Public & Private Schooling in The Penrith Region

cypher67 on 12/05/2016 - 17:35
Last edited 19/05/2016 - 09:19

Hi OzBargain,

My eldest Son is due to start Kindergarten next year and I am currently exploring my options & am I after some advice.

I live out near Penrith in Sydney, the local public school to whose catchment I fall has a terrible reputation and performance results.

I'm not against paying for my kids education (without going crazy, $5k a year max) so started applying to some Private Schools.

All the school so far have declined us because I am not affiliated to any specific religion and those that are; get priority.

Has anyone else faced this problem & what did you do?
Any school recommendations between Blacktown and Emu Plains?

I never realised how many private schools are tied to a specific religion, I didn't think it would be this hard to get my son a decent education…

Education & Work

Comments

        • ihbh on 14/05/2016 - 07:26

          @niggard: I meant which schools were on either side of the $300 rent difference?

        • Findo on 14/05/2016 - 08:59

          @ihbh: I can name a few in Eastwood for catchment areas for Cheltenham and Epping boys. Turramurra for Turramurra high vs kuring-Gai performing arts

        • Audisez on 14/05/2016 - 23:35

          @niggard: Well most of the public schools you listed are selective so living close doesn't make a difference at those schools.

        • Save Medicare on 15/05/2016 - 21:30
          +1

          @niggard:

          Most of those schools are selective schools so place of residence has no impact on acceptance. One might as well say that a school in the western Sydney of carlingford has topped the HSC for the past 20 years straight. There's also girraween high, baulkham Hills high, penrith high, hurlstone in the West.

  • shanakatak on 12/05/2016 - 20:31
    +10

    Entered prep as staunch Catholic, entered high school as a staunch Catholic, entered uni as tolerant atheist.

    You might want to consider if you really want to send them to a religious school.
    Really though some of the crap you need to put up with. I had to take religion classes through till my final year of high school.
    Prayer every morning, constant masses, piss poor sex education, every school event thanks were given to God, our principal claiming paedophiles did nothing wrong because it wasn't illegal back then and the list goes on. It takes up a lot of time that could be spent on actually learning.

    • GameChanger on 12/05/2016 - 20:48
      +5

      I don't know which Catholic school you went to, but mine had none of that.

      I very much doubt that it took away any learning time as well.

      • shanakatak on 12/05/2016 - 22:03
        +6

        Salesian College Rupertswood, look it up nasty history.

        Also In high school 1/6 periods were religious classes from year 7-11. That is a lot of time that we could have used for maths or science or english.

    • airzone on 12/05/2016 - 21:04
      +1

      our principal claiming paedophiles did nothing wrong because it wasn't illegal back then and the list goes on

      There's only one reason why someone would be trying to convince people that paedophiles weren't doing the wrong thing….

      • shanakatak on 12/05/2016 - 22:17
        +1

        http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2013/s3747867.htm

        "I think only as time progressed did it become a crime against individual, a crime against society, a crime before the nation of Australia."-Greg Chambers

        • airzone on 13/05/2016 - 00:06
          +1

          My old high school had issues of a similar nature perpetrated by a group of 10 or so priests over several decades. Something on the school board must have changed and they went through the place with an axe and cut it all out virtually overnight. When I started in the following year, the entire teaching staff were secularised (including religion teachers), staff and house masters were all vetted, and there was some rudimentary student briefings on what was not acceptable behaviour. If you even made a sexually inappropriate joke, the headmaster would tear strips off you. The involved priests were retired to the local jail, and they even had a section on their website to brief victims on how to get involved in the case. The vatican ran a smear campaign against the witnesses however the local sydney archdiocese grew a spine and contradicted the vatican.

          Occasionally you'd hear rumour of when an older boarder tried to take advantage of a younger one, and they were generally dealt with quickly and harshly.

          So 2 schools, similar history, 2 different approaches. I still wonder what the motivation of your principal was.

        • shanakatak on 13/05/2016 - 07:35
          +1

          @airzone:
          He was a priest in the salesian order, not exactly the best moral character.

    • ozhunter on 12/05/2016 - 21:15
      -5

      It takes up a lot of time that could be spent on actually learning.

      As long as keep up the academic standards, nothing wrong with learning about God too.

