I'm afraid I couldn't say hand on heart that there are any which I would recommend. I reckon that there are systemic issues with education here - so although you may well reduce discipline issues by sending your child to Applecross, Rossmoyne etc they will still unfortunately be a part of the same education system.

If you have a strongly academic child I reckon WA could be a disaster. I'm sorry but I feel that strongly. The other issue (which I admit I have less knowledge about) is that there are just not the places available at UWA for high demand courses such as Vet. Science. Not only that but I gather that some degrees have places ringfenced for rural students - making it even harder for metroplotan kids to get in. Essentially there is one decent university along the lines of Manchester, Sheffield, Bristol (but I suspect not as good) and hence a narrower range of courses. You have much more chance of finding something appropriate in the UK.

I know of one student this year who is returning to Europe to study medicine at a very good university. Can't get in in here because there isn't a place avalaible.

Private schools - we have our child down for a place at a very good private school beginning 2011. We have been told that she MAY have a place.

Places at good private schools are like hen's teeth.

For those of you who are interested in what teachers in WA are saying about education here go to www.platowa.com

[QUOTE=brickies wife;4993146] Certainly there are good and bad in all of these groups.

Not quite sure what you're getting at. My comments about discipline were mainly to do with legislative changes not how skilled the teachers are.

Subject specialists having degrees is the norm in the UK. Pay is better in the UK - signifcantly.

[QUOTE=NKSK version 2;4993416] as a parent and not a teacher.... i have teenagers who go to a private school.. it's just down the road..my son drives to school (very handy)... they couldn't be happier.. they love it.. the school has a strong sense of community and all the kids get on....they have loads of friend and they are not snobs... i used to worry about my son as he was bullied at state primary school but it's never happened at this school....my daughter went to state secondary as it was an "academically high standard" but the kids where bitchy so she goes to private now....it doesn't cost that much about $5-7k each annually but has been worth it....many young people i talk to say it's not cool to be clever at state school but totally cool at private...
there is also a kind sort of discipline but not too much bible bashing... it's more moral coaching which is good. from what i know private can be good....

So UK Public Vs WA Private? What would you choose?

Do schools like Hale, Christchurch Grammar, Scotch also fall short?

I don't know the schools you refer to but you cannot compare UK public with Oz private.
In a UK city you may get 20 public and 2 private schools. In an Oz similar size city, you will get 2 public and 20 private schools.

In the UK, out of a choice of 20 public schools you will probably find at least 10 of them very decent. Often those in better neighbourhoods. Over here, the public schools are not so common and accept all that apply. I personally believe "good" public schools here are rare but you are likely to find the better ones in better neighbourhoods.

UK public was fine for me and my family, over here, it has to be private as the local publics are not the best!

Andrew

This is a difficult one - it is very difficult to comment on any one individual school mainly because I don't know them all.

My own view is that the best schools here will not match the best schools in the UK.

My 3 older children all went to state school in UK which was wonderful, they were very happy, no problems at all, and it was so sad when they left to come to oz.

When we moved here (sydney) they went to a very successful public school, that had a good reputation and came tops in everything. My kids hated it.

My 2 girls are very shy and the school didnt know how to deal with it, and they were made to get up and do 3 minute talks to the class and in assembly which they just couldnt do and would just cry and not want to go in at all, the teachers were not sympathetic at all.

My eldest girl couldnt cope with the sports lessons, and was not shown how to play particular games etc that she had never played before. The PE teacher didnt show her or explain how the game went so she wouldnt join in because she didnt want to "look silly" in front of all the other kids, so the PE teacher went along to her class teacher and between them they decided for her to go to see a counsellor wihout even consulting us, (we found this out at a parents evening weeks later) who consequently said that she was just shy and had been through a big move and needed time to adjust and settle in etc.

The kids (the whole school, not just mine) were constantly being pushed, to do better, lots of tests etc and competitions against other schools, which im not saying is always a bad thing, but learning should be fun and enjoyable too. There was a lot of pressure on them.

There was lots of bullying at the school too, which ive heard is very common here and i know that you get it everywhere but it seems more so here.

Eventually we moved the kids from the school, and after lots of research and visiting schools both private and public our 4 children now attend a Rudolf Steiner school, which is absolutely beautiful.
Steiner schools are all over the world and in the UK but i didnt learn about them until i got here.

They enjoy every minute of being there, they are learning, are very happy and having fun, in a very caring , loving environment where the welfare of the child definately always comes first.

Im not saying that all the public schools are going to be the same because im sure they are not, i know people who are very happy with their kids being in them and also the kids are happy too, but i also know lots of people who have had problems, and also everyone is different and what suits one child will not always suit another, im just telling my experience.

Hope its helpful, good luck

Look up some objective research for your answers... start with the internet (google?)... that way you'd remove the "everything is better back home" expat disease and the "everything is better in my new country Oz" disease.

Each state/territory in Oz runs its own education system so standards vary depending on which state/territory you live in.

Access to Universities is far easier on the east coast due to the number of institutions there.... in general terms... the higher your childs year 12 results the more university courses they will have access to.... unless they are dumb but rich and can buy one of the few full fee paying courses..

Some state schols are great... others are rubbish. Same for private schools.

My friend sends her son to an elite private school. His results are only average. He'd probably achieve the same results in a state school but for a fraction of the cost. A few of his friend are idiots too... their parents have spent a lot of money producing their lovable little idiots.

Heaps of private schools in Oz are also religious. If you don't want your kids growing up believing in, or being overly exposed to, supernatural belief systems you could struggle to find a decent secular private school.

As has been said, completely depends on the area and the school. I arrived in Brisbane from South Africa back in 1992 to go into Grade 10 . Was enrolled to start in a local Catholic girls school but parents decided to send us to the local state school instead and it was the best decision ever. It was a 'real-world' experience - a complete mix of children and whilst taking a while to get used to it, we soon found the groups that we fitted in with and were working hard. Great teachers, huge range of subjects and sports and the kind of place where people could find their niche

I have massive concerns regarding this also.
My eldest will be sitting TEE exams when she is still 16 and will not be 17 until the December.
I feel that they are getting them to make long term life choices at too young an age. She has just made her options for years 11 and 12 whereas in the UK she would have only just made her GCSE options !