LisaT

Hi to all those here in Mandurah now. I have been here nearly 20 months now and all is going well. My boys are 5 and 3 but I am confused about schools at the moment. I have them on the waiting list for Mandurah Baptist but I am wandering about Freddy's. Heard obviously that it's a great school. I don't doubt it at all. My question is how strongly are the kids pushed for results? Can anyone help in this area. Like to know more about the school and how it runs?

mindblower

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Probably the best, but very difficult to get in...wait wait wait I imagine.

NKSK version 2

It runs as part of the Anglican Schools Commission. Essentially, as you probably know, it is a low fee school in the family of St Marks etc.

It will be run as an independent school even though it is part of this group. Anglican ethos but probably is not overtly so - probably not as intense as the equivalent Catholic schools.

Results are pretty good to say that you are paying low fees and I would think the strongest in the area. As a comparison, better than Guildford Grammar - whose fees are probably 3 or more times as much - and better than St Stephen's Carramar. (But weaker than St Stephen's Duncraig and quite a few other higher fee paying schools).

ACE

Undoubtedly the best in the area. This school consistently achieves good academic and sporting results with many students representing WA in a variety of statewide events. The school has excellent discipline, superb facilities including a large oval, soccer pitches, basketball courts, tennis courts etc, a fully functional motor mechanics workshop and wood/metalwork machinery, a huge art area with a kiln and a state of the art performing arts center with a performance space, purpose built music rooms and digital editing equipment. The reputation and ethos of this school attracts and keeps very skilled, high quality full time teaching staff and specialist teachers. The only down side is that it has a very long waiting list, almost impossible to get in unless someone leaves. Although very competitive the best chance of getting in is in kindy, to a lesser extent pre- primary, Year 8 and and in some cases Year 11. The school has scholarships available (both academic and music) which offers another entry route.

Core subject areas are streamed which allows the stronger children to excel whilst the weaker ones are given the support they need. From year 8 the students are prepared for their upper school exams through testing under exam conditions, regular homework, specific study skills tuition and non-compulsory after school maths and Japanese tuition which is included in the school fees. The school is a strong sporting school and as such there are a variety of Inter-house and Inter-school sporting events through out the Year. Music is also very strong at the school and students have the opportunity to study an area of music through weekly 30 minute private lessons. Areas include:
•Flute
•Clarinet
•Saxophone
•Voice
•Trumpet
•French horn
•Euphonium
•Trombone
•Violin
•Viola
•Cello
•Double bass
•Bass guitar
•Classical guitar
•Percussion
•Piano

Click below for more info
http://www.frederickirwin.wa.edu.au/homepage.html

ohippy

No idea about the rest of the school but my daughter is in year 8 and doesn't seem pushed at all, whether this changes as she goes higher up the school I don't know but at the minute she's not doing anywhere near the work I was led to believe she would be given !!
She also loves the school immensely. Personally I'm not so keen.
My youngest will be going to the Baptist in 2011 and they are a lot friendlier and laid back although still with good results. Both my kids are different so they are going to the school that's right for them.

ACE

I am sorry that your experience has not been a good one, if you are concerned about any aspect of her schooling you should talk to the Year co or the director of studies. However, being pushed isn't all about getting stacks of homework just for the sake of it. The transition from Year 7 to 8 is a big leap for students and they are given the amount of homework that it is deemed will benefit them at that stage of their schooling and in quantities that they can cope with. However, if you feel that your daughter isn't getting enough you should talk to someone about it. If homework is your main concern I think you will find that she will get a lot more as she goes through the school and if she is an academically gifted student she will be extended. In my experience all students at Freddys are encouraged to achieve their best which is obviously different for each child. I stand by my statement that more able children are most definitely pushed and the ones that need support receive it.

I think you are right to consider a different school for your youngest as Freddys does not suit everyone.

Good luck at the Baptist College, I hope your experience there proves to be a more positive one .

ohippy

Actually, perhaps I should have been more specific - the area I don't like the school is the office, not the teachers. I will avoid going in at all costs (as will my daughter even when sick !!!). I'm happy with T's progress it's just I was led to believe that the school was a lot harder than it seems to be proving. Whether that's because she's gifted, has the gift of the gab or is just plain lazy remains to be seen. Nothing ever comes home from the school so I presume the teachers are happy with her.
On the other hand the office at the Baptist is the complete opposite as the lady there is always happy and chatty as is the principal .. a much more pleasant experience for me.
BUT, my eldest daughter would have got away with blue murder there, of that I'm sure. Like I said my kids are complete opposites so need different schools which cater for their needs.

