 Poster: A snowHead
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After trying to get back to living in the alps for the last 4 years I'm finally taking the jump and moving to the alps this year with the other half and kids. We've found a nice chalet in Séez but it looks like I'll be working in Val d'Isere this winter
Has anyone else lived at the bottom of the mountain and travelled up each day for work?
If so how did you find it and did you manage to get cheap weekly bus tickets etc to save on driving up each day.
Also whats bourg like out of season as we will be living in France from September- June each year
What are the schools like in Bourg and is it hard to get kids in as my oldest will be starting school next year
Thanks
James
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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There is a very large British community who appear to live in Bourg all year judging by the number of British voices I hear in the supermarket etc. The town itself is a real town and not a ski/summer resort so it is busy whenever I have been there.
I have no experience with schools in the area, but to the best of my knowledge France does not have the farce in the UK called "getting your kids in the best school"
There are lots of people working in espace killy living all along the Isere valley. You see them waiting for the bus or for lifts in the morning.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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| johnE wrote: |
but to the best of my knowledge France does not have the farce in the UK called "getting your kids in the best school"
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You'll need to improve your knowledge somewhat then.
As for Seez, Henry Schniewind does/or did it. Might be worth contacting him. He has kids.
The college in Bourg St Maurice (a bit like secondary school), is St Exupery http://www.ac-grenoble.fr/citescolaire/bourg-saint-maurice/. The results at Brevet level (GCSE but taken at 14) are not too bad with a 93% pass rate but the "Mention" rate is going down. That means they probably concentrate on getting students to an average level rather than excellence. Or they spend too much time skiing  . As ex-pat kids often struggle in the French school system that is perhaps not a bad thing. The college in Aime (Jovet) has a better academic record with a 96% pass rate. There is a private school in Moutiers and a college. AFAIKS the kids from Seez and higher up the valley will go to college in Bourg St Maurice although a lot of kids in ski resorts will board. There is a specialist sports section (14+) in Bourg St Maurice.
Last edited by Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see? on Fri 23-10-15 11:56; edited 2 times in total
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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| johnE wrote: |
| to the best of my knowledge France does not have the farce in the UK called "getting your kids in the best school" |
I have friends who have had children in French schools and they would tell you otherwise. Very much so.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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@james_c,
I'm looking to move out to the alps in the next three years and we are making plans for it now. Like you I have a son who will be starting School when we move.
I've been online looking at schools and spoke to people who have done it too, the common theme is the younger they are the better it is. The area we are looking at has a school that even has a web site in English and talks about helping kids integrate into a new language etc ( it is a fee paying school)
I think the thing is to go with an opinion that the first year will be tough, the kids may even be held back a year but that far out weighs the bonus of them being fluent in two languages eventually.
What are you doing for employment out of curiosity?
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Altibus runs to transfer buses every day, but they quote 18.40 euros for a day return for a saisonniair.
That's going to be expensive for a whole season, unless they do a whole season discount.
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Get the kids a french speaking nou nou before they go to school to get their basic language skills up.
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