Private primary schools in Melbourne

[Peronellesblush]

Calling all Aussie mums/ ex pats.

Ds is currently in a selective, private boys prep. Am thinking of moving to Melbourne, Australia. Looking for a boys or co-ed prep, preferably non-denominational. Apart from Melbourne Grammar, my knowledge on this subject is zero. Any help would be much appreciated.

There isn't a selective private prep in Melbourne. (There are the two Sydney Grammar prep schools in Sydney, if selective is a priority over location.) Vaguely in order of junior school academic performance and in the east: Scotch (boys, presbyterian), Christ Church (co-ed, anglican), Camberwell Grammar (boys, anglican), Trinity (boys,anglican), Melbourne Grammar (co-ed, anglican). Although there are plenty of non-denominational girls' schools, there are none for boys and the few that are co-ed might not be ideal for a move from a selective environment. Some are more enthusiastically religious than others.

Hi igo,

That's terriffic advice, thank you very much. Sydney is off the radar, but I've heard a couple of others say good things about Melbourne Grammar.

If ds stayed here in the UK I'd hope for him to go somewhere like Haileybury or Habs. There is also a Haileybury in Melbourne - does this bare any resemblance to the English one?

I know Melbourne Boys is a very good senior school, but they don't let on to feeder primaries, which leaves us in the dark, really.

Thanks again - that was very useful and much appreciated.

No feeder schools to Melbourne High. They have a peculiar entrance system that means that a boy has the best chance of gaining a place if he attends a school where there are few clever boys or few applicants. They take a maximum number from each school, rather than the top performers overall. People do leave the private system for a MHS place and it is not terribly difficult to do so.

Haileybury in Melbourne bears little resemblance to that in the UK (was named after the school the founder attended, I think.) It might be something of a disappointment after considering the UK version.

The more academic private senior schools for boys are Grammar (as you've identified) and Scotch. Of the co-ed schools, Carey offers IB and does well academically most years.

Ah - thanks for shedding some light on the Melbourne Haileybury.

We've now looked at a load more online. It's very hard to get a good idea when you've only got the glossy website/ marketing schpeel to go by. However, I think we'll enquire to Melbourne Grammar, Trinity and Wesley.

I have to say, Wesley appears to be very close in terms of all round ethos to where ds is currently going. Horrendous colours (who on earth thought purple and yellow was a good idea?) but worth a try. I think we might be getting somewhere if the websites don't differ too much to the actual reality of the place, but I suppose we'll not be able to tell until we look round the place.

Many, many thanks for your help.

Email me if you need any more specific information. Wesley has very impressive marketing...