I have to admit, I love the site. I think it gives parents the knowledge to choose a school for their child.

The 2 schools that I went to (Primary & High school) were RED!! (So totally to be expected) DP's schools were also red!

DD goes to a private school - and for the fee's we pay each year I expect the results to be good. After all this is just the BASIC reading writing numeracy & gram! If kids are not learning the basics, they will fall through the cracks and this is where the issue starts. My cousin goes to a public school (the one i went to as a child) and when my DD was in year 1 they were doing the same work! (My cuz is a grade above DD) DD also had a few small issues with learning how to tell the time (last year - which was grade 2), fractions and working out her change when she bought something, she understood what she had to do and with intervention with a support group for a month and me giving her examples of using fractions etc in everyday living helped her

I also agree that you need to go to the school and see for yourself what the school 'feels' like. I know from the moment I went into DD's school it was so warm and welcoming. The entire staff @ DD's school GENUINELY care about their wellbeing & education, it's not just a pay packet for them!

I am also the first person to stand up for the public/state schools regarding the funding. Parents in private schools pay a substantial amount (DD's school covers ALL excursions, textbooks, teachers wages, stationary etc, we only need to buy her uniforms ) each year and not everyone can afford to send their children to a private school, and the kids should not be behind just because they go to a public school! eeach child deserves to have a good education (and WTH is the government thinking by funding a private school 42 mil when it only has 16 kids!?!?!?!?!?!? I am sure there are many other public schools that could have used that money!)

The other thing that also annoyed me - when the 'school stimulus' was given DD's school started the work straight away - the public school down the road has only just begun!! i doubt they were given as much money as DD's school which is so unfair.

Sorry for the lonnnnnnnnnng post - but thats my 2 cents