      • Mad Max on 12/05/2016 - 21:53
        +3

        "Religion is the opium of the people" German philosopher Karl Marx.
        And some people take advantage of the power that "opium" gives them over the believers and over those they are supposed to care for.

        • ozhunter on 13/05/2016 - 01:15
          -1

          Any specific religion you are talking about? You don't have to follow/believe it if you don't want to.

        • Mad Max on 13/05/2016 - 08:14
          +1

          @ozhunter:
          The statement applies to any religion really. Religion gives some selected people power over other people to affect the way they think, behave and act in their lifes. And sometimes gives them the power and means to take advantage of others.

        • ozhunter on 13/05/2016 - 16:00
          +1

          @maxi:

          You could say the same about a lot of people in authority. Should we just believe in what the media or science tells us?

          You don't have to follow or believe in it if you don't to

        • Mad Max on 13/05/2016 - 16:40

          @ozhunter:
          Media or science do not pretend to be the voice and instrument on hearth of some omnipotent and overarching god to impress, influence and brainwash people.
          Religions of all kinds and their preachers do.
          And for those who don't comply…"Sinners will burn in hell forever"…or something like that.
          Anyway I think this post or OZbargain for what matters are not the place for a big philosophical discussion on religion. So this will be it for me.

        • jdf on 15/05/2016 - 21:21

          Well Marx and his like gave birth to communism.Communism made the 20th century more bloody than all the 19 centuries put together which preceeded it. Google it if you really want to know more.

          Think communist Russia,China,Cambodia,Vietnam,North Korea etc..
          Add Hitlers Germany and Mussolini's Italy to the list and there you see the effects of people who operate without a moral compass…
          Have you ever heard your great-grandparents,grandparents etc. who made it through those times talk off the "good old days"??

          Yes there are a few people who in the name of religion who have committed vile crimes and they should be punished.But you got to ask yourself did they go against what the religion taught in doing so or did they follow their religious beliefs.
          If they went against their religious beliefs then you know religion is not the issue here but the person.

          Also Catholic schools is a means to an end and not an end itself. The end being making morally upright,well educated christians.
          If being christian or its beliefs offends you by all means don't even consider a catholic school and stick to the public schooling system and the non-christian private schools.

        • pebee47 on 16/05/2016 - 12:59

          @ozhunter: We are talking about kids here, not adults.
          If you are a (typically) rather impressionable 6 year old in a religious zealot's family "if you don't want to" is NOT an option.

        • ozhunter on 16/05/2016 - 13:57
          +1

          @pebee47:

          Ultimately, the child may or may not believe in God, but they would have to follow the school rules. Parents teach their kids what they think is right. As you have the right to tell them there is no God, others have the same right.

      • shanakatak on 12/05/2016 - 22:09
        +4

        Mandatory to pick religous subjects during VCE isn't really a great option when trying to get pre-reqs for university courses.

      • The Gent on 19/05/2016 - 01:42

        1 word: creationism.

        There is something wrong with it.

    • cDNA on 12/05/2016 - 21:44
      +3

      A former teacher of my old school fronted the Royal Commission a few years ago.
      He was a pedophile.

      I hope he's dead.

      It was a school in northern Sydney.

  • tassieeagle on 12/05/2016 - 21:03
    +2

    Do whatever you think is best for your kids, no one else knows but you. For what's it's worth I think if kids want to learn they will anywhere, vice versa if they don't.

    • Maxxjet on 15/05/2016 - 12:48

      This sounds correct but in reality it is the opposite particularily at the first few years of school, the peers' attitide is so important to the point unless the kids are genius ( most are not as per scientific reserarch ), it matters criticaly that the environment is the sole factor. This may chnage at later stage however it could be too late.

      • deal seeking missile on 16/05/2016 - 22:56
        +1

        I speak from personal experience and I could not agree with you more. The child's ability almost matters for nothing unless they're in the top or bottom 5%. When i was studying in the schools in Japan i studied a lot harder as the kids around me had a completely different attitude towards education. They were highly competitive with each other. That desire to best your friends or at least match them would drive you to push harder. When i came back to Australia in grade 11 i could see the difference straight away. It might have been because it was a public school but a majority of classmates didn't even try to push themselves. Its not that the kids themselves were any dumber its just that they had very little drive. A lot of the time that drive comes from the parents and the parents that spend 5k-10k a year on their kid's education will obviously value education a lot more. I got 4 A's and 2 B's and only managed an OP 8 in the public school system. My parents were so shocked that they immediately transferred my younger siblings to a private school. Needless to say that it was well worth the $10k a year. Unless its a highly rated public school with lots of OP1's (or equivalent) from previous years ovoid public school.

