My children will be at the local Primary school, and a private secondary school. I went to Catholic primary and private single-gender Secondary (non-Catholic). All my siblings did this too.

My parents are both educators in the private and Catholic systems, and both have said that DS1 is receiving a better education at the local State primary school than he would at any of the private primary schools they have worked at. Mind you, it's the best primary school in one of the highest income-earning areas in Melbourne, so I'm not surprised. The staff and parents have an excellent working relationship, and the parents association raises ridiculous amounts of money, so there are so many opportunities at the school that wouldn't be there at many other primary schools.

I have said, and continue to say, that I will sell everything I own, cash in my super and work three jobs so that my children can have a private secondary education. That is how much I believe in private secondary schools.

But then again, I'm in Melbourne... one of the first questions that is asked of a younger person is "what school did you go to?" I got my first job based on my school, as did many of my friends.