Oh, I went to have a look at the Primary school but I was not over keen on it. Have not heard good reports about the high school either. But everyone has different opinions.

Hi all, Claire we missed your mum yesterday, but i will give that hug fa sure next time we see her

Keebra High, and we WAS told they're doin very well in Sports, but Academic side wasn't too good. We had a tour of the school and the lady showing us around kept on goin on about "and more computers" each time we went into a room ...lol. I'm guessing they've just acquired a load, but to be honest when I asked Ashley about her UK school, she said they used flatscreens and WinXP. I noticed the PC's in Keebra were very old and runnin Win98 & 2000.

Ok, not the bee all, but also the whole feel of the school was not good I'm afraid we all felt like we was walking round a bronx ...lol. There was magnetic walk thru's all over the place, and to be honest a lot of the kids in the classes were just dossing and giving our daughter real nasty looks ...lol

Wasn't good, and to be honest if the only option was Keebra, we WOULDN'T come to Oz!!

Sorry for anyone who maybe has kids there, I dunno, but that's an honest opinion

Rumored to have a big drug problem too!

Now Trinity for example reminded us of our kids UK school. Very clean, kids in strict uniform (keebra they was wearing allsorts!) teachers seemed more on the ball, and we left gutted as it looked ideal, but to none PR's it's gonna be $13,800 per kids per year. I think it's $5,600 ea for State!

Anyway, we've just had a chat with a financial guy and he said with a 30%+ deposit, we should be ok to get a mortgage being none PR. That's what we're right on now as it's looking like $400 pw to rent, or the same for payments on a mortgage!

Pick the right area, and if we don't get PR at least we'll stand a good chance of possibly making a few quid on the house!

We first looked at Ashmore, Benowa, Southport etc, but recently have been looking at Helensvale & Pacific Pines, but this is looking like a bad move because of the area and capital growth if we have to sell.

Got another apt with someone this afternoon, so we'll see what they have to say!

Blah blah ...lol

I get the feeling that you aren't joking about that ? If not.... umm, "lost for words" !!

By "magnetic walk thru's" you do mean metal detector things ?

Hi

Having a good day m8!

Schools - don't know what to say apart from - in the UK there are 'good' and 'bad' ones. If you like us, were lucky enough to live in an area where they were generally ok, then count your lucky stars!

Australia is no different than any where else, sending your child to a 'private' school here or home is an 'expensive' challenge of which not many of us can even afford to think about!!!

In Cairns there are some schools that I know we would not consider sending our then 16 yr old son to! There were one or two but we opted to pay for him to go to T.A.F.E. college, which, in his opinion, is very much like our local one in St. Austell, Cornwall!!!! (attitude wise etc). On a TEMP visa it cost us an arm and a leg, but now we are on PR bearable cost! What can you do eh!We love our kids don't we, and want the best for them

Good luck in finding the right one

Take care
Gill

Yeah fa sure. I said all along cos the kids have done so well in their schooling so far, I REALLY don't want them to slip! My daughter has her head screwed on, and is doing VERY well. The boy, he odes well, but if given the chance he'll mess about! with a firm watch over him, he IS fine

We'll see on the schools tho, we DEF want to leave knowing which will be the one!

Oh and ABC, Ok maybe an exaggeration on the 'Everywhere' but certainly many rooms had Metal detector walk thru things. We was told they were to stop computer stuff leaving the rooms, but I aint sure. After all they'd beep upon entry to the room ?!? It was more of a beep to record the actual person had entered, and maybe to count ?!?! .... I really don't know, but it just looked awful really

Were off in half an hour to go visit the Hairdressing school in Southport so that'll be enlightening I'm sure ...lol

Catch ya later

Didnt think there should be any difference whether you are PR or not here in Qld, thought it was only in NSW, either state or private? And why is it so expensive for a state school anyway?

There may be differences on the different types of Visas, and areas that people settle.

eg:
I can't remember which Visa Paul has.

Only NSW, ACT and Tasmania charge fees for the attendance at government schools by the children of sponsored temporary business residents, 457 visa holders.

Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory do not charge fees to sponsored temporary business residents.

In Victoria and Western Australia, no distinction is made between the children of sponsored temporary business residents and those of other Australian residents.

http://www.immi.gov.au/research/publ...tatebudget.pdf

Jim, regarding schools, do you have to live on the Gold coast, is the other coast an option its just because you say you like the beach etc but the schools are a prob, we were on the gold coast for 3 months about 5 years ago tho and although we found some ok primary and private schools the state highs on the goldie are know to have a reputation, one of them used to have a nickname I could not print on here

There are hairdressing schools in brisbane and sunshine coast, I think the fees for Tafe and private are similar about $9000 a year cause my sons girlfriend trained at one. If you could get into the TAFE course on the sunshine coast the kids are allowed into the Mountain Creek State High school which many people say is very good. There is also The Matthew flinders anglican college, its expensive about $8000 a kid a year, but as you say you may have to pay for state anyway so would that matter?

