Private or Public

[The Boys & Mommy]

Hi all!

So we have been in Perth almost 6 weeks and getting ready for the new school year to start. The boys are enrolled at what we think is a very good state/public school and they are excited to get going too.

Now, one of the main reasons for moving here was obviously the education and future of our kiddies as it is for most Saffers so we take the schooling decision quite seriously. So we have been researching schools like crazy for a while now yet we still can't get a straight answer for a question that is currently weighing us down quite a bit...

PRIVATE SCHOOL OR PUBLIC SCHOOL AND WHY?

We are in the canning vale area and there are quite a few good private and public schools to choose from but we have heard so many conflicting stories about public and private that it just confuses the matter more. In SA our boys were in private school as we didn't see any other alternative. But here public schools seems good and we don't really see why we should put them in private school other than it being a Christian school.

Ok, I'm done.

[AAAZR]

Hi there,

The public schools in our area are so good that it would make no sense for us to send our kids to private school. $15000 per year for a child in Kindergarten and Year 12 student $22000 per year?? Seems over the top to me!

I checked the school ratings on the bettereducation.com.au website to get an idea of the school in comparison to other schools in the same area.

Even if I had the extra $3000 per month... I would still send my kids to the local public school. That being said..we chose the suburb we live in according to the school I liked.

Good luck with your choice!

A

[HansaPlease]

It all depends on the area. We recently moved. In our old area we had our kids enrolled (for future) in a private school because the public school was horrible (for Aus standards).

Now that we've moved to a better area, the local public school is as good if not better than the private school in the old area, so we save thousands for a better school.

[Riekie]

Nothing wrong with public schools - obviously depending on the area as mentioned. In "bad" socio-economic areas you'll have more problem "elements" as in kids, not the school. The public school system in general is excellent! Some ppl just want to say their kids go to a private school - in another instance it really is the better option due to the caliber of kids attending that particular school. In 99% of cases you're in an excellent school wether private or public.

[Sibella]

At the moment I have one daughter in Grade 6 at a public primary and one in Grade 1 in a Christian private primary!

When we just arrived I put the younger ones name on the waiting list for the private school, then got offered a place for her in Year 1 so she started on Wednesday. My oldest didn't want to go as it's her last year of primary but she will be going to the private Lutheran high school connected to the primary school in Year 7.

For primary school I feel the state schools are fine, but it is more tricky to find a good public high school.

When she was offered the place I wasn't sure if I should change schools and it's still early days but here are my observations:

For us being Christian I feel more comfortable with the Christian school. At her old school they would have a Christmas Concert and not sing one religious song which felt a bit wrong. So it's just about being around like minded people.

Class sizes in state schools can vary while at this private school it's 25 per class. My younger daughter was lucky and only had 19 kids in her prep class at the state school but my older one had 35 last year.

Then it's just the soft feely touchy things things - state schools have ugly toilets, the private girls toilet is pretty and clean and pink! . I can order her lunch online. We got a uniform fitting appointment. Special programmes / specialist classes. These things are nice but of course not essential.

Also I am hoping that my daughter who I feel is struggling with reading will get more support at her new school as they have a reading recovery programme. Her Prep teacher said she is totally within the normal range but I think there is an issue.

That said I was happy with her learning at the public school and their IT / library / specialist facilities are great.

Also I think kids at public school are taught to be more resilient. At the private schools lots of mommies were hanging around the classes fussing over their babies. At public school when the bell rang you are out of there which I think is best. My eldest struggled in the beginning but is much more confident and resilient which is great.

So pros and cons to each and it depends on your personal preferences and budget.

[Gizmo]

Well, you get private schools that range from $3000 per your up to $25 000 per year (in Perth). Yes, the $25 000 per year couple of schools are better than the best government school.

But, in general, there are good government schools that compare very favourably with the majority of private schools.

We decided to give the government system a go first - we got our daughter into a good governing school. So far, we are happy. Education-wise, the year 1 kids are over a year ahead of grade 1 SA kids. Major eye opener. In our area, most of the kids go to government primary, then go private for high school. There doesn't appear to be any issues with the transition from government to private - ie no big level jumps. From what we can see, it is much of a muchness so far.

Of course, there are less desirable government schools. Steer clear.

