extrobe

Hi,

We're eyeing up north Sydney (Bella Vista area) for our move.

We've looked into what schools are in the area for our 7-year-old daughter.

Is there generally any problem getting children into a state school mid-year?
We know we have to pay the relevant fees, as we'll be on 457 visa, but unsure whether we need to verify the local school will accept our daughter if she's within the catchment area, or if we need to contact all the local schools directly first to find out if they have a place.

Thanks for any tips

ETA: Sorry, should have noted 'Sydney' in the title, but can't change it now

old.sparkles

But I can - done

quoll

Shouldn't have too much trouble see here http://www.decinternational.nsw.edu.au/study/schools/temporary-residents

But I thought I read somewhere some time that if a school had no places then temporary visa holders could be declined but offered a place in a school elsewhere. I doubt that happens often though.

extrobe

Thanks for the link - pretty sure I've come across that one, but good to refresh! (Read so much last few weeks!)

and that's my worry really - my wife doesn't drive (though she's frantically trying to rectify this before we travel!), so need to be in walking distance of a school. (say, around 1km) so if a school was unable to take her, it would mean trying to get her to a different one via public transport

We'll just have to hope for the best - my daughters a little beauty anyway, so we'll charm our way in

Crystaltipps

Hi there,

We're possibly ping-ponging back to Sydney after being back in the UK for the past 5 years. When we were there before (on a 457) we wouldn't have been granted a place at my preferred primary school (Neutral Bay) as they don't accept non PRs :-(

*This doesn't seem to be the norm though - Neutral Bay is really oversubscribed*

We will have PR this time but according to the secretary, will need to provide a 12 month lease agreement within the ever-shrinking catchment area. Just hope it doesn't take too long to find a rental.

Also wondering if they'll boot the kids out of the school if we move out of the area after 12 months!

extrobe

I think we had to do the same for our UK infant school - or certainly something along those lines - and we're just a small market town!

We're re-evaluating where we think we might stay, with one option we're exploring being a little further North - Berowa or similar, so hoping it might be a little less concerned about TR's coming & going.

al dente

Don't worry too much about walking as you can also do buses. My friend has four children in the Northern Suburbs and they are all in different schools. The oldest were on the bus from 10 by themselves. At 7, I'm sure parents are still travelling with them though!