Schools for an 8 year old. (Hannover)

Hi Everyone.

We will be relocating to Hannover early next year as my wife's office is moving there from Malta.

Is there anybody on here who has experience of putting a non German speaking child into the state school system? He is 8 years old and a native English speaker.

We know there is an International school there but, initially, the annual fee of €11k is going to be out of our reach.

We will, of course, be giving him (and me) German lessons ASAP but we are worried that in the meantime he may fall behind. Not to mention finding it hard to make friends.

So any advice and/or experience will be greatly received.

Thanks and kind regards.
Phil