Adelaide : The quality of Secondary Public schools in the southern part is tragic!

[DanielK]

Searching the forum, I got the impression that public primary schools are on average good, but that the opposite is true about public secondary schools. It seems there aren’t any good public secondary schools in the southern part of Adelaide, and even the private schools are not that great. I wasn’t able find any secondary school situated in Southern Adelaide on the school ranking for admission to the University of South Australia/Adelaide. My son, Josua (15) would like to study architecture at the University of South Australia/Adelaide, and naturally we as parents would prefer to place him in the most suitable school that will support his dreams and provide a good chance for him to be admitted for University studies.

Can you recommend any secondary schools?

Edited October 29, 2015 by Mara
Changed heading to start with Adelaide, more locals may then check the post.

[RYLC]

I wasn’t able find any secondary school situated in Southern Adelaide on the school ranking for admission to the University of South Australia/Adelaide.

I don't understand your comment. Where have you been searching (websites) because schools aren't ranked for particular universities. It doesn't matter which school a child goes to. All universities use a points system for admission. The child's ability to go to university is dependent on their ATAR score for their Year 12 exams so it is entirely up to the student whether they do well enough to get into university.

Please can you give more details of what you have been looking at.

[DanielK]

Hi,

I did my research under the following websites –

Schools ranked by the number of students submissions to - https://www.unisa.edu.au/ and http://www.adelaide.edu.au/ (it was somewhere on their web page)

Ranking of best architect schools - http://www.architecture.com.au/

Top High schools in SA - http://bettereducation.com.au/school/secondary/sa/sa_top_secondary_schools.aspx

I understand it is up to the student, however, I believe that you do get schools that will deliver students with higher ATAR scores then other. Yes, a good school does not make a slow student a top performer, but I believe it can help them to achieve higher ATAR scores if you know what I mean. I believe it got a lot to do with Discipline, Structure, and Culture of a specific school.

[RYLC]

Schools ranked by the number of students submissions to - https://www.unisa.edu.au/ and http://www.adelaide.edu.au/ (it was somewhere on their web page)

This really depends on the subjects taken by the student and whether they decided to study in South Australia or go interstate. A lot of kids want to fly the nest and study in Melbourne or Queensland. These are just random stats saying that "of the students who study architecture, most come from xyz school". The actua schools don't teach architecture at all.

Ranking of best architect schools - http://www.architecture.com.au/

I can't find what you are referring to. Perhaps you are misunderstanding that a department of a university is sometimes refered to as a "school"?

Top High schools in SA - http://bettereducation.com.au/school/secondary/sa/sa_top_secondary_schools.aspx

This table shows mostly private schools. The top score is 100 out of a possible 100 so I'm not sure what the problem is. Even the lowest score on the table is 90 out of 100 which one would think is very good.

I understand it is up to the student, however, I believe that you do get schools that will deliver students with higher ATAR scores then other. Yes, a good school does not make a slow student a top performer, but I believe it can help them to achieve higher ATAR scores if you know what I mean. I believe it got a lot to do with Discipline, Structure, and Culture of a specific school.

As an Afrikaans family you are going to find that schools here do not have the same style of discipline and structure that you are used to. I don't think you are going to find it to your liking in my humble opinion. It is very liberal (not conservative at all) and students are encouraged to speak their mind and be involved in their learning. Teachers are quite casual with the students and even dress in a more casual manner than we are accustomed to. One of our primary school teachers (male) has an earing and is growing his hair long enough to have it in a "man bun".

You will have to remember that you have to fit in here whether you like the way they do things or not. Our Saffa thinking would say that it should be "improved"? Depends really. My sister often says that education here is poor but she forgets that in RSA her kids go to a private school whereas public schools in Australia would be the equivalent of averaging out ALL schools in RSA. So good schools + township schools + one classroom under a tree schools. Everybody goes to school together here (all levels and backgrounds) which Saffas are not used to.

I would suggest that your best bet would be to contact the university your son wants to attend and speak to the admissions people and ask them what high school they can recommend. Perhaps they will be willing to throw out some names.

