primary and secondary education in Barcelona
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Benjamin Franklyn School
Why did you decide to send your child to the Benjamin Franklyn School?
We had selected the school in 2001-2 for our daughter when we were last in BCN. We had liked it then in terms of its educational outlook and teaching quality. In 2007 we selected it again (after my daughter inerviewed with 4 other schools, (American, International, British and Catalan) as we felt the school had in fact improved in its vision for the next 20 years in terms of educational standards.
Are you happy with your choice?
Extremely
How much research did you do into the education system beforehand?
Checked 5 schools in BCN on the web before coming to Spain and brought our child to school interviews the year before we moved to Spain.
How did you find the application process?
Very comprehensive and easy to navigate.
Do you feel your child is getting the same level of education as he/she would as you would in your native country?
Yes. Better in terms of language learning and teacher-student interaction.
Why did you decide to send your child to an international school as opposed to a state school?
Impossible to get a child admitted into a state school due to lack of knowledge of castellano and catalan. Also did not wish to isolate the child in terms of classes being taught in a medium other than in what she would be comfortable.
How much Catalan and Spanish is your child taught each week?
My child is in Grade 7 in 2007-8. The BFIS has mandatory castellano classes for ALL syudents starting at the earliest pre-primary school levels at 5 times a week. Catalan is started in grade 2-3. My daughter independently opted to learn Cataln at BFIS starting in Grade 7 even though it is NOT mandatory for her, being of non-hispanic origin. She has Catalan 3 times a week in Grade 7.
Approximately how many Catalan children are in your child´s class?
About a third of the class (and the school)
How is the day structured?
Classes are from 09:00 to 16:00 with breaks and lunch.
What qualifications do the teachers have at the school?
Cannot answer off-hand
What language do you speak to your child at home in?
Bengali, Hindi and English
How well integrated do you think you are in Catalan society?
We have very good friends native to BCN since we first came to the city some 14 years ago..for a year's sabbatical from a US university.