  • cDNA on 12/05/2016 - 21:41
    +5

    Go private. For the love of god, go private! :D

    (I am not religious)

    Expose them to social activities like sport, teach them an instrument and give them tutoring if they need it. Then go for a selective school later on. Your kids will do better in life. You're not far from some excellent selective schools.

    • cypher67 on 12/05/2016 - 23:58

      Which schools? Waiting listed by Montgrove (for non religions reasons … huge waiting list), PAC & St Paul Grammar are way too expensive.

  • cwongtech on 13/05/2016 - 00:11

    Has anyone else faced this problem & what did you do?

    I'm a uni student now. Honestly speaking, my English skills were not top notch, they still aren't (creative writing isn't my forte, nor is BS'ing an essay). I was told to read the newspaper everyday to improve my writing skills, however, newspapers don't write descriptive stories, and so my writing style now is fairly factual, without any fluffing around.. which is bad for the "word count"/quantity (lazy teachers DO judge by the quantity over quality).
    However my math skills (due to Kumon and good parenting) were far ahead of what was required at the time.
    At year three of my first school (public), I was able to solve problems given to the year six students of their time. While the kids around me were learning to add and "subtract/takeaway" (I called it minus), I was fully confident in multiplication and division.

    Since you're out west, I suggest you send your kids to here. Save your money from private schooling and spend it on this.
    http://www.swotshop.com.au/
    Their tutoring program goes from K - Year 7.

    If you look at the top 10 schools for HSC, almost every year it goes to public schools (I attended one of them).

    Private schools like to sell you BS about a "holistic" approach to education, keep that in mind that while sport is good for socializing, unless you go pro, it'll become a money burning hobby when you grow up.

    Prioritize what you think is best for the future of your kids. Also, support them emotionally, schooling is important for sure, but without support it's a lot harder. Whenever "parent and teacher" interview nights came along, I was always dreading that, and I'm sure there are a lot of other kids who didn't look forward to that either.

    • GameChanger on 13/05/2016 - 00:39

      Did you end up completing kumon?

      I completed the whole program in 3 years.

      • cwongtech on 13/05/2016 - 09:34
        +1

        My family saved money by photocopying the sheets at the time from family friends, and I didn't "attend" kumon officially.
        I'm not sure how long I took to complete it, if I "completed" it. This was over 10 years ago.
        I only attended SwotShop, and most that attended, went on into selective schools. As SwotShop is in the hills, a handful went to Baulkham Hills, some to James Ruse, I personally went to one that's in the top 10 (has been 2nd in HSC school rankings before).

        • GameChanger on 13/05/2016 - 19:47
          +4

          o.O true ozbargain style.

          Kumon is interesting, whilst it did help me these days I can't recommend it with all the resources available online.

    • Save Medicare on 15/05/2016 - 21:35

      the place I went for tutoring in year 12 had a median atar of 99.4 or so and had ~10 state ranks out of a student base of about 40 in its first year. something like 90% of the kids in that class are doing medicine or law.. of course it didn't hurt that it drew mostly from ruse. when you put the best of the best of the best together and give them intensive but enjoyable tutoring you can get amazing results.

  • shaybisc on 13/05/2016 - 07:31
    +1

    You are like the tourist asking the old Irishman for directions- "I wouldn't start from here", ie Penrith.

  • Ryanek on 13/05/2016 - 09:58
    +6

    Wait you're from Penrith? Penrith High School is continually one of the top public high schools in the state. It came 28th (out of 500+ schools) last year in HSC results beating a lot of private (and expensive) schools. It's a selective school so it's something for your kids to aim for.

    • cwongtech on 13/05/2016 - 11:26
      +1

      They're about to start kindergarten for now.

      • Ryanek on 13/05/2016 - 11:36
        +4

        Yeah :) Just proving a point that private does not necessarily mean better. I think school performance also has a lot to do with the classmates. If they're surrounded by bright kids I think they'll strive to do better. Good luck with your choice, I have a few years yet before we have to make decisions like these :)

        • cwongtech on 13/05/2016 - 11:43
          +2

          Good luck with your choice, I have a few years yet before we have to make decisions like these :)

          I'm not the OP! Long way before its my turn to make decisions like these.