[DanielK]

I think you do not understand the reasoning behind my thinking.

I agree with you and I do not want to knock down any school and stats are just stats and I understand that a Bogan’s Child can attend the same school as a wealthy CEO Child. No problem with that.

We would love to start in the southern suburbs but it will be tragic if we moved into the wrong catchment area. Josua will start next year in year 10 and therefore we do not have luxury to learn from possible mistakes. Therefore, Josua’s school will determine the suburb we will search for a rental.

At the end, my question remains- Can you recommend any secondary schools?

[RYLC]

I do understand your reasoning. I'm just filling in the bits that you don't know you don't know. How casual schools are, How stats sound like they are saying something significant (like which school to attend) when in fact the stats are just for interests sake.

I have kids of my own and understand completely about finding a good spot for them. Most people would say that all schools are much of a muchness. The "excellence" we need and aspire to in RSA is just not needed here so is much harder to find and usually requires a more individual approach.

Of the top school list you posted the link for, the following are public schools on the list of top schools.

Glenunga International High School www.gihs.sa.edu.au
Adelaide High School www.adelaidehs.sa.edu.au
Marryatville High School www.marryatvillehs.sa.edu.au
The Norwood Morialta High School www.nmhs.sa.edu.au

I can't vouch for them but know that they have a good reputation. Having said that, you may not like them, your child may need a smaller school to thrive etc. There are so many variables about your individual circumstances and child that we don't know and can't answer. Will he need support with English for instance? So please consider these school suggestions as giving you a list of shoe shops. You will have to "try on the shoes" to see how they feel for you.

[RYLC]

I've done a bit of digging for you on another group I'm in and can share the following:

Southern Vales Christian College is a private school and they said because of the amount of South Africans in their school - they are going to start Afrikaans classes.

Costs are around $5,000 per year for Year 10-12 which you can pay monthly over the year: http://www.svcc.sa.edu.au/__files/f/2582/Fee%20Schedule%202015.pdf

Knowing what I know now after living in Australia for a long time: It would be more important to find a school for my child where he can find some peers who have also migrated and know how it feels. If I was Afrikaans I would definitely look for fellow Afrikaans kids for my child to socialise with. Academics can be dealt with whereas socially / emotionally is where the realities of migration start to bite. We all need to feel that we have found our tribe so this would be important for me. Just putting this out there in case it has not been on your radar due to the worries about academics and university.

Edited October 30, 2015 by RYLC

[DanielK]

Hi RYLC, thank you so much for your feedback, this is exactly the kind of feedback I was hoping for.

[RYLC]

I know you said you were looking at public schools but one school has caught my eye down south: Sunrise Christian School The high school campus is at Marion.

http://www.sunrise.sa.edu.au/our-schools/marion

Their fee structure is unique in that you pay according to your household income. I've never seen this before and it makes it very affordable

From our experience with schools here I would say that a Christian school is the most similar to what we are use to in RSA. I know money can be an issue but schools have a payment plan where you can pay it off.

Edited October 30, 2015 by RYLC

[DanielK]

Thank you,

What is the meaning of - “Although the students do not complete the South Australian Certificate of Education, they undertake high quality studies” (http://www.sunrise.sa.edu.au/our-schools/marion/secondary-school)?

How do the ATAR score works in this case? Is it not more difficult getting the desired ATAR score?

Is there a wep page "ATAR score explained for Dummies"?

[RYLC]

Thank you,

What is the meaning of - “Although the students do not complete the South Australian Certificate of Education, they undertake high quality studies” (http://www.sunrise.sa.edu.au/our-schools/marion/secondary-school)?

How do the ATAR score works in this case? Is it not more difficult getting the desired ATAR score?

Is there a wep page "ATAR score explained for Dummies"?

Each state has their own version of a "matric" / Year 12 and in South Australia it is called the South Australian Certificate of Eduction (also known as SACE). It looks like the school have decided to follow an approved independent non government school curriculum. This does't mean that it is sub-standard. In fact it might mean that it is superior. I don't know the school well enough to know.

