English primary classes in Austria for international students

Austria is the pearl of tourist Europe, simultaneously; the school education in Austria is the precious foundation of secondary education and a successful start of a child. Mountain landscapes, culture, ecology and comfort of Austria unconditionally attract people, but parents of Russian schoolchildren are interested in the secondary education system, which has international recognition. Austria is attractive to children and schoolchildren from all over the world.

The legal basis of primary and secondary education in Austria has been in effect for 60 years; it was defined back in 1962. The Federal Ministry of Education (Bundesministerium für Ausbildung, Wissenschaft und Forschung) is responsible for financing and controlling education; it also controls the higher education (since 2000).

The administration of primary and secondary education is carried out at the level of the bodies of the Austrian federal States. Laws related to educational reforms have a constitutional status. They can be adopted or corrected by at least 2/3 of the votes in the National Assembly.

Educational system of Austria starts from the primary school. There is no preschool education as such here — kindergartens do not belong to the Ministry of Education, but are simply an inexpensive replacement for a nanny. Therefore, do not expect that a child will be taught letters and numbers in kindergarten — there he will only learn German. However, for a foreign kid, this is a big plus.

Primary schools in Austria accept the students aged above 6 years old. The studying lasts for 4 years and is compulsory for all residents of the country.

The educational plan stipulates compulsory studying of 4 subjects, which are culture of reading, writing, mathematics, health protection. Additionally, on a voluntary basis, children can attend physical education, fine arts, religion. The school week in an Austrian primary school lasts 5 days. In public schools in Austria, several free places are allocated for the foreign students. Therefore, it is preferable for residents of other countries to send their child to a private school.

In the lower grades, the student will be taught the simplest operations: to read, write, count and perform four mathematical actions (add, subtract, multiply, divide). Also the primary schools in Austria  pay attention to the development of creative abilities in singing lessons, drawing, modelling, etc. And, of course, they will not forget about physical education.

Teaching teams work in close contact with parents. For moms and dads, not only monthly meetings are held, at which questions about excursions and various events are resolved, but also weekly consultations about academic performance. There are also reception days for individual conversations.

In many institutions, there are extended day groups where students are supervised by teachers until five or seven in the evening. There, students receive help with homework and additional explanations on the material they have passed.

It is necessary to register at a specific educational institution. This is done almost a year before admission, usually in November, and some primary schools in Austria need to apply even earlier.

The following documents are necessary to provide to admission commission:

• Birth certificate
• Passport of parents
• Document on registration in the country of parents and child
• Medicine card of the student.

When choosing an educational institution in Austria, it should be borne in mind that many of the schools are under the patronage of the Catholic Church (Catholicism is the official religion of the country). This means both memorizing prayers by students and participating in religious holidays. If your family belongs to another denomination or is not religious at all, look for an institution that is free from such patronage. Primary education in public institutions is free of charge. But everyone has to pay for attending private schools in Austria.

Paul McLean

Director of AIS-Salzburg since 1995

Does every school strive to be ranked among the best?

Every boarding school that accepts foreign students strives to fulfill its tasks as best as possible and achieve maximum results - both in studies and in caring for students. At the same time, whether it will meet the official criteria for comparing world schools is a secondary question (of course, if we do not talk about institutions that are primarily interested in increasing their capital).

Families who understand that there are many important criteria - and not all of them make the official rankings, will not be aspirated in the top charts. Any school can be the best for their child.

The current educational system stipulates that at the end of the fourth year of study, depending on their success and parental capabilities, the students are divided into two groups. The first group goes to the Hauptschule for four years — the main secondary school, after which it remains to go only to vocational schools. The second one enters the Allgemein Bildende Höhere Schule — a full secondary school (gymnasium), which takes eight years to study (4 — at the lowest level of AHS Unterstufe and 4 — at the highest AHS Oberstufe). Most of these students go on to universities.

Schools in Austria are both public and private. For the foreign students, in both cases, they will have to pay for their studies. The average amount is from 200€ per month: 100+ – in public schools, 300+ – in private.

Primary education in Austria represents the first stage of the education system and covers a period of study from 6 to 10 years. An important component of primary education is the primary school (Volksschule). This stage of education is designed to give children the foundations of knowledge and skills necessary for their further education.

In primary school in Austria, children study a variety of subjects including mathematics, German (as a core subject), English, natural history, art, music, physical education and others. The curriculum is varied and designed to develop general skills and knowledge.

Yes, foreigners have the right to education in Austria and can attend primary school. They may encounter difficulties learning German and may require additional language learning support (eg language courses).

Yes, in Austria there are many extracurricular activities and clubs in the fields of art, sports and science offered both inside and outside of school. Children can participate in a variety of extracurricular activities and interest clubs.

The safety of children in primary schools in Austria has a high priority. Schools usually have security measures in place, including CCTV cameras and emergency procedures. Also important are attendance monitoring, medical staff, teacher supervision and other measures necessary to ensure a safe and learning environment.

Conflicts in primary schools are usually resolved through dialogue between parents, teachers and school administration. In some cases, the involvement of professional counselors or psychologists may be required. If a child has difficulties in learning, it is important to promptly contact a teacher or school psychologist. In Austria, additional support is provided for children with learning difficulties and individual learning plans are developed.

Parents are invited to actively participate in the educational process of their children. Schools can hold parent-teacher conferences, consultations and events where parents can discuss their children's progress and provide input into educational activities.

After primary school, children can consider various educational opportunities abroad, such as student exchanges and international study programs. There is also the possibility of enrolling in international schools and colleges that provide more varied programs in different languages.

Children with special educational needs can receive individual support and tailored learning programmes. Austria has an inclusive education system and schools try to provide equal educational opportunities for all children.

The "Progress Diary" is a system for assessing and tracking student progress. It contains information about grades assigned to students in various subjects, as well as grades for behavior and social skills. Parents receive regular reports on their children's progress.