Advice regarding schools
#1
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Advice regarding schools
Hi. We aren’t planning on moving out to Australia until towards the latter part of next year, but obviously we need to start thinking about the practicalities now. We’ve got 3 children and my intention is that our eldest will finish junior school in the UK (July 2019) and start her high school years in Australia. I’m wondering when would be the most sensible time, after July, to head over there to be able to look into suitable schools. If she was staying here for high school, then we would be applying this December (I think 🤔 ), which got me thinking about when you need to apply for schools in Oz? Any advice about this would be greatly appreciated, thank you.
#2
Re: Advice regarding schools
The academic year starts in January/February. There isn’t the same application process, basically you need to find the home you want to live in (usually based on where you’ll be working and what other things you want in a suburb) and there will be a local school that is obliged to find them a space. The exceptions are selective High Schools which will start their selection process in the next 2-3 months. Private schools often require you to have had names on a waiting list since conception. If you want to enrol in a school which isn’t your neighbourhood school it’s up to the school if they are taking out of area enrolments. Kids move all through the year so nothing to worry about whenever you arrive. The only year that it is important that they start in Jan/Feb is year 11 for the 2 year 11/12 course.
Don’t go by what year level the kids are in UK, they could be in quite a different year level in Australia depending on the state you are going to and their date of birth.
Don’t go by what year level the kids are in UK, they could be in quite a different year level in Australia depending on the state you are going to and their date of birth.
#3
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Re: Advice regarding schools
We are moving this year so have been doing a bit of research into schools. From what I can tell the Australian school system has an extra year of Primary Schools. Unlike in the UK, secondary schooling is 6 years not 7. Be aware the grading of years is different. Year 6 in UK = Year 5 in Australia, which means secondary schools do start in Year 7 in Australia but the kids are a year older than Year 7 counterparts in UK. It confuses me a lot, but I had it confirmed by family there. Someone on this forum may prove me wrong though. Best to check out, as if the only reason for putting off the move is to have a smooth transition for your kid, be aware they may still have to do another year of primary school when you get to Australia
#4
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Re: Advice regarding schools
Yes, both my kids were offered the opportunity to jump a year (ages 14 and 11) but didn't. Something to think about. My daughter, her decision, took her foot off the pedal and had a jolly nice time making friends for a year. My son, my decision, has a gripe about me every now and then about taking the wrong decision to keep him back. With hindsight, I think they were both bright enough, and mature enough, to jump. You gotta luv hindsight.
#5
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,900
Re: Advice regarding schools
The academic year starts in January/February. There isn’t the same application process, basically you need to find the home you want to live in (usually based on where you’ll be working and what other things you want in a suburb) and there will be a local school that is obliged to find them a space. The exceptions are selective High Schools which will start their selection process in the next 2-3 months. Private schools often require you to have had names on a waiting list since conception. If you want to enrol in a school which isn’t your neighbourhood school it’s up to the school if they are taking out of area enrolments. Kids move all through the year so nothing to worry about whenever you arrive. The only year that it is important that they start in Jan/Feb is year 11 for the 2 year 11/12 course.
Don’t go by what year level the kids are in UK, they could be in quite a different year level in Australia depending on the state you are going to and their date of birth.
Don’t go by what year level the kids are in UK, they could be in quite a different year level in Australia depending on the state you are going to and their date of birth.
This, pretty much.
If you move to a city the local school will have an intake area and they are required to offer you a place within those boundaries. The Department's web site for whatever state/territory you are moving to will likely have the boundaries publicly available.
Many families do a mix of government/private, keeping their children in the government system until Year 10 and then sending them to the private system for Years 11 and 12.
As Quoll noted, for the best private schools, parents put down a deposit when the child is still an infant and so there are waiting lists. That is not all of them, however, and there will be private schools with openings. As well, if, for example, you are Catholic or Anglican and want your child in a Catholic or Anglican school, you cut the queue.
If you want your kids in a private school I would suggest putting them in the local government school for a year while you get your bearings.
#6
Re: Advice regarding schools
We are moving this year so have been doing a bit of research into schools. From what I can tell the Australian school system has an extra year of Primary Schools. Unlike in the UK, secondary schooling is 6 years not 7. Be aware the grading of years is different. Year 6 in UK = Year 5 in Australia, which means secondary schools do start in Year 7 in Australia but the kids are a year older than Year 7 counterparts in UK. It confuses me a lot, but I had it confirmed by family there. Someone on this forum may prove me wrong though. Best to check out, as if the only reason for putting off the move is to have a smooth transition for your kid, be aware they may still have to do another year of primary school when you get to Australia
#7
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 28
Re: Advice regarding schools
The academic year starts in January/February. There isn’t the same application process, basically you need to find the home you want to live in (usually based on where you’ll be working and what other things you want in a suburb) and there will be a local school that is obliged to find them a space. The exceptions are selective High Schools which will start their selection process in the next 2-3 months. Private schools often require you to have had names on a waiting list since conception. If you want to enrol in a school which isn’t your neighbourhood school it’s up to the school if they are taking out of area enrolments. Kids move all through the year so nothing to worry about whenever you arrive. The only year that it is important that they start in Jan/Feb is year 11 for the 2 year 11/12 course.