Here is a post about ATAR. Basically it is a system which "converts" each state's own version of matric to a standard score so that somebody from WA can get into a university in say NSW without having to sit an entrance exam. In the post they refer to WACE which stands for West Australian Certificate of Education.

http://www.studentbox.com.au/profiles/blogs/atar-calculator-guide-help-you-determine-your-indicative-atar

It would be best to contact the school about what pathways they provide for university entrance. High school subject packaging is a whole big thing which I haven't had to deal with yet as my kids are still in primary school. Just like schools in RSA, schools offer different subject packages based on their size and teacher / subject ratios. It's the same here although there is always a way to get the subject choice you want by doing other outside courses through the school.

You are at the point now where you need to contact individual schools. I would suggest that you not try to decide on an actual school before you get here. Possibly have a bit of a short list but wait until you get here to have a look around and see how you and your child feel about the school. What sounds good on paper can turn out to be not quite what you are looking for and vise versa. And the school I linked for you really caught my eye because of the reasonable fees. I don't know the school and didn't review all that they offer before posting. That is for you to assess. If they don't offer what you need then you'll have to keep looking. I just know that a Christian school will gel better with what you are used to in terms of respect and discipline, particularly as an Afrikaans family.

Really the best advice I can give you is to find out where other Saffas send their kids and then have those schools as your short list. Once I get more replies to my question on another forum I'll post again here.

Here is a link to the booklet all about university entrance into South Australian universities: https://www.sace.sa.edu.au/documents/652891/3548899/SATAC+tertiary+entrance+booklet+2016.pdf/d417daf5-7c3a-4878-bc69-a89aeda370fc

I haven't read it so you'll have to work through it.

Edited October 30, 2015 by RYLC

[RYLC]

Here is another school suggestion from the Potgieter family (Afrikaans):

Woodcroft College, best school in the south.

[Mara]

RYLC, I must give you a standing ovation for being so helpful... well done :ilikeit:

[RYLC]

Ah thanks Mara I LOVE Google and have got to know him/her really well over the years. My kids reckon if Mum can't find it online then it doesn't exist

[RYLC]

Okay I've had some replies on another forum and have the following suggestions:

• Reynella East College
• Emmaus Christian College
• Southern Vales Christian College and it is a wonderful school. There are a few South Africans teachers and students in various year levels. It is a relatively small school where I believe students get good attention.

There were also two more votes for Woodcroft College.

Southern Vales Christian College has a lot of resources about SACE and how it works as well as pathways to tertiary education. You might find the following publication helpful in understanding how the system works: https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0CDoQFjAEahUKEwjAp6OQtOzIAhUG0WMKHdUrBJU&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.svcc.sa.edu.au%2F__files%2Ff%2F2157%2F2014&usg=AFQjCNEzFE6QI88fdPHa1I5cfgSGFlQyIw

Edited October 31, 2015 by RYLC

[RYLC]

As a side note, when i am researching a school, I always read their newsletters to see what sort of vibe I get. Might be worth looking at them for each school and see what you think as an iniitial assessment.

[DanielK]

RYLC, you are a star. Thank you so much for all the information. Excellent tips and helpful information.

[MichKen]

Hi

I came across this thread and found it quite informative, I hope I can get a view on a school? We have looked at Seaview High School, internet reviews on google seem ok.  YouTube promotion video looks cool.  It's for my daughter who will go to year 9 or 10 next year.

How is this schools reputation?  I like the fact that they offer some performance arts  and sports.

[Lien]

We lived in VIC for 4 years and were extremely happy with the quality of the school my girls went to.

The education was brilliant and the teachers were good.

 

However, we moved to NSW 3 years ago and are very unhappy. My eldest finished year 12 in a public school since she do not want to study at a Uni and do not need an ATAR. We moved my youngest to a private school beginning of this year since she want to go to uni and cannot go on the ATAR count of a public school.

