ADMISSIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are questions that are often asked by families new to Luxembourg and St George's. Please contact us if you have a question that is not answered below.
| What does the school day look like? |
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Students can arrive at school between 8am and 8.28am. Gates close at 8.28am to allow students time to get to their classrooms before registration at 8.30am. Breaks and lunchtimes are staggered across the school. The school day ends at 3.15pm for all students and school buses depart at 3.30pm. Extra-curricular activities take place from 3.15pm to 4.30pm, however a small selection of clubs run from 4.30pm to 5.30pm. After-School Care for Reception to Year 6 students is available on a first-come-first-served basis from 3.15pm to 5.30pm. |
| Which year group will my child enter? |
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We place students in year groups based on their age before 1 September. Visit our Student Journey section to see how St George's structure compares to other school systems. |
| Can my child join during the academic year if we move to Luxembourg mid-year? |
| Yes, if we have spaces available we are happy to accept students during the year, although we may not always be able to offer a mid-year place to a student in the final four years. Our programmes of study do not always align with the subjects that students in Years 10 to 13 may have been studying and we would want to make sure that we can meet both academic and pastoral needs. For all other classes, if we have space available, students can join us through the year. |
| What are the maximum class sizes? |
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Classes are kept small at St George's. The average class size in Foundation (Nursery and Reception) is less than 20 students with two staff. In Key Stages 1 and 2 (Years 1 to 6) we aim to have a maximum of 20 students in the class. Tutor groups in Secondary are generally no larger than 22 students, and at IGCSE and A level the numbers in subject-specific classes will be substantially less. |
| Do siblings and staff children automatically have right of entry? |
| No, all applicants are dealt with on a first-come-first-served basis and are required to meet the relevant entry criteria. We are always happy to consider siblings and remind current families in advance of the application window opening, in case they would like to apply for siblings to join the following year. Families can email the Admissions Officer to check on availability and the timing of future applications. |
| Is the school inspected? |
| Yes, St George's is regularly inspected by the Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI). For a copy of the most recent report, click here. |
| How do students get to school? |
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St George's operates five private bus routes for its students in Reception class and above. Details of the routes are available from the Admissions Officer and current parents can view bus information on the parent portal. All buses have a radio link and a staff chaperone on board. Public transport in Luxembourg is free to everyone. Public buses numbers #15, #25 and #27 have services to Hamm and the nearest stop is a three-minute walk from our site. The train station "Cents-Hamm" is also near the school, along with several other bus stops within a five- to 10-minute walk. A number of students are driven by their families or carpool to school where they use our Kiss & Fly (drop-off) facility. |
| Where are St George's students from? |
| Our students come from all over the world and we have more than 70 nationalities represented. In fact, many of our students have more than one nationality. This rich diversity is part of what makes our school so unique and so welcoming. |
| Do you have a school uniform? |
| St George's does not require students to wear a uniform, however we have a dress code that students are expected to adhere to. The school provides a physical education (PE) T-shirt and swimming hat for new Primary students and a PE kit (tracksuit top/shorts/polo shirt) for Secondary students' sports lessons. |
| Does the school provide meals? |
| Yes. It is possible to order hot lunches through our Canteen App, or students can bring a packed lunch from home. Canteen meals are prepared fresh on site and must be ordered in advance, at an extra charge billed by the term. Students are expected to bring a healthy snack and water bottle from home for their morning break. We ask that parents/students avoid nut products in lunches and snacks. |
| How do I know if my child is ready to begin Nursery? |
| To join Nursery, students must be 3 years of age or above before 1 September and be fully toilet trained and independent in the bathroom. Mandatory taster days are organised in April/May before the start of the academic year in September and students need to be 3 and have bathroom independence by this time. Many of the children beginning Nursery do not have English as their first language and English skills are acquired and extended during this year in Foundation. Nursery is a hive of activity and children are stimulated all day. They have 30 minutes of quiet time after lunch but do not have specific nap time. |
| Does my child need to speak English to enroll? |
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Students entering Nursery are not required to have English skills prior to starting. Older Primary applicants aged 4 and above benefit from verbal English and are assessed during their two-day trial visit to class to determine their needs and our ability to accommodate them academically. Secondary students are required to have fluency in English, both spoken and written. |
| What other languages will my child learn? |
| Students from Nursery up have informal French lessons with our mother tongue French teachers. From age 5 lessons become more formal in teaching style, and students will be split on ability moving through Primary. In addition, upper Primary students also have an hour of Luxembourgish lessons each week. We add German from age 11 and for IGCSE at age 14 students can choose between French and German, or continue with both subjects to exam level. |
| Do you have extra-curricular activities? |
| St George's offers a variety of after-school activities for students from Year 1 upwards. These range from sport and dance, to art, languages and more. We offer after-school care for Primary students, and Secondary students have the option to attend our Homework Club. See our Enrichment section for more details. |
| Do you have a school nurse, or people trained in first aid? |
| Yes. A nurse is on duty at all times during school hours and many of the staff have first aid qualifications. All Foundation staff have paediatric first aid qualifications. |
| Do I need a work permit in Luxembourg before I can apply for school places? |
| No. We accept applications before you have completed your working arrangements. However, we strongly advise that you carefully read the details regarding accepting offers of place and the tuition fees that you are liable to pay when accepting offers of school places. It may be advisable to confirm your visa requirements before applying. |
| Does the school have accident insurance? |
| The school carries civil liability insurance. Students are insured in case of damage caused by the school on school premises during school hours, on school trips and school extra-curricular activities. |
| How can families become involved in school life? |
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We offer many opportunities throughout the year for families to visit the school and see the work of their children. In addition we welcome parents to curriculum-specific coffee mornings for both Primary and Secondary to learn about how we teach at St George's. Highlights on the school's social calendar are the annual Art Exhibition, which showcases the creative talents of students in all year groups, and our Summer Fayre in June. Parents are encouraged to join the Friends of St George's activities, which include weekly walking and jogging groups, and Lëtzebeurger Frënn, a social group for parents to practise speaking Luxembourgish and learn more about the local culture. We also hold a fun family social event each term in collaboration with the Friends of St George's. |
| What measures does St George's have in place to reduce carbon emissions and promote sustainability? |
| St George's is committed to reducing its impact on the environment and educating students and staff about ways they can protect the planet. See our Sustainability section for more information about how we do this. |
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