Hi
have decided that we want to move to Perth in January so that my 14 year old son can start school at the beginning of a school year. Advise needed for which school (cannot afford private) looking around the Yokine area but can go further afield. need all the help i can get as leaving husband behind to carry on trying to sell the house!!

Yokine might be in the catchment area for Mt Lawley SHS or Perth Modern Schools. Both EXCELLENT. (Perth modern might a select school only, it is like a grammar school)

My advice is to get into the Mt Lawley zone.

I would agree if the OP is going to live in Yokine there are parts that may be covered by Mirrabooka SHS.

Looking at the catchment map for Mt Lawley http://www.lawley.wa.edu.au/services...egory=choosing, most of Yokine would appear to be within it. Bit hard to see, but northern boundary seems to be Woodrow Ave, eastern boundary Homer St which becomes Dundas Rd, and Flinders St on the western side of Yokine. You'd have to contact the school to confirm (and ask them for a better map online). Perth Modern Schoool is selective school, so no local catchment.

thank you all soo much for answering the question, how kind!!
what does selective school mean for the Perth school??

thank you soo much for answering the question, how kind!!
what does selective school mean for the Perth school??

You have to sit an exam to get in. I can only liken it to Grammar School. Top 2% apparently.

thank you. I don't suppose you would know costs or how difficult the exam would be??
Just out of interest how long have you been in Perth?

The kids sit an exam in Year 6 or Year 7 (can have another go in Year 9, I think) - not sure if the 11+ was/is a similar thing. There is one school that is totally selective, about 200 places per year (Perth Modern). There are also other gifted and talented programme imbedded in various state high schools, such as Mt Lawley. As well, there are other programmes run within schools to provide extension for these kids. More info here http://www.det.wa.edu.au/curriculums...detcms/portal/. As far as I remember, the test was about $45 and I think that applications to sit the test open up in about Oct/Nov each year. Some kids have sat the exam from overseas.

Thanks once again. I have just looked on their site and we need a permanent visa, and with our business visa it is only temporary for the moment. I think we will try and go with Mt Lawley.

Thanks for all who helped. Another querrie, has any one got an opinion on which school is better, Mt Lawley or Shenton?
thanks

Shenton's Year 12 results are usually higher by a fair way, see http://bettereducation.com.au/Results/WA/all.aspx. There are different ways to view the data, so have a play around with the links. I know parents with kids at both and they're all happy. Have a look at the different programmes they offer, eg if your child wants to do French and it's not offered at one school, but is at the other, or they're really into drama and it's only offered at one school. You also have to look at catchment areas, rentals (cost and availability), public transport, where you work, shopping facilities and all the other things that make you want to live in one suburb rather than another.

once again thanks.
What sort of rents am i looking at for just my son and myself, only need a small place for the first 6 months until my husband can join us??

The usual websites are www.reiwa.com.au, www.realestate.com.au and www.domain.com.au. If you look on those, you can note which agents specialise in areas that you're interested in, and contact them directly as they know which properties are becoming available and you can also get on their mailing lists.