          Just proving a point that private does not necessarily mean better

          Definitely! Been to public schools all my life. I would save money on the "private school" and spend it on tutoring instead. At least with tutoring places, you're surrounded by other students who are paying purely to learn.

          I think school performance also has a lot to do with the classmates. If they're surrounded by bright kids I think they'll strive to do better

          Very true!

        • Xoenz on 14/05/2016 - 00:56

          I'm in further agreement with you guys. Tutoring is a more valuable investment because its a smaller class and a more encouraging learning environment. Also if you can get him into a governmental selective high school, you'll get the best education without the private school price/religion issue.

    • cypher67 on 13/05/2016 - 13:34

      I live near Penrith, not in Penrith. Werrington to be exact. Feel free to research their school.

      • ashikk on 17/05/2016 - 07:53

        Have You applied at Wollemi colleges' sister school montgrove at kingswood?
        I used to live in Werrington few months ago and my oldest son goes to Wollemi college and We're not catholic.
        Pm me if you need insider knowledge.
        There is a public primary school in kingswood which is oc school if you are after academically good school.

        • cypher67 on 17/05/2016 - 08:59
          +1

          We did, paid the $200 application fee and did a tour of the school. However the following week we received a decline letter without even getting a formal interview and have been put on a waiting list. This was our first preference school and it truly looks amazing.

        • ashikk on 17/05/2016 - 09:08

          @cypher67: it is a good school, very helpful parents, parents- teachers interaction and tutoring system is really good. My little one is going to kindy next year as yours and I'm also tossing between kingswood oc school or this one.

    • Save Medicare on 15/05/2016 - 14:12

      Penrith High is a selective school though.

  • Lostatsea12 on 13/05/2016 - 10:15
    +3

    I have a friend who sends their kids to St Pauls in Emu Plains (I think) and they absolutely love it. It is K - 12 and very very accommodating for what it is worth.

    I agree, they will not turn you away just because you are not Catholic, neither are my friends.

    I firmly believe that some kids will thrive in Public School (Like Penrith High) and others will need the cloistered environment (pardon the pun) of a private school. My son and daughter are the perfect example, one goes to boarding school and the other goes to a state school. Both are happy and in the top 10% of their respective classes and neither would change no matter what.

    Horses for courses iis what I am trying to say and your child may be a little young for you to decide which horse yet???

    • callum9999 on 14/05/2016 - 03:20

      Really? I find it hard to believe they'd reject a Catholic student over a non-Catholic (unless the Catholic was some kind of monster!).

  • 2ndeffort on 14/05/2016 - 00:09
    +8

    My wife and I went to government schools in an OK suburb. I gre up thinking private schools were a waste of money. We sent our kids to government schools but switched them across to private schools in Year 5. Difference has been like night and day.

    My eldest son has Aspergers and struggled at the Government schools. He is high functioning so hard to spot and does well in some subjects but struggles with personal interaction etc. At the private school the teachers took a lot more interest in him, there was loads of interesting things for him to do, there were better facilities and more resources. It was more expensive but as someone that wasnt 100% convinced on the investment when we went into it I am a massive convert and happy my sacrifice was well spent. Eldest boy completed VCE last year and is now at Uni, not sure he would have made it from his original school.

    In terms of religion, the school he is at is officially religious and the kids to some kind of religious instruction classes from the school chaplain but it doesnt seem to be over the top. My kids see it as a bit of a free hit as the classes are easier thn maths etc. I dont think either of my kids are being poisoned by the religious ramblings of a corrupt church etc. I cant see either of them takes much notice in it, they just go to the classes because they have to.

    • ashikk on 17/05/2016 - 08:05

      Exactly My thought. My son is not forced to go to the mass everyday at school. He needs to read a book in the classroom. But need to study religion as a subject.

  • callum9999 on 14/05/2016 - 03:17

    If the school is really that bad then you should consider converting to whatever religion your preferred school has (unless they're cracking down on that kind of thing now? When I was back in the UK that was commonplace - though they'd sometimes check up on the parents to make sure they were attending church!).

