bogwopit

Hi folks, I posted the other day wanting to get an insight on schools in the area. I didn't get a reply. We should be moving to this area quite soon and feeling concerned as where to have our girls schooled. We have two, one is 14 and the other is 11. Both are doing well here in the UK, Any (14) is doing really well and doing triple science. I need a school that can offer good teaching support in science as these are her chosen subjects. We shall base for the schooling. Hubby shall be working in Tomona so at the moment we are thinking Havelock North or Napier area. Any advise and the sort of cost we need to take into consideration would be a great help. Will a 14yr old settle in? I'm beginning to think what are we doing to our kids. Any feed back would be great.

Thanks

cally49

Im not 100% sure as my boys are now grown men but i thought that there were zonings for schooling in New Zealand so if you live in a certain area thats where they go to school someone else i am sure will be along to put me right on that.

Have you googled Private schools in Hawkes Bay to see if there are any private ones around where you will be living. Are you going to be living in actual Hastings town its not very far from Havelock. Have a look here as it mentions a couple of private schools.
http://www.hawkesbay.com/Education__1476.aspx?Type=313

My son lives in Napier but his son is only 1yr old so no dealings with school there.

All the best for your move
Cally

cally49

Also found this for you maybe contacting theses guys may help you as they will know the best schools for science study and also your daughter may be able to do extra study through here (I think the fees are quite high for overseas students at institute of technology establishments though so if you have PR that could make a difference)
http://www.eit.ac.nz/news_and_events...logy_fair.aspx

bogwopit

Thanks Cally 49, We aren't major league where money is concerned but will try to accommodate the kids education as this move is to improve there lives as much as the 'family'. I'm just searching for a balance. I shall have a look at the info you have forwarded. Let's hope that all these decisions we are making are the right ones. Last October we started the process since then so much has changed, the girls are that bit older (scary). The global down turn etc.....At the end of the day I'm sure its a positive move. Nothing ventured nothing gained. Cheers

MooMoo290373

Hi

Like yourselves we are hoping to be in the same area sometime in April we have found this website to be quite helpful.http://http://www.indexnz.com/Region/Hawkes-Bay/Schools

hope link works for you

MooMoo290373

oops link did`nt work will try again:curse:
http://www.indexnz.com/Region/Hawkes-Bay/Schools

bogwopit

Thanks Moo Moo, I've just checked it out still seems a mine field, I guess it shall be a case of see how they do when they get there. Good luck with your plans too.

luvwelly

http://www.tki.org.nz/e/schools/
Use this Government site to find schools, you can search by geographical area then you can check their ERO reports (like Ofsted) on this site www.ero.govt.nz

Choosing your kids a school that is a good fit for them is probably the biggest single factor in their settling in happily so I really wouldn't just wait and see. Make a short list and then rent in the zone when you arrive. All schools have websites.
That area seems to have more areas of deprivation than Wellington region...a clue to this will be the decile rating of the schools... I saw a decile 1 one on that other list you were given...junior schools are likely to have higher deciles than secondary schools because they take from a narrower geographical area.....if you think you will stay also consider being in the zone of your preferred secondary school.
As a rough guide, the higher the decile the better...
From Gov Website:
'A school's decile indicates the extent to which the school draws its students from low socio-economic communities. Decile 1 schools are the 10% of schools with the highest proportion of students from low socio-economic communities, whereas decile 10 schools are the 10% of schools with the lowest proportion of these students. A school's decile does not indicate the overall socio-economic mix of the school.

Census information is used to calculate the decile. A school provides either all or a random sample1 of its student addresses and these are used to determine which areas its students come from.'

bogwopit

Thanks Luvwelly,

I'm getting the picture, the decile is not on pure performance of the school but on like minded students and social background etc......Where they are now is a science college with focus on the three topics being physics, chemistry and biology. I have looked at the zones and seen a school that has a 9 so we will base within this zone .........I hope if something runs according to plan. Schools don't appear to specialise or maybe I'm missing it.

Thanks again for the info

luvwelly

I see your kids are 11 and 14...some junior schools here go as far as Year 8, so the youngest may not have to go straight to senior school at the end of Year 6, they could go into a 1-8 Junior school or middle school instead.
The 14 year old would probably already be at senior level so I'd find your preferred senior school first and work back.

Someone else may know different but I'm not aware of state schools specialising here. They would just follow the standard NZ curriculum. You may have a choice between single sex and mixed schools at senior level.
There are some contributing schools (often with a religious affiliation) where parents make a much higher contribution to the school than in the state sector say $1000 per year rather than a hundred or so and this is much less than average private school fees which are probably NZ$2-3K per term (4 terms a year illogically).

mojo

[QUOTE=bogwopit;6922937] Will a 14yr old settle in? I'm beginning to think what are we doing to our kids. Any feed back would be great.

Hi There,

Been there done that, my daughter was 13yr when we moved to NZ 4yrs ago, and for the first year or so, i asked myself that same question everyday.
After lots of tears, and angry words, about how much we had ruined her life, we now have a happy 17yr old, who will be leaving Havelock North high school in just a few weeks. In Febuary she will be starting Massey university, (Palmeston North)

Moira

bourbon-biscuit

Havelock High or Napier Girls.

bourbon-biscuit

Re-reading- I'd head for Havelock because your younger daughter would go to Havelock Intermediate. (click the links)

Havelock High

Havelock Intermediate

HAvelock North is a fabulous place to live.

bogwopit

Thanks for the response bourbob - biscuit
I think we shall be going to Havelock North and that Havelock North High looks the one. OH arrives next week any ideas as how to sort accommodation? Holiday let, rental through agent or free papers not sure of the best route to take!

cally49

Hi if you want to do searches before you come you could try this
http://www.allrealestate.co.nz/reale...tal+properties
www.trademe.co.nz
Also real estate companies in NZ are Ray White, The Professionals, First National ,Harcourts if you do a goole search on them it will bring up their websites.
Good Luck and yes Havelock North is a lovely place.
Cheers
Cally