Private versus Public School in Australia
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 6,765
Re: Private versus Public School in Australia
I wonder whom is under the most stress, parents or students? The growing expectation of diligence and high achievement by their kids though, sounds increasingly like an Asian type adaptation to me to the Australian education place.
#17
Spud
Joined: Feb 2011
Location: Avoca Beach
Posts: 565
Re: Private versus Public School in Australia
My daughter goes to a Public School, her three closest friends from early childhood all go to Private School. What can I tell you, their parents all pay upwards of $18,000 per year and our girl is getting better results academically than they are. Her Public School ranks overall at about the same level as the Private school. Our money goes instead on interstate and international trips to support her chosen sport, and she is thriving with full support from her school. Everyone's situation is different, for us Public School was the right decision. She is fast approaching HCS now and will likely do every bit as well as her Private School mates. Personally I cant see why people would pay the fees - Imagine families with three or four kids, that would be heading for $80k p.a.
I think if students are engaged and willing to put in the hard yards, they will do well what ever the school if given the right opportunities. If they are not interested and have no care factor, they will not do so well. All schools and each family situation are different, the key is to do whats best for you and yours.
I think if students are engaged and willing to put in the hard yards, they will do well what ever the school if given the right opportunities. If they are not interested and have no care factor, they will not do so well. All schools and each family situation are different, the key is to do whats best for you and yours.
#18
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Private versus Public School in Australia
My daughter goes to a Public School, her three closest friends from early childhood all go to Private School. What can I tell you, their parents all pay upwards of $18,000 per year and our girl is getting better results academically than they are. Her Public School ranks overall at about the same level as the Private school. Our money goes instead on interstate and international trips to support her chosen sport, and she is thriving with full support from her school. Everyone's situation is different, for us Public School was the right decision. She is fast approaching HCS now and will likely do every bit as well as her Private School mates. Personally I cant see why people would pay the fees - Imagine families with three or four kids, that would be heading for $80k p.a.
I think if students are engaged and willing to put in the hard yards, they will do well what ever the school if given the right opportunities. If they are not interested and have no care factor, they will not do so well. All schools and each family situation are different, the key is to do whats best for you and yours.
I think if students are engaged and willing to put in the hard yards, they will do well what ever the school if given the right opportunities. If they are not interested and have no care factor, they will not do so well. All schools and each family situation are different, the key is to do whats best for you and yours.
If you want school to be all about academic results, HSC results, then you are right, its not worth the money, but if you want it to be about more, if you want your child to be taught the winning formula that they can apply across all areas of life, and to be exposed to a greater many activities, and pursuits, there is no substitute.
#19
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Re: Private versus Public School in Australia
If you want school to be all about academic results, HSC results, then you are right, its not worth the money, but if you want it to be about more, if you want your child to be taught the winning formula that they can apply across all areas of life, and to be exposed to a greater many activities, and pursuits, there is no substitute.
#20
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Joined: Jul 2011
Location: Back in Melbourne
Posts: 312
Re: Private versus Public School in Australia
I would love to know what this is, too.
Clearly, no one with a public school education has ever achieved anything in life!
#21
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Private versus Public School in Australia
Now this is fine if this is where you think a school should aim but what if you wanted more from a school. Somewhere that taught about leadership, to be innovative, to think out of the box, to think global rather than local. For me I would rather a school that taught a student to think and be equipped with the long game skills, not the final exams.
Would I send my kids to private school? Until high school certainly not. There's very little value. What about high school? Well if the child was naturally gifted academically I would probably just go with a state selective school if possible. If the child was average then I would certainly go with the private school to help equip the child with a broader range of personal skills and attributes needed for the later in life.
#22
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Re: Private versus Public School in Australia
My view, as I have always expressed, is each to his own. You can send your kids to whatever you wish as it's none of my business. My problem with the education system is not the schools but the unis. I wish Aus and UK were more like Germany: a vibrant uni and tafe sectors, where it's accepted that not everybody should go to uni. I used to say the Germans made nice cars and played good football, now I add and do education right good. But that's probably a discussion for another thread.