    Though also bear in mind that good students in a bad school still tend to do well, and you can always use the money you would have spent on fees to pay for extra tutors if necessary. Regardless, depending on how religious the schools actually are (some can be just notionally religious, some go full-on with indoctrination!) a normal childhood may be worth possibly lower exam grades. I know I'd have been furious if my parents made me go to Catholic school!

    • robbyjones on 16/05/2016 - 19:07
      +2

      Not this. This is a terrible idea and disrespectful. Not to mention the message it would send to your children.

  • shaybisc on 14/05/2016 - 07:41

    Where did sexy Fiona Scott go to primary school? I'll look it up … The Lakes Christian College. Did you try there?

    http://www.thelakescc.nsw.edu.au/

    • pebee47 on 16/05/2016 - 13:05

      …and Elle McPherson went to Killara High

  • captobvious on 14/05/2016 - 10:47

    I got my kids into the private school i went to very easily but when we moved to another city it was almost impossible to get them into another equivalent school without being on a long waiting list. It was actually suggested by a friend that a donation to the school could go a long way. Which i did and no surprise the waiting waa shortened

    • Razo999 on 14/05/2016 - 11:24
      +1

      May I ask what was the amount? Are we talking about hundreds or thousands? Thanks.

      • captobvious on 14/05/2016 - 15:57
        +1

        A couple thousand and some goods and services rendered to "improve" campus premises. This was for 5 kids though.

    • cwongtech on 14/05/2016 - 11:40
      +1

      It was actually suggested by a friend that a donation to the school could go a long way. Which i did and no surprise the waiting waa shortened

      Nice tip. I've heard it works similarly with Political Parties and Tax Rules

      • captobvious on 14/05/2016 - 16:03
        +2

        In Australia we call it a donation, overseas its a bribe. Cant give "gifts or kickbacks" to polies but you can "add value".all apparently legitimate and yes tax deductible.

  • belongsinforums on 14/05/2016 - 11:41
    +3

    Judging a school solely on hearsay and public performance data is like buying the most expensive phone "just because it's the most expensive, therefore it must be good". The most important factor at school is the teacher. If you have prepared your child well for school since birth, and they are bright, they will do well.

    • slosh on 14/05/2016 - 13:04
      +4

      From my experience I found that the people you surround yourself certainly influence your personality, your academic performance and your behaviour. I understand some people say that sending your child to the best school doesn't guarantee your child will be successful in their academic progress. However I do believe it plays a significant role in surrounding a child with peers who attend school to learn, grow and become mature individuals. I believe that if parents are determined to ensure that their children get the best possible education, they will flourish with other family's and individuals who also believe in education. I'm not saying going to a school with a bad reputation will necessarily mean they will have a terrible education, I'm just pointing out that a school with a positive reputation plays a key role in an individuals education (in my experience and opinion).

      • belongsinforums on 14/05/2016 - 13:09
        -1

        Show me the research to back that up, and I'll let you have that opinion. Otherwise, my advice was to OP, not you.

        • slosh on 14/05/2016 - 13:23

          Your statement of depicting that bright students will always do well certainly falls short of actuality. Many bright students fail to perform to their maximum potential because schools simply do not put resources into the students. Schools that are renowned for having a good reputation will generally seek out these bright students and push them to their academic limits. This is also seen with the students that struggle with some academic concepts and stages, the school will attempt to ensure these students are supported in getting the help they need. In relation to my previous comment, I clearly stated that was my opinion and my own personal experience. I also don't believe I need clarification from you in order to express my opinion on a public forum, thank you.

        • belongsinforums on 14/05/2016 - 13:47
          -5

          @slosh: If we're just using anecdotal evidence, then the "brightest" person I know left my private school to go to a public school.
          Also, I saw elvis and god yesterday doing a high 5 in a park.

        • slosh on 14/05/2016 - 14:06
          +3

          @tomkun01: Did i ever mention public or private schools? No I didn't. If I made some type of analogy between public and private schools please point that out to me. I'm honestly confused as to what you're trying to achieve here, help me out..

        • belongsinforums on 14/05/2016 - 15:16
          -2

          @slosh: The topic we are discussing, OP's post, is about whether to send the kids to a private or public school. If you are not discussing this, then I don't know why you replied to my comment.

