Meanwhile, Lavinia and Louis have been going to school. They have been doing very well and learning a lot about many subjects, how to organise themselves and having lots of tests. It has been a particularly big change for Louis going from year 6 and primary school to the second year of a high school ( middle school) set up.

One of the big changes has been getting up about an hour earlier than in Australia and having to catch the bus.

Most nights there is some homework and there is a big focus on revision to ensure you have really taken in the lesson. One of the teachers explained that you learn about 70% in class but at home when you revise you get to 100%.

My observation is that things seem to be more structured and follow a definite pattern. You will get a ‘ note’ if you don’t have the right books or materials or did not do your homework. 5 notes and you get detention.

This is all excellent learning for Louis who is known for being forgetful and not tracking what he needs on a particular day for school.

The kids’ French has been excellent and they have not any problems due to that. They are regularly complemented as not having an accent.

I think the topics and subjects taught are at a similar level to Australia but perhaps there is more breadth. Louis is doing three languages, French, English and Spanish. Lavinia, is doing four with the addition of Greek.

They both have physics and chemistry as a subject that is separate from a kind of biology/ sustainability/ social impact subject.

Louis was proud to finish his scale château for maths homework.

Lavinia has been learning about the First World War and Verdun, a topic close to my heart.