ACE

Admittedly the school has a clearly defined set of rules which outline a certain standard of behaviour. All parents are given access to this before they enroll their children and are expected to sign an agreement in support of this. This doesn't suit everyone and the odd few parents who complain about the school being too strict are those who decide that they don't want their children to stick to the uniform, hair, behaviour policies etc Having said that it is a very happy school and the vast majority of the children, parents and staff love it.

There are lots of schools around that are more laid back so you have to decide if it would be right for your kids. To be honest I wasn't sure if this school would be right for my eldest but having experienced it I couldn't be happier with his progress and the amount for homework he gets. In his case he is definately being pushed and he is getting some great results. Personally I wouldn't dream of sending my boys anywhere else but that is just me.

ACE

Whether T is gifted or not remains to be seen and will be reflected in her streaming next Year. The School gets a lot of students who were considered 'gifted' at their primary schools but find the standard much higher and are suddenly average so the major streaming is left until the start of Year 9 when the children have completed several tests, assessments and exams.

I am surprised that nothing ever comes home because the amount of tests, assessments etc that the children have to do should generate a good amount of home study and revision even without homework being set. Also remember the school moratorium states that the students are not to be set any homework or major assignments during the week before exams unless it is directly beneficial to their revision as they should be concentrating revision and home study. Seriously if she isn't getting any homework something is not right because I know that my one and his mates get heaps.

I have been to the Baptist College many times and you are right the office staff there are lovely, very friendly and welcoming. When they called me to offer my eldest a place I told them that he was going to Freddys and they were so happy for us and congratulated me warmly. The office staff at Freddys are more formal but also very nice. They get such a huge number of people and calls coming through the office each day perhaps that's why they seem a bit short.

renth

Are their kids allowed to continue breaking the rules you mention or do they have to comply or leave?

ACE

Absolutely not, they have to comply or leave. 2 months ago a student was expelled for getting a tattoo. If a student turns up with coloured hair or hair too long they are given one day to sort it out if it is not sorted out the parents are contacted and they are sent home until it is. It may seem excessive to some but love them or loath them all the rules are clearly stated in the handbook. In the case of the tattoo the student in question was in Year 11 so she was well aware of the rules.

Depending on the severity of the infringement there is a system of counseling, report cards which are filled in and signed by each teacher that the student comes into contact with throughout the day, lunchtime, after school, Saturday and school holiday detentions, blue note parent notifications forms and parent interviews with the deputy principal or the principal. Once the interview stage is reached, unless there are extenuating circumstances, it is pretty much the end of the road.

The system works really well, the vast majority of the students accept the rules and stick to them. The Year 8's who come from other schools are probably the worst offenders because they are not used to the regime but once they understand how it all works they are fine.

renth

That's good news. My kids are going to go to St Mark's which is in the same group of Anglican schools. One of my kid's enemies is going too. The current school has been unable to deal with that child's behaviour so it's comforting to know that the high school will have more clout.

ACE

I really hope they nip it in the bud as soon as this kid starts high school because it just gets harder as they get older if that behaviour is allowed to continue. As a parent you just feel so helpless, but hopefully they will get on to it straight away. Private schools have far more power than state schools so they should take some kind of action.

It is a terrible situation to be in, my eldest went to a private primary school in the UK and he suffer at the hands of a group of bullies we eventually pulled him out and put him in another private school. He was a bit happier there but he had to leave his friends behind and found it difficult to settle as his self confidence had taken such a hammering. We really resented having to move him when he had done nothing wrong.

LisaT

Hi Ohippy, good to chat to you again. Thanks for the advice. I was going to call round to you and have a chat to see how you found the school. I am concerned about the pushing and amount of homework I must admit but also want to give the kids their best chance. They're only 5 and 3 so it's too early to tell how academic they will be and quite what the right thing for them is.

ohippy

Hey Lisa - call in anytime, you're always welcome !