Hi,

Just looking at schools and I can't work this one out!

According to DET website there are 215 kids in Year 8 at Clarkson High School.

Given that Clarkson is the only state high school serving Brighton, Butler, Clarkson, Mindarie, Merriwa & Quinns (presumably Jindalee too). There are currently a total of 6 state primary schools in these suburbs - surely all the kids in a given year from all those primary schools won't fit? Especially with all the building going on?! Or am I being thick?

Do the DET just expect that X% of parents will pay for private schooling or are there plans for other high schools?

Does anyone have any views on what Clarkson High School is like?

Thanks!

So nobody knows then?! (Or maybe no-one else is bothered)

OK I'll go away quietly and worry about it in the corner then....

Been some mixed reports about the school...........I wouldnt put my kids there, but thats my opinion!!!
Some one will be along to give you their views, just sit tight!!

I would probably ring the school up and confirm this.

Also the school does have a bad reputation, but i think it is on the UP now and i have heard better things about it recently.

Dont think it can do anything but be on the 'up'............couldnt get any worse!

A bit like Carramar and Tapping situation really. Thousands of new houses and two new primary schools with over 1200 kids. Ermmmm....minor detail though DET...no high school in the pipeline. According to the council there are no proposed plans either.
So, if your council up there is Wanneroo council, then yes, you will be expected to send your kids to private school if you want them decently educated. If you can't afford that, and many parents can't, your choice is Clarkson...our choice is Wanneroo. On about the same bottom rung the pair of them!

We nearly bought in Tapping and this was the deciding factor although we didn't realise that where we bought isn't in the catchment we thought it was and have now had to register my girls at private school.

Thanks for the responses guys - think we will start looking at private round here and get some money set aside! Like the area and the primary school, just need to make sure we're OK longer term.....

Got a few years yet before need to worry about high school really, but there you go I'm a worrier!

Jane x

Your maths might be OK.

6 state primary schools - and all may have 1 or possibly 2 classes in each year.

Class size = 25 kids.

6 x 25 = 150 kids.

215 kids allows for 215 / 25 = 8 Year 7 classes feeding in.

If there were 2 classes per Year 7 then this would mean 300 kids (as opposed to 215). 85 kids could conceivably be sent to other schools especially if the senior school as a poor reputation.

Most concerned parents will be looking at Clarkson (a school which I have no knowledge about so can't pesonally recommend or not) and if it is poor, will be either moving areas , paying for private, or pleading with more reputable schools such as Duncraig and Carine further south to allow their kids in.

This is the least of your problems.

Actually getting your kids into good, value for money private schools is the biggest challenge.

My advice would be to get them on the waiting lists asap. Pay the $!00 application fee and the start saving!

Have sent you a PM