Choosing an International School in Poland

I was wondering if I could get the advice of some ex pats in Warsaw about International Schools. I will be moving to Warsaw within the next 8 months and would like to get a better idea of the schools available in the Warsaw area. I have Googled it and came up with all the big name schools. American School of Warsaw and The British School seem to be the two most popular ones, also the most expensive.

Does anyone send there kids to other schools that are as good?
Are there any that you recommend?
Why do you like the one you are currently enrolled with?

Thank you for any comments.

Why do you want to put your child in an International school? If you were going to live here wouldn't it be better if they attended a Polish school and learnt the language and customs rather than be isolated.

I suppose it depends on whether you are here a short time or longer time; we intend to stay here permanently so our daughter goes to a Polish school.

Horses for courses I suppose :O)

i went to an international school - learnt the local language with people who spoke my own - isolation would have come from being put in a class with no one who spoke my language

I didn't know you had such a history with Poland or was this international school in another country ? :O)
What are they really like are they worth the money that you pay?

it was in munich

my memories of that time dont really focuss too much on school... but i do remember that the class sizes were small and there was plenty of individual attention.

my classmates were the children of expats, like myself, and it was pretty tightknit group - we had a lot of fun together both in and outside the classroom... but whether any of my education was worth the vast sums spent on it is a matter open for debate...

your point about sending your daughter to a local polish school because she will be living there permanently is an important one and i imagine i would do the same if in your position - it will open doors and give opportunities that going to an international school wont... and vice versa i guess

The benefits of a private education such as one at an International school as opposed to a state school are debatable. I think various factors should be considered, with the child and their nature at the forefront. Perhaps you might be able to allow your child a few weeks in several schooling environments and find which your offspring enjoyed the most. With regards to the quality of teaching in either environment the financial factor may seem to favour the prvate system HOWEVER, truely dedicated teachers those who have a vocation to pursue as opposed to a time slot to fill are equally discovered in the state system.

The structure of schoolcreates their very nature which is to help children develop a self of place within society, a role to be. Private establishments have in their essense a divisional mentality between them an us. Whilst state school often depending on postcode environment create the childrens social positioning coupled with the families sensibilities.

phew!!!

Now the diverse and multicultural environment will provide children a truely international biase which is great. However it will separate the kids from their immediate piers and in a society such as that in Poland, being intough with the local community seems priceless.

To be blunt if your not "in" your "out". If that makes any sense.

I attended what I'd class as a military school, what advantages and what disadvantages it bred for me is debatable. But then again it is the ability of the individual to survive and prosper within the school environment what ever it may be, that is the most important factor, not the school nor the country.

Good luck tough decision, my only advice is to really listen to what your kid wants not what you think will be the best for them.

This discussion leads me to another question, does anyone currently have their kids enrolled in an international school in Warsaw?

The reason I want my kids to go to an international school is because I want them to have every educational advantage in life that I can possibly provide for them. I honestly feel that international schools can provide this whereas a public school would not. By this I mean small classes, more teacher student attention, a culturally diverse environment, and language learning.

Thanks for your responses.
roalex

Merged: Sending children to local schools - New Zealanders thinking of emigrating to Poland

Hi, we are a bunch of kiwis looking to move to Poland with 3 kids- it is a very long way! Can anyone tell me whether expats send their children to local schools or do they send them to international schools.

If you have $10000 and upwards per kid per year to send yours to international schools, by all means do so - they're great, overall much better than most of their Polish equivalents. Lacking the funding I've sent mine to a regular public school in Warsaw, and I'm personally pretty happy with it. I know others who have done likewise and aren't complaining too much, either.