 

It is important to do your homework before enrolling your kids in a specific school. My advice is to arrange an interview with the school and talk with the principle as well as the maths and english teachers that will teach your kids. A few simple questions will give you a very good understanding of how good or bad the teaching is going to be.

 

[Kevin]

Hi @Lien. What do you mean by "the ATAR count of a public school"?

 

Does it mean that some public schools cannot permit all of their capable enrolled students to take the courses needed for ATAR due to resource limitations?

[NikkiC]

I am new to the forum, but work as an accountant at a Christian school in the Adelaide Hills and belong to the Christian Manager Business network.  Most of the Christian schools in Adelaide share information in this network.  I stand under correction, but seem to recall that Sunrise might have some ex South African teachers.  I also know the Business Manager at Emmaus Christian College and know that this school is a very dynamic school that has recently acquired a new campus and is set to expand a fair bit.  

 

In my experience most of the Christian schools seem to have a strong sense of values and good pastoral care programs which would be useful for someone that might need some advice or support in settling in in a new school and country.  

[HopefulJo]

On 5/13/2017 at 1:56 PM, NikkiC said:

I am new to the forum, but work as an accountant at a Christian school in the Adelaide Hills and belong to the Christian Manager Business network.  Most of the Christian schools in Adelaide share information in this network.  I stand under correction, but seem to recall that Sunrise might have some ex South African teachers.  I also know the Business Manager at Emmaus Christian College and know that this school is a very dynamic school that has recently acquired a new campus and is set to expand a fair bit.  

 

In my experience most of the Christian schools seem to have a strong sense of values and good pastoral care programs which would be useful for someone that might need some advice or support in settling in in a new school and country.  

 Hi Nikki

 

Do you perhaps have any views or reviews or rumours that you can give me on Cedar college? We had a good feel and vibe when we visited them, but I have seen some not so good reviews online. We are looking at schools in the north eastern suburbs

[NikkiC]

Hello Jo

 

Unfortunately I do not have any personal experience or knowledge of Cedar College.  I have heard good things about Kings Baptist, but I believe they might have a very long waiting list.  Sorry I cannot be of more assistance.

[RYLC]

Kings Baptist is very full and difficult to get into.  Even siblings can't be accommodated at the moment. Torrens Valley Christian School is at Hope Valley and was started back in the eighties by some NGK Saffas.  There are a number of Saffa families there even now and The School of Languages holds its Afrikaans extra curricula classes there (after school). They also have a few Afrikaans staff members (who teach in English obviously).  I usually read the newsletters of a school from their website to get a feel for the place so maybe that will help you too.  http://www.tvcs.sa.edu.au/newsletter/

 

[Riekie]

Daniel, I see you are still in South Africa.  I went through the same stress about schools prior to leaving, spending hours researching schools and trying to find the best one.  In the end, all that time and worry was all for nothing as once we were in Australia, it was clear that the school system here is vastly different from the school system in South Africa and that you’d struggle to find a really “bad” school, even with the lowest of “scores”. 

 

Get yourself here, and then visit the schools in the area you decide to settle in and take it from there.  Your child will excel in any school environment in Australia as long as he is socially and emotionally content at the school he is enrolled in.  Parents are very competitive about schools their children go to and to be honest, the kids don’t care – they just want to be happy where they are. If you have a little genius, he’ll be a genius anywhere – trust me.

 

University is the greatest equaliser – I’ve seen it myself first hand:  kids who excelled in the best schools suddenly faced reality and the pressures of an environment where no one is special – and they struggle or give up or change courses or defer their studies.  On the other hand, kids who had to work harder and make more of an effort in public school which may not have had all the latest and greatest or the best teachers, take it in their stride as it’s just another day for them. I’m not saying that if kids go to the best schools, they’ll fail at university or that kids who go to the lower end of schools will outperform everyone else.  I’m saying that regardless of which school your child attends, they’ll have an equal opportunity to excel at university and in life.

 

My advice to you would be to stop stressing.  My daughter attended her local public school, and went on to university to study forensic science, where she outperformed almost everyone and she is now in her dream job doing exactly what she wants to do!