Molly Coddle

Anybody out there with kids who go to BSH.?

Looking for any info about it at all, thank you.

goldchoccycoin

Don't have kids there but it has a great reputation (academic, sporting and arts). People move into the catchment specifically to get their kids in there and the higher inner city rent is justified by not having to pay for private secondary.

It ranks well in league tables (for what they're worth) and is definitely a top state school within Brisbane. It is nigh on impossible to get a child into BSHS if you don't live in catchment though unless they get a scholarship.

Molly Coddle

I think if we are going to move to Brisbane I would move into the catchment area just to try and get my boys in.


I have sent them an email today asking for further information regarding the enrolment process. Hopefully I shall hear from them soon.


I just wondered if anyone on here had children there and what they thought of it, it's always nice to get both sides, the parents and the schools.

Thanks for your reply.

Kim67

Know heaps of kids there and know adults that went there - all very happy with it. I'd send my kids there. People train their kids up for years to try and gain entry.

fish.01

It is one of the foundation members of the GPS association, and the only govt school member, so your kids get to row down the river with all the kids going to the $20,000/annum schools

Molly Coddle

Sounds great, my youngest son likes sailing, I know it's not rowing but there are similarities, like, erm, water...


Unfortunately fish there's no room at the inn, in other words no places for my boys in 2014. I received an email from them today.

goldchoccycoin

There are other highly regarded state schools - depends where you want to live. I can recommend Indooroopilly SHS on the west side (only 15 mins to the CBD by train).

fish.01

Did you say you would be in the catchment...have always understood that every govt school 'must' admit your children if in catchment...they leave spaces for those who move in-catchment during the year ?

Molly Coddle

Yes I believe so, I'll be looking in to them, thanks.

Yes I told them we were moving into the catchment area, they said the spaces for 2014 had been filled and I should consider looking at another school, the cheeky sods! They were just fobbing me off fish, I know exactly what they were playing at. And I do feel it's partly to do with the fact that we are English, I wish I hadn't told them that now.


Anywaaaaayyy!........I have to ask myself do I want to take it further. I could look into the situation a lot deeper and maybe make some phone calls, speak to a few people and really find out whats going on and where I stand and also what chance I do actually have and what I can do about it, if anything.
Is it worth the hassle, time and more stress? I haven't made my mind up yet. I've a lot to think about.

bcworld

Why do you think that? I'm pretty sure that it wouldn't be true.

The school will be full of students not born in Australia...or you think the English are specifically targeted?

goldchoccycoin

Personally I don't think it's anything to do with your Nationality (it's a multicultural school) - and I would push it further. If you will definitely be living in the catchment - it's as good as most private schools for less than 10% of the cost.

jad n rich

Brisbane is far more multicultural than most would think. Used to catch a bus from CBD to north brisbane around 3pm. You would see kids of every colour and nationality , a real mix. Race is unlikely to be an issue.

But BSH is sought after by half the parents in brisbane ( not a scientific figure, more a figure of speech ) .

Most schools will only speak to you once you turn up with the Title deed to a property in the catchment or a lease and 3 other items of proof.

Some of privates charge 20k+ PA for that sort of education, so imagine the line up for the sort of education with the prestige factor for free. You are beating at a door with hundreds of others with the same request weekly.

In general IME while looking at prestige schools, we found if your child is a genius with some record of that, they might invite him to sit an exam. He may also be a meat head but very good at sport with some record of that and could have a really good chance of getting in. Keep in mind for university you get more bonus points for sport than you do for any academic genius, second language etc. Sport rules.

My partner was running a large job site meters from one of the prestige schools, son was in the top 5% 2% in some subjects in the grade 9 QLD and NSW university tests, had a second language, all they wanted to know was was he good at sport, he is crap at sport so that was that.

If its a church school and you really do attend church you might slip in. Plus I think other factors sneak in, you or your husbands not a Pilot or Specialist ?

Really after 3 kids going through school, last one finished last year, the biggest factor is how much work will they do? Teen boys are not exactly the most motivated of people, and putting them in a school with the most motivated and competitive kids ( read parents ) means they will be under incredible pressure and workload to get even average marks.

moneypenny20

I'd say it's more to do with the fact that you're not even in the country so they're not going to put a 'space' to one side for you when someone of whatever nationality could rock up in person to the school tomorrow wanting their child to start asap.

Molly Coddle

The school has a high percentage of Asians and Asian children are known for being hardworking and dedicated to their studies. Western children tend not to have the same work ethic as Asian children, I'm not saying they are all lazy, even though some are, and you probably think I'm stereotyping, but it's well known that on the whole Asian children get better results than Western children when studying in Western countries. It's to do with their often strict up bringing and the respect they have for their parents and the pure determination to better themselves. And there's absolutely nothing wrong with that! In fact I wish Western children/parents were more like that as our laid back attitude just doesn't seem to cut it.

So without trying to get all political, the school will obviously prefer the more dedicated hardworking students who give 110%, after all it's these students who are pushing the schools ratings up.
Of course they would/could never admit this and they could never be seen to be 'picky' but I used to work in a school who did just that, it happens whether we like it or not.

So let's say for example there is one place left in year 10, and there are three children applying for the place. It's the early stages of the application process and at this point all the admin staff really know about the children is that two of them are British and one is Chinese. Who do you think they would prefer to enrol?

I mean it could back fire, the Chinese kid could turn out to be a little shit with an IQ of 70 and the two British kids could both be highly intelligent and respected members of Mensa. But the odds of that are low and the teachers know this.

So it's stereotyping at it's best, it happens everywhere whether we like it or not.

Yep you make some good points there Jad.


Yeah, it could be

Molly Coddle

Sorry gold only just spotted your post.


Yes it looks a really good school and if it's cheaper than a private one then that's even better.