lyndseynpaul

Hi

We are in the process of researching primary schools on the gold coast, we have 2 boys, one aged 5, the other 10.
We are looking to relocate between Ashmore down to Palm Beach areas. Just wondering of anyone has any dealings with / or recommendations for local schools.

many thanks
Lyndsey

GoldCoastMag

Hi, in the area you are looking there are so many to choose from, this Govt site may help. I liked my kids schools, but as that was a few years ago now, I have no idea of the current thinking.

Most will welcome visits and you can check their websites when you know exactly where you will be living.

This gov site is a start <http://education.qld.gov.au/directory/schools/index.html>

hope it helps, good luck

moneypenny20

Put this further down your list of things to do. That's my opinion anyway. There are very few poor primary schools on the coast, can't think of a bad one. They are all flexible, family orientated and you should have no problem finding one that suits your child/ren once you're here.

Get here, work out what suburb is best for you work wise and look around then. I would never choose a suburb here based on a primary school and would also not want to recommend one. Whilst they are all similar, some schools will fit one child but not another one and only you will know, when you and your child look around the schools as to whether the fit will be a good or bad one.

perhaps

Can I just ask, do you have to go to your 'local' school -catchment areas and all that or are you free to go where there is room?

moneypenny20

Some, not many, primary schools have catchment areas. Most don't. Obviously it's better to be close to the school so the children have easy access to friends. Gets to be a pain having to drive kids to play dates.

fish.01

I think it depends on the terminology. All schools have a catchment and students who live within are guaranteed a place. But only some school catchments are 'enrollment managed' which means enrollments have come under pressure and you may not get a place if you live out of catchment. You still may though.

All the other schools that are not enrollment managed would still probably have a place for your child even if you live outside their catchment.

Some Gold Coast schools that are 'enrollment managed' include:

- Arundel State School
- Benowa State School
- Biggera Waters State School
- Caningeraba State School
- Clover Hill State School
- Coomera Springs State School
- Currumbin Valley State School
- Helensvale State High School
- Helensvale State School
- Pacific Pines State High School
- Pacific Pines State School
- Highland Reserve State School
- Palm Beach-Currumbin State High School
- Ormeau Woods State High School
- Park Lake State School
- Robina State School
- Tamborine Mountain State High School
- Upper Coomera State College
- Varsity College
- Worongary State School

Just because they are on this list doesn't mean you can't apply from out of catchment. They usually become 'enrollment managed' because:

- the site capacity of a school is under pressure now, or has this potential in the future, from out of catchment enrolments;

- a school's development of a distinctive approach to meeting school and community needs has the potential to impact on enrolments;

- a new school is opened (An enrolment management plan is drafted prior to commencement of operations of the school since new schools can potentially attract large numbers of students who live outside the local catchment area).

(Source: http://education.qld.gov.au/schools/catchment/)

Don't know about the Gold Coast but in Brisbane an enrolment managed school sometimes indicates it is a good school with many trying to get in.

moneypenny20

From my experience I would say that's probably not the case down here. Not to say that those listed aren't good, they are but many many others are as good and there doesn't seem to be a queue trying to get in, not with the primarys any way.