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Original poster

Choosing a school in Australia - how do you do it?

18 replies

janinlondon · 27/09/2006 14:28

Can anyone answer me this one? I've been variously advised that there are/are not performance tables. Does anyone know the truth? How do people decide that a school is good? Help?

OP posts:
alkeee · 27/09/2006 15:10

In most states there are published tables of secondary school year 12 results - mostly by % of the cohort who achieved over a certain grade. In Sydney and Melbourne, most independent schools have their self-made stats on their websites or newsletters. I'm a bit obsessive so when we were thinking about schools I went through all Sydney and Melbourne schools that we didn't mind the sound/location of and made an excel chart of their self-reported results (% in top 10,5 and 1% of the state) - happy to share if you need it!

For Primary Schools the results of AIM tests (years 3 and 5 and 7 in those states where yr 7 is still primary) provide something of a comparison (eg the state average is x above this level and our school achieved y). Usually you need to approach schools directly for their data.

Original poster
janinlondon · 27/09/2006 15:24

Thanks for responding Alkeee - it was primary I was wondering about. This is even more of a minefield than I had dreaded it might be!

OP posts:
batters · 27/09/2006 15:46

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

eidsvold · 27/09/2006 22:37

ALthough I lived in the area that we returned to and worked as a secondary teacher ( so had some inside knowledge of feeder schools etc). I found talking to other parents that I met in the area about the schools their children attended.

We have two schools close to us - one is just around the corner. I looked at their info on the education qld website and found that it was a smaller school than the other and so hope that dd1 will be welcome therein 2008 when she starts. I was lucky to have the luxury of a few years to research.

We also went to the school fete etc and saw students and parents in action iyswim.

The added worry for us is how do the schools deal with students who have sn. I have yet to discover that. So there is a little catholic school down the road where a friend's daughter who happens to have down syndrome has attended from primary through to seconday and she raves about it - so that is another option.

I know that is probably no help to you. Hope someone else can come along with a better idea.

I know up here in Qld most private schools ( read UK public) have open days etc. You are always welcome to visit during school time to check out the places as well.

Original poster
janinlondon · 28/09/2006 11:42

Thanks all. Ahh Batters....its just pie in the sky really...I'm sure it will never happen!

OP posts:
sunnydelight · 28/09/2006 12:58

alkeee - seeing as you have researched secondary school have you any idea of what kind of support they would offer to a dyslexic child? Long shot I know but thought I'd ask Ww should be there next Easter and I thought my only problem would be finding a suitable secondary school; it now turns out DS2 (7) is dyslexic as well - AGHHHHHHH!

alkeee · 29/09/2006 01:02

sunnydelight - I didn't particularly look for sn support but certainly didn't notice an abundance of services. I do know of one school in Melbourne that offers support services but no idea of the actual nature of that support. They have many psychologists on staff but who knows if that translates to extra reading/writing help or time?

bloss · 29/09/2006 03:51

Message withdrawn

sunnydelight · 29/09/2006 10:31

Bloss - do you know if schools will accept the reports I have from here identifying the boys as dyslexic, or will they insist on their own before they offer any support? I've got my heart set a bit on St. Ives High, partly because of info you've given me on here before, and there seems to be a choice of three primaries in the area so I think when we're over in a couple of weeks we'll see if we can visit.

sunnydelight · 29/09/2006 10:32

Sorry, that should have read Sydney schools.

bloss · 30/09/2006 09:35

Message withdrawn

bloss · 03/10/2006 13:33

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sunnydelight · 03/10/2006 16:33

Thanks bloss. I'm going to see if I can visit St. Ives High in a couple of weeks when we're out there and see what they say about the dyslexic thing. DS1 is actually doing really well in school, and I am planning on putting him back a year anyway (he was 13 in August so if my reckoning is right I can hold him back a year and have him start in the first year of Aussie High, which might be enough so he can cope). From what I can see there are three primaries in the same catchment so I'll have a look there as well - any recommendations? I'm really upset at the moment as my plan was to find the "right" (high) school for DS1 on the assumption that the younger children didn't have any particular needs to be met. I personally think DS2 is likely to be a lot more dyslexic than DS1 so I now have to find an area where where both high and primary schools can offer help.

bloss · 03/10/2006 21:50

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sunnydelight · 04/10/2006 09:49

That would be great bloss, will do. Didn't like to invite myself

bloss · 08/10/2006 07:40

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sunnydelight · 09/10/2006 11:14

I'm not actually a pommy Bloss, which is one of the reasons I think I loved Sydney so much I had a real culture shock when I came to England and realised that striking up a conversation with the person standing next to you is a real no-no!!!! Will CAT you later after I arrange for our immigration papers to be DHLd to Sydney (I'm so excited ....)

bloss · 09/10/2006 13:26

Message withdrawn

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