NSW - is it hard to get into a school out of your catchment area?

[sista]

I know Its like I'm stuck until I know what they are doing - they are quite popular and yes I'm in Sydney.

I know that they may not get much weight but I grew up very close to that area and live very closely to it. My biggest reasoning is that my daughter is ill and needs my extra care and I don't feel that the school within our immediate vicinity will serve our purpose at all

[mrsmac]

If you have medical back up to support that it would help, did you explain all that to the principal??
Which part of Sydney?

[sista]

I absolutely do, we have been in and out of hospital for months so there will be no issues there - we're in the Western suburbs. And yes I did explain it - he didn't lean towards any particular direction though but was a perfect gentleman. The lady at the office gave me their school policy and for the school, having a sibling already and then a medical issue was their first two reasons for accepting children out of area.

Having said that, the medical issue isn't with my son as such (he has a learning difficulty but not a major one and is currently being assessed)but my daughter and it has made us reassess our priorities and as such to give our son the best chance possible. Pretty much the school's vision is right in line with what we've set up as our children's foundation...what's right for one parent, isn't necessarily right for another though is it!

[mrsmac]

You find for every school there are people who love it and people who don't! I hope you can appeal to the boss and get him to make a decision before next year! I taught at William Dean PS which is in the western suburbs and it was a great school. My old boss is now at Chester Hill PS- shame I don't know anyone where you are going!
Good luck with it all. My son starts next year too but he is going to my school and we are in area- my niece is too- she has already getting in out of area.

[sista]

Ah thanks MrsMac, I was thinking of putting a little portfolio together but he was like ohh nooo don't do that, we'll only look at the exceptional circumstances and nothing more :/ I used to live in Chester Hill, a really lovely lovely area. I don't live too far away from there now actually. Its so hard We've had such a rough year with my daughter...