steve_kelly_and_boys

Hi All

we have finally made it to mornington after 2 years of planning

first impressions are we really like it ( only got here last tuesday )

we are currently in a short term holiday rental for a month so we are going to start looking at long term rentals this week

we are aiming for mornington , mount martha or mount eliza

is there anywhere we should avoid in these areas

also we have 2 boys aged 8 and 5 and will start ringing schools this week again are there any schools that should be avoided

are the catchment areas really strict over here as we are a bit in a catch 22 situation do we get the school place and then the house or the other way around

any advice would be greatly appreciated

kelly

steve_kelly_and_boys

anyone have any comments

Smartinis

Hi welcome to Mornington. We have lived here for 4 1/2 years and love it. All the areas you mention are great. If you can get somewhere beachside in Mornington even better, really worth it.
As far as schools go there is quite a selection. Our kids were much older our youngest is now in year 12!! But we have met a lot of people with younger kids as well. As far as catchments go it can be quite tough, you are better renting in the catchment to avoid disappointment, so check with each school, it's not a question of which one is closest!!
If you can afford it then there are some great private schools also worth considering, the best is probably The Peninsula School in Mt Eliza if you have boys (our two youngest have both been there and I couldn't rate it highly enough) but its also the most expensive, so if you have young kids a lot of people wait until year 7. Its worth remembering that at secondary level 50% of kids here go private!! A new, and very good private one is Balcombe Grammar in Mt Martha, worth a look, certainly a bit cheaper. As far as state schools go for primary, I've heard good things of Osbourne schools and Mt Eliza north (just opposite Peninsula). A common route for parents here is to send them to primary upto year 7 and have them on the waiting list for a private school (you would need to do this for a year 7 entry).
The best state secondary here if Frankston High School but you would definately need to be in catchment, that ruled us out as we wanted to live in Mornington, hence the private option for us.
Not an easy choice, hope this helps, feel free to pm me if you need any further help.

ronnie98

Hi, we are moving to safety beach next month, been here since november, we struggled to find places but have got a school place in dramana and Im really impressed with what I see, On the waiting list for padua and balcome mornington is great beach side,

steve_kelly_and_boys

Hi

thanks for the replies

much appreciated

Petals

Osbourne is the primary most people seem to like

High Schools well there are a lot of them and the only state school where you would have a problem getting in at secondary would be Frankston. To listen one would believe that every child who does not go to private or Frankston never gets anywhere, which is not quite true

I sent my children to top Tyabb Primary which is a great little school and then over to Flinders Christian College for secondary.

Bayside Christian College has good academic results too.

Woodleigh is a very good private school and if all of the schools have web sites.

Peninsula my friend's son is there at present and he is doing ok.

A lot of people also send their children up the line to Haileybury, St Leonards, Mentone Grammar.

steve_kelly_and_boys

thanks petals

we may have a long term rental sorted near bentons and are probably going to sign up for it tomorrow as it is the right house for us

before i do is there any roads to be careful near there ( we can't tell having driven around )

please pm me if you would prefer so as not to upset anyone on here

many thanks

kelly