Hi Fiona,
The British Forces in Cyprus have schools to teach the dependant children of service personnel stationed there, they also offer places to "non-entitled" children on a fee paying basis. If you try http://www.bfc.mod.uk and follow the links in blue at the top of the page which will show you the garrisons, and other postings on the island. Click on the one you want, and follow the link for education, this will show the schools available from pre school, through primary to secondary.
Hope this gives you a few ideas.

thanks- would never have found that website

Sweet memories, I went to that school in Dhekelia, King Richards school!! Though was a long time ago so I can't really comment now but it was and I believe still a good school, the international ones didn't seem to come up muster !

thanks meishka
there seems to be conflicting reports on the international schools. Maybe its just down to the individual child?

I think thats probably true for any school, if a child wants to learn and get on he/she will do so whatever!

Hi,
I am a Primary teacher (trained and teaching in England). I used to work/live in Cyprus a few years back and worked as a children's rep. My partner and I are going to be moving to Cyprus permanently, pretty much as soon as I get a job over there!

This year I've had interviews for 2 schools (private english ones) but been unsuccessful so far :-( I have done an awful lot of research on a number of schools as I do want to work somewhere where standards and quality of education are as good/better than here. The forces schools are superb as they follow the Curriculum and have Ofsted visits as do schools over here. Another big factor is they pay the teachers the same wage as in the UK. This results in competition for these teaching positions being huge! They haven't advertised this year (much to my dismay), but when positions do become available, they literally get 100s of applications. The reason I say this, is because you could be rest assured the teachers employed are excellent - the best of the best!

The international schools do have conflicting reports and I can only speak from what I have found out. One of the problems is that the wage can be appalling. Now, when moving abroad, you accept your wage will be lower, and for me that's fine, but it really is an enormous drop from UK wage, which, as you can imagine would put a lot of people off. Not that I'm suggesting teaching is of a lower standard by any means, but if they can treat their staff so badly in comparison to other places it could make you question other things....? They can also be poorly resourced. One interview I had for a school in Paphos (which offered a very low wage), suggested to me that I should try to gather as much as I could together before moving as resources are so limited. Having said that, the Head did come across as being very caring and wanting the best for 'her' children.

On the contrary, there is one school in Limassol which, from what I heard and saw at the interview, are worth recommending. They were very professional, had clear goals, ambition and most importantly the children came first. They presented me with an abundance of information and really impressed me. As a teacher, you want to work in a place where you would be happy to send your own children. This school really did seem to be excellent and I shall be hoping for another position to come up next year for me

The Head himself, said that there are some really good international schools in Cyprus, and some not so good. They can't, I believe, all be tarred with the same brush. It depends which one/s you are talking about.
To a certain extent though, yes, it depends on the individual child as to how well they will do at school. Those who can, will. Some children, however, need a certain level of support/ encouragement/ motivation/ discipline. One major plus about the international schools is the small class sizes. This is a major advantage for the teacher and the children themselves! I currently have a class of 31 at my city school, this could well be halved in Cyprus!!

As for the local schools, well that's no option for me job wise as I don't speak/teach in greek! I think again, it comes down to how much support they would get/receive in order to help them achieve their full potential. I have children who have English as a second language and they do require a level of support in their work due to the language barrier. A younger child (Year 1-3), would very quickly pick up a new language and get to grips with the vocabulary and grammar almost like second nature. The older the child gets, the more they would struggle with this. Bilingual children often do very well at school as they are able to think in different ways. So I would suggest that for young children, local schools would be best. For older children (certainly high school age), I would say international schools where they would be taught in English, in a style that they are used to. Just my opinion of course
Sorry this is such a lengthy reply!!! Got going and couldn't stop!!!

Helen
you are a star! Exactly the sort of info I'm looking for. Their house is 15 minutes out of Paphos so the Limassol school wouldn't be any good I'm afraid. The boy will be 10 when they move so I'm thinking the local schools are may be not the best. Mind you, he really will need to learn Greek- its a difficult decision.
I hope you get your job Helen!
Off topic but living on a teachers salary there- are you saying that a salary there is a lot poorer in real terms than living and working in the UK?

Hi Fiona

Friends of ours lived in Greece for 3 years due to the hubbies work. There children were 8 and 10 when they initally moved there. By the end of the third year they both spoke Greek the eldest in particular spoke the language quite well. Although as mentioned it is down to the individual child. Thought the story might encourage your friend though. The children were in an International school and had lessons at school plus a tutor at home.

Doe

Thanks Doe
I have to laugh as she is intending teaching herself Greek and then teaching him some of the language before they go over. I gave up with Greek- no wonder there is the saying "its all Greek to me"

Oh Erh! The Mum who is my friend didn't have anywhere near as much success with it as the two children.

The salary some schools offer would be less than half that of in the UK, best to hope for would be maybe 70% of the UK salary. But when you take into consideration the lower house prices and bills and longer summer holidays, I could manage!
The children would have greek lessons in an international school. By law, Cypriot children have Greek as a core subject. English children wouldn't be in the same classes as them in an international school, instead would be taught greek in a separate class, by a specialist greek teacher. I'm sure that older children could and many would fare well in a local school, but it would be quite daunting, I imagine, if they were complete beginners to the language and being taught in greek in all subjects!
A tough choice though, as the local schools would be free and the international schools quite expensive!
I'm also looking into the possibility of doing some tutoring, but it is difficult to find out about as they don't have the agencies they do here in the UK!

thanks again
I don't suppose you have schools you would recommend- close to Paphos?

Possibly off topic, but please give me the benefit of the doubt!

Why not start learning Greek from a professional teacher in the UK before you move? At least you can ask basic questions of this teacher, whereas a Greek living in Cyprus might not have enough English to explain the niceties of the language!

I think that is what she is planning to do. She had been going to do it through tapes but I found that too difficult myself.

I'm also planning on learning some Greek before making my permanent move! I'm ashamed to say I didn't pick much up in my previous time living over there
The International School of Paphos has a very good reputation from what I understand.
The school I spoke of before is the American Academy. The American Academy primary in Paphos has only been open 3 years (I believe), the High School is more established. I don't really know a great deal about the High School to comment either way. The Director of both schools did seem very proud of their achievements and it is a popular school from what I hear.
I think I'm right in saying that children have to sit entrance exams and there can be competition for places. With the number of Brits moving over there there are more children wanting to attend than there are places available!

thanks again Helen- I'll pass that on