        • slosh on 14/05/2016 - 15:32
          +4

          @tomkun01: Well here's an education experience for you…. Many people around the world will have their own opinions, your understanding may not necessarily be right and their understanding may not necessarily be right but we are entitled to our own opinions. I struggle to comprehend how someone living in the 21st century would get so butt hurt over someones post in a forum with a differing opinion to theirs. Maybe it's time you went back to school… I hope your opinions don't hold you back in life. And getting back to your irrelevant mention of Elvis and god high fiving, If you had waited around long enough you would have been able to get their autograph like I did. Peace out.

      • mponderosa on 16/05/2016 - 16:06
        +3

        Could not agree more with your opinion.

        Remember the old saying, "Birds of a feather flock together".
        Surround your kids with positive people, same interests, high achievers, and GOOD networks.

        This also means that you sent your kids to a school that HAVE parents with the same attributes as yours.

    • hugh on 16/05/2016 - 16:50

      There is an old saying that goes, "…the cream always rises to the top."

      • tryagain on 18/05/2016 - 14:57

        Pretty sure it was Leonardo Decaprio in catch me if you can commented on his? Elite high school as having the cream of American students, ie the rich and thick.

  • peterpeterpumpkin on 14/05/2016 - 12:55
    +1

    The worst part of the whole private-public, comprehensive-selective debate is that the assumptions will drive the trend as expected - especially in secondary school. Your gifted kids and kids with pushy parents are stolen by selective high schools - diluting the initial seed of ability in comprehensive schools. Those kids that just missed out on selective schools or whose parents can't imagine their kids in the local public school under any circumstances may apply for private schools. This happened in my area. The worst performing public school was shut down and the other public schools have gone down in rankings significantly. The worrying part wasn't so much the change in academic success but the trend towards disrespect between students and teachers and between the students themselves. Gangs and ice weren't such a big thing in the area 20 years ago. Perhaps it affects private schools too but I haven't heard anything as dramatic.

    Primary school isn't so much an issue in our area but if you know specifically of a bad school you could try giving the address of a close friend or relative that lives near a preferred school.

    • pebee47 on 14/05/2016 - 15:33

      "you could try giving the address of a close friend or relative that lives near a preferred school"
      You'd luck out at our school where you have to provide a rates notice or ongoing stamped lease agreements. Most of the better public schools do this in WA

      • peterpeterpumpkin on 14/05/2016 - 20:23

        So they've gotten smarter…

        You could give a sob story that a brother or mate is hosting you for several months as you try get back on your feet?

  • bargainslut on 14/05/2016 - 14:23

    Hey Teachers, leave them kids alone;)

  • CandyMan on 14/05/2016 - 14:35

    Might be a good idea to add a poll to the post
    Public
    Private
    Bikies

  • J6 on 14/05/2016 - 14:54
    +1

    Was private catholic schooled from 1-12. Am now an atheist and employed as a teacher in a state high school. My school (where I'm working) out performs all other state and private schools in our region. Private schools use many tips and tricks for grading and napalm results to make their schools appear overall better than others. Currently, my school has one of the highest percentage of graduates in brisbane (100% for 2015).

    • pebee47 on 14/05/2016 - 15:29
      +11

      So napalm is the secret trick private schools use!

      • J6 on 14/05/2016 - 16:24
        +1

        and agent orange…

      • StewBalls on 15/05/2016 - 18:01

        Catholic School + Napalm…talk about reinventing the phrase fire in the hole… ;)

    • Mad Max on 14/05/2016 - 17:23
      -4

      A teacher and cannot even spell Naplan???
      May be….may be not…
      Anyway I know the schools in Brisbane and the one that outperforms them all is definitely private.

      • cwongtech on 14/05/2016 - 17:33
        +2

        Naplan

        Might have been autocorrected to napalm?

      • J6 on 14/05/2016 - 17:35

        auto correct from my phone.

        Like i said, some schools may seem to outperform others but these results can sometime be manipulated. Private schools can be exempt from certain checks and audits (ive worked in both systems so i know). Yes i'm sure you know all the 500+ schools in Brisbane and how they are performing.

        If you want to get technical about errors, you have used the wrong "may be".

        • Mad Max on 14/05/2016 - 19:04

          Official results are online for anybody to view. Not too difficult.
          You may be a teacher…or you may not be a teacher…who knows?
          Your claim that your public school is the best performing school in Brisbane is certainly not true.

        • J6 on 14/05/2016 - 20:01

          I never said my school is best performing in Brisbane. i said region.

          anyway, http://bettereducation.com.au/school/secondary/qld/brisbane_…

          turns out that Brisbane STATE high school is a tie for top performing school in Brisbane.

