Willij

Hi,

I know exactly what you mean.

My main concern is matching the school to my child. It's been said on another thread that a bright, confident child will do well in any school - state or private, which is probably true. How, however, do you find a school that will enable a not so confident child to achieve to the best of their abilities.

bezzanbob

As a teacher and as a parent the one thing that I believe does make a difference to the 'not so bright child', who would not necessarily do well in any school, is a smaller class size.

You can achieve this in a few different ways - live in a remore area - speak an uncommon language - have a specific faith - pay for it.

We have a not so bright child - the smaller class has made a huge difference.

Bezza

The_Pom_From_Aus

I note that there is NO state schools in your listing, people can save money if there kids are academic. tell people to look at Yr12 results with state against private, then they will get the true results.????

Smartinis

We moved to Mornington 18 months ago had had the same concerns with schools for our two youngest boys both now 13 and 17. We looked at all the schools you mentioned, Frankston High was good but the catchment area means you would have to at least live in Frankston South not Mount Eliza and finding a nice house to rent in the catchment we decided was not viable and we certainly didn't want to buy there. The school made it clear that if you moved out of catchment they could take away the school place, its that competetive to get in they don't want people renting for a few months just to get the address!!

None of us including the boys liked Mount Eliza School, nothing specific but just not upto the standard ours had had at state school in the UK, so ours go to The Peninsula, great school and they love it. All year 12's last year applying for uni got their places, and as 1 in 3 in Victoria last year failed to get in makes you wonder doesn't it!!

If you consider schools like the Peninsula though apply early from the UK, we did and when we got here they told us that the school was full. I said I was disappointed because I'd been in touch with the school, sent school references etc for the boys but not heard anything. They said 'are you the Smart family' I said yes and they dug out the boys files and said that they had offered the boys places by email which I never received "thanks AOL" but because I hadn't accepted them they had given the places away!!! I was devastated, but they interviewed us showed us around and the deputy head said that they would honour the offer and find both boys places.

If you want more info on the school please let me know, its very sporty though so if you don't want to have to do Saturday sports go elsewhere!!! Ours love sport so they are in their element. Be warned though it is as pricey as they tell you and that is only the start of it. Bur if ours do as well as they are doing at present though and get into the uni courses they want then it will be money well spent. Our eldest is at James cook uni up in Townsville doing Marine Biology, so if anyone needs info on uni entrance, again been there once and just about to start again with second son, but looks like he will stay in Melbourne at least, wants to be near his mates etc!!

Shakmaty

Thanks for noting that.

Read this properly to see what the thread is about:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...40&postcount=1

Read this to see some of my opinions:

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showp...04&postcount=9

The_Pom_From_Aus

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I do think that most kids can gain confidence where ever they are given the right environment & right teachers, & there are out there believe me.

arthur

Willij

This reminded me of something I have been thinking about for a while. Namely, that the different states of Austarlia are so diverse and could be thought of as akin to some of the states in America.

I know i'm going to get shot down for this but here's my suggestions:

Syndey - New York
Rest of New South Wales - Kansas
Melbourne - Boston
Victoria - 'New England'
Queensland - California
Northern Territories - Alaska
Western Australia - New Mexico

Ozzidoc

Interesting concept - I tend to agree.....but where's Tasmania? That'd be more like New England.

And did you know that the AVERAGE age of a mum giving birth in New Mexico is 16!?! I'm sure that WA is not quite like that

Willij

Oops, sorry Tassie (especially since I can't wait to visit you).

Must admit I have very limited knowledge of the U.S - what would you compare W.A. to ?

Ozzidoc

I'm not sure - I've actually never been to WA, but I would have thought that NM was a fair call.

Kapri

Hi Shakmaty - do you know which of the state schools are good?
When it comes down to it if we have to cut back a bit to pay for a private school then we will. We wouldn't be able to afford an expensive private school though.