Just a thought anyway and good for you looking into things so thoroughly.

Hi Paul,

Sounds like you are cramming in so much on this holiday which is good as it gives you a real insight into things, can't believe that about Keebra, I have heard of it but don't know where it is or anything about it. I have heard that Helensvale is one of the best and also Benowa High is another good one, most of the private schools are really good but thats why your paying I suppose, their are lots of good state schools out there so don't give up, I have heard Southport High isn't too good, but I don't know only what I heard, it's the same world over, some good some bad.

It would be good if you could buy, but check it out fully as we were told you can't get a morgage if you have no income coming in, but that was only from the banks, if you shop around you might get lucky. One of the best places to buy at the moment is Coomera, and its supposed to be the next boom place, as they are building a big shopping mall, and your close to the motorway and the theme parks, also try the schools in Coomera they are supposed to be good.

Hope it goes well at the hairdressing school, they are a really nice bunch of ppl, especially the principal who is also a pom, I will call you and see how it went.

I will try and find out what other schools are supposed to be good, I don't really know as my kids aren't high school age, and can only go by what people have told me. I also had to pay to send my kids to state school when I was on my student visa, its a ridiculous amount of money but just stick in, once you get here on your student visa the 2 years will go by so quickly and before you know it you'll be a PR, then it's all worth while.

Lisa

I have heard that Helensvale is one of the best .


I can remember at least 3 reports in the last 5 years of parts of the school being torched, so maybe some of the kids don't rate it too highly?

My wee one is in Upper Coomera Stage College and he loves it. He's only 7, but they meditate before class to focus!!! He's done all sorts of projects and clubs and activities. I really like it, and they have won 3 awards & have only been open a few years. He's jumped from reading level 17 to 27 in a few weeks. But it depends on age of your children as they are still to open the upper years (not sure which ones). Depends on when you were hopeing to move and if it's open yet for upper years.

Ok, well the latest ...lol

Oh b4 I say, we're doin the Hairdressing course at the Brisbane School of Hairdressing, Gold Coast campus because their course is exempt from needing 900 hours to get a positive TRA. The TRA have introduced this with all Cert III certificates to get a positive assessment! As far as I know only the BSOH has this exemption because of how their school is run, giving over 1200 hours 'on the floor' experience!

After all, getting PR is the main goal here!

Ok, well we have fallen in love with Pacific Pines. We spoke to a girl in a bakery today (no one gets away with us! ...lol) and she was 16. She said she had a few friends in Helensvale who like her moved up from Sydney, but they have dropped their grades since goin to Helensvale. She was at Pacific Pines High School and said she was doin well, said the school was quite strict! ?!?! Horses for courses I know, but we're badgering everyone we come into contact with! ...lol

We went to PP High school earlier today and was free to stroll around the premises. I must admit, it looks very nice with 'lots of computers!' ...lol.

We waited outside for the kids to finish at 3pm then was told to come in. I must say, i didn't see anything too bad with their behaviour when leaving, a few eggs at the car, but that was fine! ...lol. Naaah, all good!

We're goin to Helensvale High on Friday for a look there, so we'll just see how the 'feel for the school' goes. PP as I say was fine.

We've probably viewed more houses in Oz than we have in the UK, and we've made 3 purchases in the UK ...lol, but HAVE to say it's just soooo easy! we'll pop into a Real Estate office and within 10 mins we're in the house checking everything out! ...... amazing!! .... but at the same time, I know the market isn't moving too well, and they're ALL trying to bite your arm off!

Also, as soon as they hear an English accent, they swear your coming over 'minted!' ...lol

Anyway, even tho we have been offered every kind of deal/contract inc 'no commit till UK house sold', we have refrained from signing anything! altho believe me, if it was up to the missus we'd of prob bought about 4 houses by now ...rofl

I know what we want now, I know where we will hopefully settle, and by thew weekend I think we'll know which school the kids will hopefully go. PP have said a place for them both will not be a problem within the next 6 months!

Oh and while me and Nic was out viewing houses, we dropped the kids at Wet & Wild for the day. They said it was empty, and cued for not one ride! .... straight on whatever they wanted! Ok, It's Winter, and was even cloudy today, but still, a big theme park like that and NO CUES!! ...lol ..... unreal!

Anyway, that's the latest, but I feel we better finish off our last week or so with getting out as I think I've seen enough 4 bed, 2 bathroom, 2 PLUG's for a lifetime! ...lol

Paul, just a quickie Did you have to make an appointment to see the schools? I will be over for a few days and want to have a look at both Helensvale and Pacific Pines but not too sure when I will be on GC. It would obviously be more polite to ring first, which I will probably do but wondered if you could just pop in


Keep giving the info, very useful. Are you asking everyone you meet, whatever the reason, about the local schools pmsl

Hi Paul

just caught up with your thread, sounds like your having a brilliant time, what a turn around, sounds fantastic and well deserved

hope you bag a good school and house. enjoy the rest of your trip.

soooooo jealous Kay