          Private does not necessarily out perform state and there is the proof.

        • Mad Max on 14/05/2016 - 20:29

          @Ronniefromdashore:
          "My school (where I'm working) out performs all other state and private schools in our region"
          The one at the top in YOUR link is Brisbane Grammar School, a private school, just as I said.
          By the way Brisbane State High and Brisbane Grammar School are in the same region, infact a few Km apart.
          That makes your statement definitely not true.
          Anyway I am not interested in wasting my time replying to your "my school is the best one" rants. And I noticed that you used your daily negs allocation on my comments.
          Supposing that you are really a teacher at Brisbane State High, which I doubt, you have just given a less than desirable example of the public school level.

        • J6 on 14/05/2016 - 21:07
          -3

          Check the list again honey, there are 6 schools tied for first (all ranked 100) and one of them is a state school. My school is the top school in the region. Brisbane is made up of several regions. Again, my school is a state school and the top school in the region for numerous reasons. where did you go to school? St Rita's? St Margaret's? Waste your time and reply to me baby. You know you're r0ng.

        • mponderosa on 16/05/2016 - 16:13
          -1

          @Ronniefromdashore:

          Does your school always outperforms (NOT out perform) the other school in the region consistently in the last few years?

          A lot of top schools only retain in the TOP list just for 1 year, or 2 years.

          The most important factor to become the top achiever IS NOT the teachers or the school system itself, BUT the quality of the student THAT particular year.

    • mponderosa on 16/05/2016 - 16:13

      @Ronniefromdashore:

      Does your school always outperforms (NOT out perform) the other school in the region consistently in the last few years?

      A lot of top schools only retain in the TOP list just for 1 year, or 2 years.

      The most important factor to become the top achiever IS NOT the teachers or the school system itself, BUT the quality of the student THAT particular year.

  • biozet on 14/05/2016 - 15:19
    +1

    are you inclusionary or exclusionist? essentially that's the choice. public school students have a better completion rate in tertiary courses ( if that's important). the diversity at public is a plus…both in staff and student populations. id say as a general rule the principals at private are probably better quality (not escaping the classroom and have a track record of leadership and achievement generally) but the teachers at public might be better.

    • tempco on 14/05/2016 - 23:46

      This is a really good point. I went private and my SO went public, and comparing experiences, I had a much narrower range of experiences and relationships growing up and was much more sheltered. Even all the extracurricular activities I did were within the school's comfort zone. And I think I came away with a much more in-group, out-group view on life. In hindsight, my friends were all very similar, etc.

    • cypher67 on 15/05/2016 - 00:55

      In hindsight I dont think I'm comparing Private and Public. The issue is if your public school in your catchment is a poor school, your only alternative is Private. And if the Private schools are bias towards certain faiths, I dont know where that leaves me.

  • pebee47 on 14/05/2016 - 15:27

    When we moved from another state to Perth my partner rang the Ed Dept to find out which were the best High Schools. Told "All our public schools provide an excellent level…blah, blah, blah". Came back with (the fact)that "I am a teacher and we have a straight "A" student: If it was your daughter where would you send her?" "Rossmoyne".
    Prices in catchment $15K more than same-same out of zone and made life pretty tough for a while, but when we sold the house 11 years later the differential was closer to $30K.
    $15K profit beats shelling out for Kumon for 5 years!
    (ps: Brilliant School. Great teachers. Academic excellence is regarded as a seriously good achievement, always in the top 5 or 10 in the State.)

  • worldwidehappiness on 14/05/2016 - 17:41
    -1

    Never ceases to amaze me that people send their kids to paedophiles and religious brainwashers just to get a "better education". Out of tune with reality, and focused on money and worldly success.

    • biozet on 14/05/2016 - 19:35

      I think it is true that public educators are under more scrutiny and subject to more active police checks etc….as a result there does seem a far higher rate of abuse/paedophilia in the private sector. However, I think a spiritual education is often at odds with 'money and worldly success'so there seems to be a little discrepancy between what you think private schools practice and preach. I guess its how you define those terms. one teacher I know teaches in the public sector yet she is religious however extremely tolerant and intellectually and emotionally very intelligent. She is also quite apolitical and is a fervent supporter of social justice issues. one private teacher I know is quite anti-religious and probably far more competitive and also capable in many areas. just how these ethos fit in their particular schools is hard to judge. But you must recognise that choice is essential…and reality is a little subjective. i'd like to hear from some people who have been brainwashed religiously by a (private) school or conversely 'brainwashed' into being out of tune with reality and/or focused on money and worldly success.

