Schooling in Australia
 

Wanting to hear from moms and dads, How do you find the state schooling in Australia? How does it compare to the education held in the uk? Better, worse? Kids settling in? Hidden costs? that sort of thing...

I have two daughters (6 and 4) Relocating to Oz in the near future, was just wondering, if anyone had any info they would kindly share.

Thanks : )

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

It's luck of the draw. We removed our daughter from the state system within three years and found a suitable private school. Around 30% of kids go to private school here.

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

In which city/state? Private or public? Religious or not? Specific religion?

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

Hi, can't compare to the UK as our 7 year old twins have only ever gone to school in Australia. We find the schooling here to be pretty good, the class sizes are in the low 20s and the teachers our children have had to date have been good. I'm sure it varies from school to school though, our school is considered a "school of choice" and as such I presume it must be one of the better ones!

Parents tend to be very involved with the schools here. I am on the school council, and my wife has done reading practice with our children's classes twice a week since they started prep. She also volunteers in the canteen and on the parents association. Most families give up some time to help with the school.

Fundraising is also very big, the government funds state schools but we do have to pay charges of about $400 per year per child on top of this, although there is an education tax rebate of a similar amount which means that only taxpayers get the rebate, may or may not be a good thing. And there are lots of fundraising events, from the school fair which takes over $50,000 in one day a year, to dances and quizzes and kids stuff.....

Hope that helps.

BB

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

For average or middle of the bell curve is fine for state school. Then finding a good state school will result in appropriately priced rental properties or paying a premium if buying to get in the right zone.

If your children are at either extremes ie very bright or with needs you will find the state system difficult.

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

Sounds about right.

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

Thank you everyone for your comments, great help and advice, you have put my mind at rest!

(Moving to the perth area (within 1 hour commute) wont have the funds available for private schooling) so will get searching for the good state schools, schools will come first, then housing. Depending on price!)

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

In my opinion: Schools in QLD are decades behind the UK which means that the education is crap but the pressures are far better. I don't think that WA is much better.
I would strongly recommend the private sector which is very much cheaper than the private schools in the UK but aim for a Catholic school as their education and discipline are generally good. They are also heavily funded by the church which means that they are far cheaper than most other private schools.

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

Very true.

Another problem is the decent private schools usually have gimassive waiting lists.

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

Backward academically to UK for sure.

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

Hi there,
Here's some info that you might find useful.

If you are using the public school system, the chances are you will need to live within the school catchment area of the school you choose. School catchment areas are available on most school websites.

The better the school, the more strict they will be, due to demand. They have to take you if you're in the catchment, unless it is an Independent Public School, who can pick and choose to some extent, but will only refuse you if your kids have a poor record.

This is a great website to get info on schools http://www.myschool.edu.au

This is the Education Department Web Site with all 815 public schools in http://www.det.wa.edu.au/schoolsonline/

Most schools offer academic programs which you can apply for, to get you child into a certain school, which is in an area you don't live. These programs can range from gifted and talented, to sports programs and different school have different options.

Our sons school offers, academic extension, plus Music (classical guitar) football and basketball specialist programs. Our son is on a basketball program, to get into the school and we do not live in the area.

He had to sign a contract that detailed if his misbehaved and become disruptive to the school, he will loose his scholarship and have to leave the school, as we are not in the catchment area..... Keeps him on his toes!

Do your research, the primary school you choose may not feed into a good secondary school, research, research research. ;)

Rent a house in the catchment area of the school you choose, then generally you can move out of catchment, though check with the school. Your potentially in a great position to start a new life, pick great schools for your kids..... Enjoy the journey. :thumbsup:

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

Hi there, were also moving to Perth in the simmer and have two girls (6 & 4). Where are you looking? We are looking SOR

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

State schools are hit and miss - just like UK, some good some bad, depending on catchment area. We considered a private Catholic school but weren't happy with the single sex ethos (which applies to most private schools in Australia). In 'egalitarian' Australia there's actually a lot of snobbery in the schools, it's just more based on money. We also heard that the private school we were thinking of was very sport-oriented to the point that kids who weren't into rugby/cricket etc were virtual outcasts.
We found a state school in Sydney that is great - a nice mix and the kids are well adjusted and grounded.

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

Which school is this so that I can use it as some sort of benchmark?

Re: Schooling in Australia
 

http://bettereducation.com.au/SchoolRanking.aspx

This is a 'useful' site which details schools' rankings according to academic results . Of course these are Australian standards though which do not really reflect those schools that are more IB oriented.

We have chosen the private single sex IB /option as we like the idea of a more international education that does not emphasise regurgitated rote learning and the subsequent exams which put immense pressure on kids.

If you cannot afford top tier schools there are plenty of other private options which are much more affordable, and are based further out of town. Again, if you can afford the more expensive residential areas ("Golden Triangle!" that is e.g. Dalkeith, Shenton Park, Nedlands, Cottesloe, Wembley etc....) then the public primary schools are generally very good. These then feed into Shenton College which I believe is excellent academically and in extra curricular activities.

Feel free to PM me as I've done a fair amount of research on schools in Perth.