Reddam House / Redlands/ Newington College/ Cranbrook / Any other good coed school in Sydney?

[muminwestlnd]

Hello all, I am looking for an academic school with good pastoral care for my children. It is probably one of the most important decisions we will make for them and I would appreciate some advise please 🙏🏽 My child doing really well at school, super bright and very social and popular among his peers. However, struggles with formal school uniform due to sensory processing so we need a school that are not obsessed with uniform / flexible on allowing sports uniform most of the time. Ideally a school with smaller classes. Could you please share your experience if you have a child in one of these schools (or any other school in Sydney please, ideally coed)? Please message me privately if you feel more comfortable in sharing details. Many thanks in advance!

I don’t have experience with these schools personally, but you should check with their admissions departments. They have notoriously long waiting lists. People join them as soon as their children are born. You might have better luck with recommendations on Sydney Mums Group on Facebook.

These types of schools are usually very hot on uniform compliance. Have you considered looking at ‘alternative’ private schools? E.g. Montessori, Steiner, Reggio Emilia, community schools etc. Most of these types of schools don’t have uniforms at all.

Most private schools , in the league of those you are looking at, are not very welcoming to neurodivergent kids, no matter what they say on their brochure. They ask them to stay home on the day Naplan is done, push for tutoring and sometimes push for leaving. I doubt any of these would allow sport uniform to be worn instead of shirt and tie.
Most private schools have also compulsory cadet training for boys, and that has no uniform flexibility.

Unfortunately I agree with Cormoran, I think the level of private school you want for your children is at odds with schools who will accept a neurodivergent child in upper primary/secondary school. I don’t think any of the schools you name (which are all schools where parents put their children’s names down at birth and have long waiting lists) would take a child coming from overseas with support needs over one who can push up their academic results. The focus of their support will be children who are already at the school when they are diagnosed and yes, some will suggest that the school is no longer a good fit which is absolutely horrible but it is the reality. I have a good friend with a child with sensory issues where uniform was a real issue and the only option in the end was Steiner as nowhere else would accommodate a secondary school pupil who couldn’t/wouldn’t wear the formal uniform most private schools demand. The solution for me (arriving from the UK with two dyslexic boys, one primary one seconday) was a Christian school which was private but not top tier. Both did incredibly well and went on to Uni (and post grad) but if the schools you name are what you are aiming for all I can say is best of luck trying.

I have said it before but I will repeat it again. Mosman High School doesn't have uniforms. At all. It has a dress code. You can wear sports clothes all year long.

Dress Code
Students must wear clothes that are neat, clean and in good condition. Clothing that is too revealing or brief is not suitable as school wear. Singlet tops and/or thin strapped tops are unacceptable. All tops must completely cover the torso, Shorts and skirts must be no shorter than mid thigh. Closed-in shoes must be worn at all times. Under no circumstances are thongs to be worn at school. The NSW Occupational Health and Safety Act states that enclosed leather shoes must be worn in science and practical subjects. Hats/caps and sunglasses are recommended when outside. https://mosman-h.schools.nsw.gov.au/student-information.html

Mosman is a posh and rich suburb. Its local school fits many private schools advantages. Plus a better inclusion policy. And support for diversity.

@Flatandhappy @Cormoran Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and experiences, that's so helpful. I am so surprised about the uniform obsession by Australian schools. My son goes to a well known private school overseas uniform is not an issue as they do sports 4x a week and they want children to be comfortable to learn. My child is doing very well academically and socially, it is so upsetting to know that children can get discriminated by a disability even though they are high achievers. Thank you for letting me know about Mosman High School, my worry is the class sizes on public schools. I have not thought about catholic schools as we don't go to church on Sundays really so not sure what changes we have? Do they have waiting lists too or do I have a change registering a year or two ahead of entry?

Catholic schools in Australia are known to have the largest class sizes (obviously this varies by school), so I don’t think they will necessarily be what you’re looking for.

State schools have caps on class sizes of about 25, but in years 11 & 12 you’ll find class sizes are much smaller. Schools like Mosman will be very well-funded due to the socio-economic status of the cohort/parent group on top of government funding, and they will not be short of teachers.

All research indicates that in Australia, socio-economic status is the greatest indicator of school performance, not whether children attend private/Catholic/state schools. State schools in high SE areas in general perform extremely well compared to their private counterparts, with the difference being they can’t get rid of low-achievers or SEN students that might drag them down the league tables. So by necessity, state schools are more inclusive.

All of which is to say, I think you’ll be doing your child a disservice if you unilaterally rule out state schools.

In public school (as in state/governement, not private), class size is not big. Even in the lower grades in y7 or y8, they have advanced classes and in those you are in the low 20 pupils, even slightly below 20. In Y12 depending on subject, they can be 2 students. Extension 2 maths is not popular.
As others have said. It all depends of the socio-economic status of the suburb.
And keep in mind the cadet thing. It is compulsory in many schools.

When we moved here, my kids' English was very poor. For two of them, there was a NAPLAN coming up. The principal called me and said that because we hadn't been in the country six months, my kids could be exempted but he was advising against that, because it would benefit them to see how they were improving and also they would know what to expect two years later for the next NAPLAN.
That is not the offer I would have received from a private school which uses NAPLAN results as a selling point.
Behind the school results, there is often a story. A local school is one that caters for all the kids. Those who want to go to uni and those who don't . Results are not the reflection of teaching but a reflection of students.
In rich suburbs, you don't have behaviours issues and to be honest, the school boys who make the news more in newspapers or tv, usually come from Shore or other very expensive schools.