[Riekie]

I'm probably gonna get blitzed for saying this but hear me out (and this is not an argument against private schools, but rather some food for thought). No matter what school you pick for your kids, when they get into the real life, there's no differences, exceptions, special treatment, protection against all the "bad things" in life... In the real life, we're all the same; boys, girls, black, white, good people, bad people, Christian, non-Christian... If we don't expose our kids to the realities of life from an early age and teach them to stand their ground, do the right thing, stay true to their beliefs and resist temptation, they won't have the life skills to do that when they are suddenly faced with all of that in the real world.

Obviously no parent would expose their child to any obvious dangers, but public school is not the root of all evil and private school (or christian, or girls only school) is not a guarantee to a perfect childhood.

So many ppl freak out about finding the best private schools and will break the bank to make it happen, thinking that they'd be less of a parent if they don't.

My kids both attended public schools and they're now awesome adults. It's not the school that makes the difference. It's just a thought.

[Sibella]

Riekie I do agree with you which is why I was quite hesitant to change schools.

But for me personally as a new immigrant it is important to find a community I belong to, so it's just as much about me fitting in as well as my kids. I attend the church and playgroup attached to the school so I felt quite comfortable joining the school. And it's also about pastoral care - my husband works away a lot, but I know if I need any help there will be assistance from the school or church community. Recently a friend from church brought us dinner, and at the school they actually have a food bank with meals available when a family is in need. Not financially but if someone is ill or had a baby.

And also this specific school is only about $4000 per year so luckily not breaking the bank (yet)!

[Riekie]

100% agree - that sense of community makes all the difference.

[Gizmo]

I think in Perth there is a bit of the "social club" aspect with private schools. Whenever I ask if it is important what school you went to here, people are quick to say "no", but my impressions in business so far have been the opposite. There is a bit of the "old boys club" with some of the private schools here - the Perth market is all about connections and who you know. Which school you went to definitely comes into the equation, BUT its no where near as big a deal as the whole "what school you went to" is in Southern Suburbs Cape Town.

For now, we are government, but I may change tack for high school.

[Annii]

Gizmo - thanks for your advice above, I can relate.

My husband lands in Perth in a few days time and I will follow with my two daughters at the end of the year.

My oldest in turning 5 in December and would be going into Grade R at a Private Christian School if we were staying in SA.

What is the proceedure to get her into a school for next year? - I am going to be relying on my husband to 'scope out' the institutions and suberbs. We will be looking at good public schools.

[AndreaL]

With many schools you have to be living in the catchment area, so your hubby is going to have to find a suburb that you like with a school that you like.....and if I'm honest, you can't really tell what a school is like until you walk around, talk to staff and get a gut feel.

I have no preference with either public or private as I have seen good and bad in both, so don't make the assumption that private is better, list the criteria that are important to you and apply them equally.

That said, there is nothing wrong with trying a school and if it is not the right fit.....change.Generally, private schools may have long waiting lists, so again, much will depend on where you plan to settle and trying to get on the waiting list.

[Gizmo]

Gizmo - thanks for your advice above, I can relate.

My husband lands in Perth in a few days time and I will follow with my two daughters at the end of the year.

My oldest in turning 5 in December and would be going into Grade R at a Private Christian School if we were staying in SA.

What is the procedure to get her into a school for next year? - I am going to be relying on my husband to 'scope out' the institutions and suburbs. We will be looking at good public schools.

Hey Annii - different schools have different procedures. It would be best to contact the school. Regarding the public vs private thing - I probably wasn't clear enough - if you are going to go about getting into the "country social 'old boys' club" thing here, its not about just going to private school, its about going to particular private schools, like Hale and Scott College for example. Problem with those schools is that they run loooong waiting lists and they are insanely expensive (you are talking $25 000.00 per year) for the "right" private schools.

Second best is really tie between getting into a 'standard' private school and a 'good' government school. Remember the good government schools require being in the right catchment area. If you don't live in the right area, you won't get in as they place people in the catchment first and people move to live in the right catchments.

In my opinion, the main difference between the 'standard' private schools and the good government schools is the price tag. This is about $10,000.00 per year for private vs $60.00 voluntary payment per year for government.

[Avatar]

I read today in the newspaper that 457 visa holders in Western Australia may be charged $4000 per child to attend public schools--something to be aware of and please try to covert to permanent resident where possible. I assume this policy could spread around Australia sometime. This is a link to the article: http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/families-could-boycott-wa/comments-fnhocxo3-1226699388884

[rikamarie]

Nice to hear from you. Good luck with the school, I'm sure all will be fine.

[dkm]

^{The Boys & Mommy.....now you've been there a while...please comment on the schools in Canning Vale. Thx}