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Have any families relocating to either Sydney or Melbourne with permanent resident visas had any experiences with the private secondary schools?
We seem to be getting No Vacancy signs at all the places we're looking at and I'm wondering if other people have had the same issue.
Beyond that, are there any recommendations for private secondary schools that aren't religious (affiliated is fine, but in practice, we have no interest in a religious school)?
Have you found the private schools to be worth the price of admission vs the government schools in those cities?
What sort of private school are you after in terms of $$$? The top private schools usually require children to be enrolled pretty much when they are born.
I went to a public primary school until year 3 (about 8 years old) then moved to private. There was definitely a difference between the two, beyond the price tag. Smaller classes, many more extra-curricular activities, compulsory Saturday sport etc.
We're currently in a private school here in California that is about $35k a year, so I imagine most (if not all) of the private schools in Sydney or Melbourne are in our range (right?).
It doesn't have to be a "top" school necessarily so much as we want to make sure our daughter is with like-minded, upwardly-mobile, university-bound kids from families with expectations. I don't care about name brand when it comes to schools, I'm more interested in the environment than the prestige.
I'm not arguing with you regarding the "enrolled at birth" comment, but we were told the same thing in both NYC and then here in California and got into both of our first choice private schools without issue, so I'm wondering if it's the same thing in Australia or if it truly is impossible to get in if we weren't on the waiting list many years in advance.
Anyway, I sincerely appreciate your help and any information.
We're currently in a private school here in California that is about $35k a year, so I imagine most (if not all) of the private schools in Sydney or Melbourne are in our range (right?).
Yes, you'll be fine.
Quote:
Originally Posted by zdg
I'm not arguing with you regarding the "enrolled at birth" comment, but we were told the same thing in both NYC and then here in California and got into both of our first choice private schools without issue, so I'm wondering if it's the same thing in Australia or if it truly is impossible to get in if we weren't on the waiting list many years in advance.
Anyway, I sincerely appreciate your help and any information.
It depends. A lot of the enrolment spots go to sons/daughters of old boys/girls -- at my old school I think it's about 50% of places. Do you know anyone in Sydney or Melbourne who went to a private school who can perhaps give you a reference? That will usually open otherwise closed doors. It really just depends on the school. Generally, in Sydney, Eastern Suburbs and North Shore schools will have fewer spots available.
You can short cut the waiting list thing if she wins a scholarship.
Hmm. While that sounds fantastic (really), her only super skill is speed reading and I'm not sure anyone hands out scholarships for that.
We're making some calls to see if we know anyone who knows anyone.
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