They're really different. I think I have already mentioned that while in the UK people generally find a private teacher for their instrument, or do it through a school scheme, here there are municipal music school, conservatoires and so on. The situation is a little more complex than I had first understood, because the schools vary in the rigidity of their organisation: the most, the conservatoires, next the municipals, then the associations. Our music school is an association, but it tends to apply the standards of the municipal schools with its programme of cycles, etc. Britain - grade 1 to 8, grade 8 being roughly equivalent to A-level, pre university/conservatoire. France - 3 cycles, each taking about 4 years, with 3ème cycle being roughly equivalent to grade 8. Theory of music - UK to take grade 8 you need theory grade 5. In France you study theory alongside your instrumental studies, very slowly. Catrin's flute music is MUCH more difficult than the stuff she does in theor
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Best wishes for all you do.
The Mansfields.
Montpellier would normally be drier and hotter than Bordeaux. I don't know if there are bilingual or English schools there - you can find that out, obviously.
This year so far Bordeaux has been glorious ! Hot and dry and warm. We have hardly had any rain at all. However, this year has been unusually dry. It does rain here sometimes and we complain about it all the time, but it's not as bad as all that. I routinely go out all day with no coat and so do many other people. I only know one person who has decided not to live here because of the climate and that person has a chronic disease. I should have thought that most people could survive for a year !
Our kids are in French "private schools" - that is schools subsidised by the French state but where we pay something as well - about 50 euros a month for each child. The schools they are in are not bilingual - just French - and the first year was really very hard. We chose that option because we are staying here long term so the kids need to have very good French, and also because the International School would be too expensive an option for us.
Blessings, and keep in touch
Alan