school, my children really like(d) it and always had been requested to provide a good level of work.

Best

[virginiafal]

This is super useful - thank you!