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Thread Starter
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 6,765
Re: Private versus Public School in Australia
Not much to add. Private schools more likely to make future contacts perhaps? All important in networking in later life. There is a sense of elitism bred into those at certain private schools. It has been conveyed to me by participants. Old school tie certainly does work here.
My opinion for those wanting/needing to get out into the world to escape the 'small pond' Australia, not to stat increasingly difficulties and extreme competition in the future do consider what I suggested before.
Get your kids to do the International Bacalaureat. It could well be the best advice you will ever get concerning education..
My opinion for those wanting/needing to get out into the world to escape the 'small pond' Australia, not to stat increasingly difficulties and extreme competition in the future do consider what I suggested before.
Get your kids to do the International Bacalaureat. It could well be the best advice you will ever get concerning education..
#24
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Private versus Public School in Australia
Not at all, old boy. I thought I would extend an invitation to extend your superciliousness. If I may, as a humble state school student, it did come across as a tad patronising. Good sales patter, though.
My view, as I have always expressed, is each to his own. You can send your kids to whatever you wish as it's none of my business. My problem with the education system is not the schools but the unis. I wish Aus and UK were more like Germany: a vibrant uni and tafe sectors, where it's accepted that not everybody should go to uni. I used to say the Germans made nice cars and played good football, now I add and do education right good. But that's probably a discussion for another thread.
My view, as I have always expressed, is each to his own. You can send your kids to whatever you wish as it's none of my business. My problem with the education system is not the schools but the unis. I wish Aus and UK were more like Germany: a vibrant uni and tafe sectors, where it's accepted that not everybody should go to uni. I used to say the Germans made nice cars and played good football, now I add and do education right good. But that's probably a discussion for another thread.
And the result is I would send my own kids through both systems at different stages of life.
Agree with you on uni's. Given the state of uni's and the preparation they give students for their work careers, the private school extra's (not the academic side) becomes more valuable.
#25
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 392
Re: Private versus Public School in Australia
Not much to add. Private schools more likely to make future contacts perhaps? All important in networking in later life. There is a sense of elitism bred into those at certain private schools. It has been conveyed to me by participants. Old school tie certainly does work here.
My opinion for those wanting/needing to get out into the world to escape the 'small pond' Australia, not to stat increasingly difficulties and extreme competition in the future do consider what I suggested before.
Get your kids to do the International Bacalaureat. It could well be the best advice you will ever get concerning education..
My opinion for those wanting/needing to get out into the world to escape the 'small pond' Australia, not to stat increasingly difficulties and extreme competition in the future do consider what I suggested before.
Get your kids to do the International Bacalaureat. It could well be the best advice you will ever get concerning education..
Public system does very poorly with kids with special needs. That should not prevent them from gaining a decent education.
Not all parents I have observed send their kids for a status, they send them for the best education they can afford or believe will benefit their kids.
#26
Lost in BE Cyberspace
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Joined: Oct 2008
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Re: Private versus Public School in Australia
However your post does distract from the advantages private can provide to students who need that smaller class size and additional resources.
Public system does very poorly with kids with special needs. That should not prevent them from gaining a decent education.
Not all parents I have observed send their kids for a status, they send them for the best education they can afford or believe will benefit their kids.
Public system does very poorly with kids with special needs. That should not prevent them from gaining a decent education.
Not all parents I have observed send their kids for a status, they send them for the best education they can afford or believe will benefit their kids.
I suppose private schools are better for those with special needs. One thing parent pressure would likely be far greater than a public school. With high fees come high expectations.
One would expect they would offer more in additional opportunities such as learning music. Perhaps (not sure) a greater choice of learning a language?
Up to the parents to gauge if money well spent at the end of the day.