Sydney mums North Shore schools

[foodfairy]

Hello, we are hoping to move to Sydney in Jan 2014 and think that we want to live on the North Shore. Have 3 kids and schools will be our main concern.

I understand most of the North shore schools are pretty good, but does anyone have kids at them who can share experiences. I've looked at the league tables, but they are all a bit dry and would nice to get some opinions and real life stories. Also differences in schools and school life in Oz compared to the UK.

Kids will be going to regular local schools and are currently in Y3 and Y1 and one at preschool. Will probably stay in Oz for 2-3 years and are thinking about sending kids to selective schools when we get back. So need something which is pretty good academically and will keep up with UK curriculum so they will be able to sit 11+ if we go down this route on our return.

Not sure how the gifted and talented classes in Y5 and Y6 over in Oz work, but they don't seem to be open to 457 visa holders which is what we would be. Would also like a good sense of school community and ability to integrate and help settle new arrivals. Also would like a couple of British mums around for me when I get homesick!

Any ideas or thoughts? Mosman seems lovely, but expensive. Lane Cove and Willoughby also nice areas. Neutral bay primary doesn't seem to let 457 visa holders apply are there any other schools like this?

We will have up to about 1500 Aus a week for a rental budget so think/hope we are lucky enough to afford a house in most places on North Shore? Would love a big house with a pool (obviously) but finding right school is our top priority and would sort out houses around this.

Thanks!

In nsw on a 457 you have to pay for schooling. Not my area I'm afraid so I don't know if certain schools refuse 457 visa holders. Here in qld you can go to any school on a 457 and its free. Private schools you pay international fees on a 457. Again in qld schools the gifted and talented programmes are for kids who are in the top centile of their peers. So its not something you can apply for. It's chosen by the school. Our school has gifted and talented, optiminds, learning extension and notables. All for the top end kids.
Curriculum is quite wide now but has been standardised across Australia at last with the national curriculum. So at least you can move from school to school and know what will be covered.

I'm in Sydney on a 457, but in the Eastern Suburbs rather than the North Shore.

Mosman is lovely! Lane Cove is also nice, although a bit more suburby (can be quite a walk to the shops from parts of it). Hunters Hill is good too, you get quite a lot of house there for the $$.

Eastern suburbs like Woollahra, Vaucluse, Double Bay are also very nice and there are lots of good public primaries there.

DD (y5) went straight into independent as she was 5 at the time. I didn't find any equivalent British Schools here, although there is an International. DD's school has just landed a British Headmistress this year, so should be interesting!

You should be fine to get a house with a pool for $1500 pw. Bear in mind that they will multiply this out by 52 and then divide by 12, so the rental may be higher than the quoted weekly price if you pay monthly. You are also unlikely to find anything furnished, so factor that in, plus the costs of pool maintenance/chemicals/cleaning and the air conditioning.

Car ownership will be more expensive too as you won't get a car loan as a 457 visa holder - you'll need to lease and that can be a)$$$ and b) has just got even less tax friendly in the recent budget.

Take a look at houses on www.domain.com.au and www.realestate.com.au. The prices quoted are weekly.

Thanks for the advice. I have factored in paying for schools, haven't really started thinking about things like cars. What does leasing entail?

Good tip about Hunters Hill hadn't heard of it, but will do some research. Any other tips/ideas/suggestions about living on the North Shore and most especially schools? Thanks.

Hello again .... Found your thread! Willoughby is great. You should also look at Roseville, Naremburn and as already flagged Mosman is lovely.

We love Northbridge - great local community through the school and excellent local shops. Close to lots of restaurants/cafes/parks. You could rent our place as we head to london early jan 2014! But we want a little more than you have flagged.

Anyway pm if you want to exchange more ideas.