Don’t go by what year level the kids are in UK, they could be in quite a different year level in Australia depending on the state you are going to and their date of birth.
Don’t go by what year level the kids are in UK, they could be in quite a different year level in Australia depending on the state you are going to and their date of birth.
My children are December 2011, September 2009 and October 2007 birthdays so from what I can tell they would start year 3, year 5 and year 7 in January 2020. Maybe I have that wrong though?
#8
Just Joined
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 28
Re: Advice regarding schools
We are moving this year so have been doing a bit of research into schools. From what I can tell the Australian school system has an extra year of Primary Schools. Unlike in the UK, secondary schooling is 6 years not 7. Be aware the grading of years is different. Year 6 in UK = Year 5 in Australia, which means secondary schools do start in Year 7 in Australia but the kids are a year older than Year 7 counterparts in UK. It confuses me a lot, but I had it confirmed by family there. Someone on this forum may prove me wrong though. Best to check out, as if the only reason for putting off the move is to have a smooth transition for your kid, be aware they may still have to do another year of primary school when you get to Australia
#9
Just Joined
Thread Starter
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 28
Re: Advice regarding schools
This, pretty much.
If you move to a city the local school will have an intake area and they are required to offer you a place within those boundaries. The Department's web site for whatever state/territory you are moving to will likely have the boundaries publicly available.
Many families do a mix of government/private, keeping their children in the government system until Year 10 and then sending them to the private system for Years 11 and 12.
As Quoll noted, for the best private schools, parents put down a deposit when the child is still an infant and so there are waiting lists. That is not all of them, however, and there will be private schools with openings. As well, if, for example, you are Catholic or Anglican and want your child in a Catholic or Anglican school, you cut the queue.
If you want your kids in a private school I would suggest putting them in the local government school for a year while you get your bearings.
If you move to a city the local school will have an intake area and they are required to offer you a place within those boundaries. The Department's web site for whatever state/territory you are moving to will likely have the boundaries publicly available.
Many families do a mix of government/private, keeping their children in the government system until Year 10 and then sending them to the private system for Years 11 and 12.
As Quoll noted, for the best private schools, parents put down a deposit when the child is still an infant and so there are waiting lists. That is not all of them, however, and there will be private schools with openings. As well, if, for example, you are Catholic or Anglican and want your child in a Catholic or Anglican school, you cut the queue.
If you want your kids in a private school I would suggest putting them in the local government school for a year while you get your bearings.
#10
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 28
Re: Advice regarding schools
Yes, both my kids were offered the opportunity to jump a year (ages 14 and 11) but didn't. Something to think about. My daughter, her decision, took her foot off the pedal and had a jolly nice time making friends for a year. My son, my decision, has a gripe about me every now and then about taking the wrong decision to keep him back. With hindsight, I think they were both bright enough, and mature enough, to jump. You gotta luv hindsight.
#11
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,900
Re: Advice regarding schools
https://www.education.wa.edu.au/web/...ective-schools
It's worth noting that each state and territory has its own Education Department and there can be some differences in how things are run. You haven't specified where you are moving.
#12
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Re: Advice regarding schools
Here is a link to the Western Australia Department of Education's page on selective schools:
https://www.education.wa.edu.au/web/...ective-schools
It's worth noting that each state and territory has its own Education Department and there can be some differences in how things are run. You haven't specified where you are moving.
https://www.education.wa.edu.au/web/...ective-schools
It's worth noting that each state and territory has its own Education Department and there can be some differences in how things are run. You haven't specified where you are moving.
#13
Re: Advice regarding schools
Thanks very much for your reply. So what are selective high schools...are they one up from public high schools? I assume it works on a type of catchment area policy with the local school then, rather than (primary) feeder schools. Where we are now, our local primary school is a feeder school to the high school, so regardless of where you live, you automatically gain entry into that high school.
My children are December 2011, September 2009 and October 2007 birthdays so from what I can tell they would start year 3, year 5 and year 7 in January 2020. Maybe I have that wrong though?
My children are December 2011, September 2009 and October 2007 birthdays so from what I can tell they would start year 3, year 5 and year 7 in January 2020. Maybe I have that wrong though?
Selective High Schools (and iirc not all states have them) are for gifted and talented kids, highly sought after by Asian families in particular who get their kids tutored to the max to get in - very competitive entry, more in Sydney than other places.
Generally, yes, it’s where you live that gets you into a high school - or not, as the case may be, not the feeder primary your kid goes to.
#14
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 12
Re: Advice regarding schools
My daughter was born in Jan, in Scotland we have the opportunity to keep our children back a year if we feel they are not ready to start school yet. The academic year runs from Mar - Feb here. If we move to Australia would she be in the year that applies to her in Scotland or do they go by age only and be a year ahead of what she is here??
#15
Re: Advice regarding schools
My daughter was born in Jan, in Scotland we have the opportunity to keep our children back a year if we feel they are not ready to start school yet. The academic year runs from Mar - Feb here. If we move to Australia would she be in the year that applies to her in Scotland or do they go by age only and be a year ahead of what she is here??