Finding the right School.......Help!

[AyrshireJock]

Hello

We are moving from Scotland to Perth around April / May thisyear with our 3 kids aged (at the time of move) 11, 8 and 4.

At the moment our kids are in Primary 7, Primary 4 and Pre-School, how would this compare to Australia?

Can anyone recommend some Government Schools to look at around Perth (North or South) from experience, this is the most important thing for us and getting our kids into the right school first time is top of our shopping list so any help would begreat.

Oh and how have you found the education system and schooling compared to the UK?

Thanks

[Chook]

Have a look at www.australianschoolsdirectory.com.au - read about education in Western Australia and then so a search of the schools list. It is an excellent site and a good place to start.
Once you arrive, and before you decide where you are going to live, have a look at the schools in the areas of interest. Call in and ask if it is possible to speak with the headmaster/mistress and/or to have a quick tour of the school and its facilities. This is the best way to get a feel for a school.
Schools will all be closed through most of April for the Easter holiday.

[AyrshireJock]

Thanks Chook,

The site looks like a great place to start our research : )

[annie]

hello, We are in similar situation. Planning on arriving in perth in august. childrens ages 8,9,12 and 14 and im looking for good school advice too. we can't afford private. secondary schools that come up as being very good are rossmoyne, churchlands and shenton but the rentals here seem crazy. i looked online at rentals that seemed to be up on 1,000 dollars a WEEK!!! your older child may be going into secondary there so you will possibly be needing to find a primary and secondary. the internet is great for getting information on schools but i sometimes get more confused. anyone able to suggest good schools.

[AyrshireJock]

annie . totally feeling your pain ..lol i have a list now of about 20 suburbs to be honest im not going with just one area , great advice on here but the biggest thing is everybodys different and looking for different things so sometimes sooo confusing ...im just struggling with trying to find out what the actual age is for the schools my daughter is in primary 4 ( year 3 ) but shes 7 and turns 8 in feb in thinking she goes back a year but not sure ..more education cant be a bad thing !!
How are your kids taking the news on the move ? were on the rollercoaster of one day its the best thing ever one day its the worst thing ever..only to be expected from them i imagine im sure we'll all settle fine fingers crossed ....

[annie]

We were in australia for 2 months in 2010 and our children really loved it. it was a holiday and we were based in queensland but did visit sydney and melbourne. they talk about australia all the time and especially on a wet day in the west of Ireland 9so thats a lot0. they really want to go and i have to explain that this would be different as in not the holiday of a lifetime they had then. They loved the libraries and talk all the time about how friendly the staff were. i know the school year starts in feb, my sister moved to melbourne 5 years ago with 5 kids and the schools will often move them to another year if the standard is too easy/hard for them so i wouldnt worry about that. Its more of a worry to get them into a school that has a good reputation, easily accessible from your home etc. Thats all we can do i guess. there seems to be lots of good primarys. one big issue i have is that the best high schools seems to be in areas where the rent is very high. 4 times what my mortgage is....1,200 A WEEK!!!! (lol Had written 21,000 a week there, which i deleted.)
What areas are you looking at/

[helenaoz2b]

Have a look at www.australianschoolsdirectory.com.au - read about education in Western Australia and then so a search of the schools list. It is an excellent site and a good place to start.
Once you arrive, and before you decide where you are going to live, have a look at the schools in the areas of interest. Call in and ask if it is possible to speak with the headmaster/mistress and/or to have a quick tour of the school and its facilities. This is the best way to get a feel for a school.
Schools will all be closed through most of April for the Easter holiday.

Thanks, that is another link I now have in my favourites :)) it is so difficult, I am still undecided on what area and what school, trying to narrow it down by area and then looking at the schools they have to offer. My two children will be going to secondary school so that will be slightly easier for myself however, I sometimes wish they would have a new built area with new built schools - just to make my decision easier lol!!!

Is it wise to contact schools prior to going??? Do all the schools say what they teach in their curriculum??? If anyone knows that would be great :))

Decisions Decisions ;))

[AyrshireJock]

Thats good your kids have hade a taste of aussie life Annie, im sure as mums we all worry about the same stuff! just nice to know there are so many people in the same situation ..the school system is a bit difficult to understand but im sure once we get there and someone actually shows you round the school it will all become clear , and we'll all find that its not to different HOPEFULLY lol
I did read a prospectous for one school just to see about it and primary doesnt seem too different, but my oldest is so close to going to secondary school that i have that to consider also along with my 4 year old needing nursery .....my head is like a washing machine of questions right now but im sure im not the only one ....

[AyrshireJock]

Helen i just noticed your in Scotland also where abouts are you ??

[Arwen]

annie . totally feeling your pain ..lol i have a list now of about 20 suburbs to be honest im not going with just one area , great advice on here but the biggest thing is everybodys different and looking for different things so sometimes sooo confusing ...im just struggling with trying to find out what the actual age is for the schools my daughter is in primary 4 ( year 3 ) but shes 7 and turns 8 in feb in thinking she goes back a year but not sure ..more education cant be a bad thing !!
How are your kids taking the news on the move ? were on the rollercoaster of one day its the best thing ever one day its the worst thing ever..only to be expected from them i imagine im sure we'll all settle fine fingers crossed ....

Your child will be in Year 3 in 2012. Birthdays between 1st July 2003 and 30th June 3004 will be in Year 3 in 2012. Schools are different, it is a different country so you can't expect them to be the same. As long as you embrace the difference rather than constantly comparing to 'home' you will be fine.