      • Zondor on 15/05/2016 - 16:41

        Just as a general information drop. My mother who works in our local police station had somebody come in because they had been requested to get a "Christian background check" to work in a local catholic school.

        Sounds to me like information is being swept under the rug.

        • biozet on 15/05/2016 - 21:21

          definitely

  • belongsinforums on 14/05/2016 - 19:54
    +1

    OP - the option you have left out is distance education. You have the right to teach your own child if you think that public education will not serve your child's best interests. You don't need to be a teacher or anything. You will be given documents digitally and on occasion will be required to submit work to the department of education.

    • biozet on 14/05/2016 - 21:49
      +1

      good point. home schooled or distance ed are great options

  • fruit on 14/05/2016 - 20:12

    My local public primary (K-6) school was wonderful not a single regret there only praise. Local highschool was alright, but after talking to those that went to private schools, it was on par with their experience.

  • [Deactivated] on 14/05/2016 - 21:16

    What a lot of parents do where we are is try to get their kid into a state school in a different catchment.

    Some do it by renting temporarily in the different catchment (once you're in that's it - you can move away to a cheaper area again and your child can continue to go to that school. Depending on the school policy you can also get siblings in automatically in the future, even if you aren't living in the catchment when you
    enroll them).

    Others get on the out-of-catchment waiting list and then just hound/sweet talk the office staff.

    Or you can find a school that doesn't have catchment restrictions - up here they tend to be the smaller schools slightly further out without easy transport links.

  • sal78 on 14/05/2016 - 21:27
    +2

    probably because the schools u applied for ate full so they can be more selevtive and have a policy in place. usually its ppl from parish, siblings, catholics, general .. i think.

    i think if u live in a catchment with a good publuc school its ok. our lical publuc school has i think 10 prep classes and around 8 to 10 classes across all orimary levels.

    My husband is a primary teacher at the private school our kids attend. not only is it a great school, he has been working there for around 8yrs and loves it. It has a very low turnover of staff and they all get along well. We know the inside goss and theres not much to it. Teachers all great n upright.I'm christian and love that aspect, i meanthe morals and values are great even if you are not religious and fo not believe. All the kids very polite n well mannered, they iffer to help you carry stuff or open the doors for you etc a nice small school with a strong community spirit. Each year is triple streamed which means max 3 classes per grade. They are slightly selective which is good i.e declining a kid that has been expelled 3x etc zero bullying tolerance, great chaplain program etc lots of curricular activities.

    my husband has taught at both private n public and though there's certain a lot more work in private n parents expect more… they get a lot of support and it's worth it. he has his duties and he runs lots of co curricular programs during n after school.

    i love that my kids can go from prep to yr 12 in the same school and feel comfortable going through all their schooling yrs with same friends. i asked my son if he would like to change to more exxy, better results, more demanding grammar school because a few if his friends have mived there and he said no.

    the school has teachers aid assistant until grade 2. a lot more options in co curricular and a great music program.

    in terms of cost, we r paying less than when they were at child care. i was wortied at first but when i did the budgeting, it was way less than childcare and we were better off. its actually decent for great full time care. i do get staff discount which helps too.

    the other thing us the convenience of hubby taking them to school n back home. saves so much time!!

    each to their own but this is our situation n whats best for us. you may think private schools r gor rich kuds but majority of parents are just everyday blue vollar workers. we both work hard n pay a lot of taxes n make small sacrifices for our kids education. we r just ave family. it would go a long way to get some tax conceddion gor private education or at least increase or maintain funding to private schools so they stop increasing their fees.

    everybodys situation is different. do whats best for your family n your kids.

    • ozhunter on 15/05/2016 - 15:04
      +1

      All the kids very polite n well mannered, they iffer to help you carry stuff or open the doors for you etc a nice small school with a strong community spirit.

      Same with the private school I went to as well. The employees at the local fast food were mostly public school students and our school with a ratio of like 8:1. The managers said to me how we were more well-mannered and much more respectful.

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