How do I get my six-grader into a public school in Brussels in the middle of the school year ?

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Posted by

on 5 Nov 2013

I am about to move to Brussels with my two kids, aged 11 and 9. They are both being educated in the French system, and I want to put them into a public school in Brussels. The problem is that we should move in a couple of months and my daughter is in what seems to correspond to the Belgian 6th grade. Meaning that she should take this CEB (or whatever it is called) test and move on to the secondary school as of September. My son is in what corresponds to Belgian 4th grade, so I guess it would be easier for him. I am still trying to figure out how the system functions, but what I grasped is that it is crucial to get them into a decent elementary school in order to have them move on into a decent secondary. Does anyone have any experience with/knowledge of a similar situation??? Thanks!!! Alexa P.S. My office will be in Ixelles

Anonymous (not verified) on 12 Nov 2013 - 09:48

Hi Alexa,

It is possible for expat students to attend a public school in Belgium through as there are immersion schemes in place to assist them.

Securing a place at secondary schools in Belgium can be difficult however as it is unclear what the process for admission is. It really will depend on the particular school you decide on for your daughter. Some schools require parents to queue up to make the application and for others you may end up having to make endless phone calls. Regardless, just ensure you are patient and persistant. Try to get in touch with other people in Belgian who have been through the process themseleves.

For a more detailed overview of schooling options in Belgium and how the public schools admission works then check out Education and Schools in Belgium.

Good luck.

Anonymous (not verified) on 15 Jan 2014 - 13:35

Dear Alexa, You can send me an email ([email protected]). I'm a Belgian pedagogue and used of working with children from abroad. More information (http://www.d-teach.com/en/). I can help to prepare your children on Flemish/French education in Belgium. Best wishes, Lieselot

Anonymous (not verified) on 15 Jan 2014 - 13:36

Anonymous (not verified) on 20 Mar 2014 - 08:11

Pleae ignore the inaccurate comments above. There are NO immersion schemes for children arriving into Belgian primaires, there is a budget for a primaire when they get over a certain number of non francophones, but each school decides how to use it! It is VERY CLEAR how you enter secondaire here!!!!! It is one system. I cannot believe someone has given you tosh about queues. You're asking about secondaires, that means French, they tried queues a few years ago, the system was replaced 4 years ago with a single enrolment system and it is open now. How do you start mid year in primaire? You pinpoint where you want to live, you phone up the schools and ask for places, simple as that.

Anonymous (not verified) on 20 Mar 2014 - 08:12

wholly untrue you have to get a decent primaire to get into a decent secondaire. Enrolments are based on GEOGRAPHY for non priority (eg siblings) and nothing else.

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