Currently, we are living in New Zealand and have been now for just over two years. Our daughter has just started primary school and from what we can see the education system seems to be a little bit behind what she would be doing at school in the UK.

Speaking with other mothers who have moved from the UK they also believe that the NZ education system is maybe a year behind the UK

This is obviously fine as long as you stay in the same system, however, we are planning on moving to Australia at some point in the near future and I was just wondering whether anyone had any comments on the Australian standards.

Thank you

I think it varies, depending on individual schools.

Some UK kids are better educated than some Australian Kids, and some Australian kids are better educated than some UK kids.

However, you can get an idea of the averages by looking at the TIMSS 2007 results.
NZ was also tested, but I only have the links for the Australia, England and Scotland results at that link.

You can actually see many of the test questions, and see how each country compared on those specific questions.

Australia is also behind U.K by about a year in my opinion so probably on a par with New Zealand.

Most British people would agree with you but that is only because of their lack of education

My daughter has only just started full time education here in Western Australia. All her peers in the UK have been going since September. That would definitely mean her learning is starting later already but there again she is in a mixed class this year. Pre-primary and Year 1. My feeling is that there is not such an emphasis on all the academic things straight away. My other opinion is that the parenting methods are very different here and that may impact on academic learning. I would be more concerned for my kids if they were moving back to the UK than moving to Australia. Just my feelings though and we are no where near into the system enough to be a great judge of that.

p.s saying that. I would not really have wanted my kids exposed to some of the things the English kids are in the UK. I think they get to be kids a bit longer here. I'm pretty pushy I think but I think the pressure would have been greater in the UK to be at certain levels. You can't seem to have it both ways that easily

The kids start school later here so it's not exactly comparing like with like.

What I have noticed though is how Australian kids are far more advanced in social graces.

It is not drowned at an early age by "head down and shut up" attitudes.

The schools actually foster the developement of personalities and self confidence.

Agree with the 2 previous comments - Oz school kids about 1 year behind the UK - but they work much more on creating a more rounded personality and kids that can get on with each other socially!

Are you still peddling this Year 5/4 claptrap?

I agree with you Bix. At parents evening a couple of years ago I spoke to my 14 year olds (who isn't exactly motivated) English teacher. Her feedback was that he doesn't apply himself as he should but hey he is a great kid and his individuality should continue to be encouraged and when he leaves school he will do well because of his personality and not what english period books he has read. So they do take other factors like being a pleaseant human being into account.

School starting age in Aus was later than in UK. Our then 5 year old had already attended one year and on term of second year before arriving here where he was just old enough to commence in Grade 1.

Some of that may have changed since there has subsequently been alignment between the states and the universal provision of pre-school.

It has been known for some ex-UK parents to insist their precious (or precocious) darlings be put up a year as a result. What tends to happen then as the kids get oder is that the one who is a year younger is behind in physical and social development and can't keep up with their peer group.

Worse would come as they reach puberty, which kid wants to be last in their class to reach puberty?

So, my advice is worry more about the relative physical and social position of your child rather than worrying about them coasting for a year or two repeating what they have learnt elsewhere.

Wonder if there is a correlation between the level of education of the parents and that of the level of complaining of different education systems?

Not assuming higher education leds to higher level of complaining either

R squared = -1

What are you on about ? or what are you on ?

As if someone so fastidious with facts could fail to see what I'm on about...

But the question is why ?

I said and
From that info they can look for themselves, what is wrong with that ?

And why is the fact that England chose to test year 5 kids when the rest of the world tested year 4 kids "in your words "claptrap" or (cheap theatrical trickery)?

Is there something wrong with that being mentioned in a quote, when it is actually correct ? You seem a bit defensive ?