Perth Primary Schools - State or Private?

[lme30005]

Hi

Hoping there are some Perth residents who can give me some info about schools. DH has got a job offer and I am looking at schools and getting very confused. The job will likely be only for a few years and then we will come back to the UK so concerned about the children (4 of them) getting behind or missing parts of UK curriculum making it harder when we come back.

The areas I am looking at are Mosman Park, Cottesloe, Mount Claremont, Nedlands, Dalkeith and surrounding areas - I know, all the expensive ones!

Are private schools worth it at primary level or are state schools very good in these areas? We are not religious - the non-religious independent schools seem very expensive. Is it easy for non Catholics to get into the Catholic schools? I have a feeling there are big wait lists there, like here.

I just want the best schools for them to be able to make the transition back to the UK as easy as possible.

Thanks

Louise

The state primaries in those suburbs will be very good.
From year 5 onwards the movement of kids into the private system starts and this can make a big difference in some schools
How old are your kids ?

The kids are 8, 6, 4 and 2. I'm looking for a school where I can get all of them in - the 2 year old in pre-kindy next year. I'm hoping wait lists won't be too bad as I don't want them all in different places

The areas you are looking at all have good state schools. If your 4 yr old is 5 before June 2013 then they will be in preprimary which is compulsary from next year so the local state school would have to take the 3 eldest. Preprimarys aren't usually offered at any of the schools but there are private ones you can do, they are only a couple of hours a week.

No waiting lists, if you live in the area the relevent state school will have to accept the 8&6 yr olds, (plus the 4 yr old if turing 5 before 1st July 2012) even if you arrive after the school year starts

Hi there
These are probably among the best primaries in Perth, and yes, they will take your kids as MadonnaKebab says.

My MIL was a student teacher supervisor for many years and has been in nearly all the schools in Perth, and in her view Nedlands is the best school in city, private included!! She doesn't rate Mosman Park and neither do some friends who live in the area, who have chosen private from the beginning for their kids BUT I know very little about it and don't know anyone with kids there now so take it with a grain of salt. North Cott primary is excellent, Freshwater Bay (Claremont) new and excellent.

Hope that helps!

PS no, as a non-Catholic you will find it very difficult if not impossible to get your kids in to John XXIII, which is excellent.

Also, one striking thing about the state primaries you've listed is that they don't have much flight to the private system until year 7, which is a sign of how good they are - ie, people stick with them till secondary and then swap kids to the private schools. Which are formidably excellent, but as you note, not cheap.

it does make me feel better that you have all said that the primary schools in these areas are really good. Their education is my main worry about going (along with the spiders!) and I'd feel really bad if we went and it set them back a lot, especially as they are very keen at school at the moment.

I would also prefer not to go Catholic as we are not religious at all and it would seem a bit wrong.

I'm most bothered by DS3 who is an end of July birthday and will just miss out on starting pre-primary next year - he starts reception here in September. He's been doing 5 mornings per week for the last year so he's really going to struggle going back to not doing a lot - that's if I can find a kindy for him. Does anyone know whether he'd be allowed to start early?

Thanks
Louise

Also would prefer them to still learn French so they wouldn't be massively behind when they came back. From looking at the school websites, I've only found Nedlands and Rosalie to teach French so far, the others teach Japanese and Italian. Do you know of any others?

Thanks

Yeah another potential friend !
I have 4 kids and am meant to be boarding the plan right now but we had a problem with visa's.
I'll be honest i am only looking at private simply because the gap between private and state in the UK is so tangible i can't imagine that situation being better in Australia which is very much about not what you know but who you know anyway.

The standard of language instruction is not great either public or private! They often don't start a LOTE here till year 3 or 4.

Freshwater Bay does French and in a Fench immersion program, which bears no resemblance to Cdn French immersion but it is pretty good and they start early.

Mosman oh no! Are you en route?? Honestly, for primary the state schools are just as good (and my MIl, who is actually fonder of the private system, thinks some are better) than private. My view is that this changes a bit with secondary but many of the top students in the state come from the best state schools. They actually rank the top students individually and it's in the paper!!!

Ps that is a tough one on your DS. You can try asking the schools as kindy is only 2.5 days (from next year). He'd be much the youngest though. Some of the girls private schools offer a 5 day kindy but I don't know about boys. Seems to me UK reception and kindy are pretty similar, at least at our school. We have friends who send kids to Mobtessori 3 days/kindy 2 to make up the difference. But you would have to weigh youngest in class, at a full year, and a boy....

One more thought: when are you due to arrive? You should be able to get a kindy spot.. V few schools offer a pre kindy (3 yr old kindy) for your youngest.

TBH I think standard of education better here but UK schools are much more variable do you may be coming from a better school than we were.

No luckily the SHTF on Thursday when we found out we cannot take the Australian child back to Australia without the permission of a father that I haven't spoken to in 12 years. Nightmare.
Anyway. The schools are a concern, it's the unknown isn't it.

We're hoping to come in September/October, not ideal as it'll be near the end of term over there. I'll definately add Freshwater Bay to my shortlist.

It's a good idea to try and get him into a Montessori and a school kindy to try and keep him occupied. Although he's one of the youngest in his year, he really needs school as he gets bored so easily and drives everyone mad! I was so looking forward to September when he is starting reception. Not so bothered about my youngest as she's very easy to have around. I expect Montessori schools have nice big waiting lists too!

mossy what a disaster! When are you off? Don't fret too much about schools, you will have time to sort when you are here and you're looking at great places.

louise you'll find a place in Montessori/preschool. Sure start and a few others take 3 and 4s in 3 yr old kindy. :) there are lots of 3y o kindys just not attached to state schools, although I think freshwater is starting one.

Sure start ? Is that the only option or are there private nurseries ?

Sorry just read that properly, bit stressed right now and hate SS with a passion

Sure start is totally not the same thing !!ihad the same reaction as you :) it is the name of an excellent 3/4 yr old preschool. (might actually be smart start). Don't fret. Of course there are nurseries and lots of preschools. It will be fine when you get here, promise.
I don't think I was ever so close to cracking up as the last 3weeks before we left and the first couple on arrival. This too will pass, the schools are great, you're doing the right thing by researching and all will be well.