Is there anyone in Melbourne who can point me in the direction of a list of independent schools in the area?

[brogan2]

Basically title says it all really.
We're moving over soon with DH's job soon on a 457. We need to pay for school anyway as on a temp visa so looking at independent schools.

Hopefully we will be in Mt Eliza but possibly in Sandringham so in and around both those areas specifically.

But just a list so we can have a look would be great. I imagine a lot will already be over-subscribed so it may be we take what we can get but I like to have a look anyway.

Thanks you in advance to anyone with any info.

Hi brogan2, try putting Melbourne private schools into google. Over there, public schools are state schools, so the terminology is a bit different to the UK. There are various guides and directories on there. No personal experience I'm afraid.

Thanks, BEAS!

Ive tried that but I'm looking for a more comprehensive list so I can start contacting them to see which have places.

As we will be on a 457, we must pay for state ed in Victoria and they will be returning to indie school over here in 2yrs so seems the best option all round.

Does anyone know if there is such a list or a book I can buy like the ones you can here?

You don't pay for public schools (other than the normal few hundred dollars everyone pays) on a 457 visa in Victoria (unlike NSW) so you don't have to make the decision on financial grounds.

www.independentschools.vic.edu.au is the website for the Independent Schools Association in Victoria.

There are a few "tiers" of independent education here, making it far more affordable than in the UK. Catholic Systemic Schools only charge around $2,500 per year, there are a lot of excellent mid-range schools (though the majority of these will be religious in one way or another) and then of course you have the top end which are just as expensive as in the UK. My kids go to a private school, but in Sydney so I can't give you any recommendations.

If your children are going to return to the indie sector in the UK in a few years you probably are better off sending them private. Even though I like the fact that Australian kids cover a wider curriculum and there is more of a focus on being a rounded individual rather than just focusing purely on the academic side of things, the "laid back" Aussie attitude can extend to schooling in a way that isn't always positive. Comparing UK state schools and Australian public schools I would say the Australian schools are better, but comparing Australian privates with Australian publics the privates win hands down. All just personal opinion of course but I have three kids spanning 7-16 and have experienced both state and indie in the UK and public and private here in Oz so it's not totally uninformed opinion Good luck.