Private vs public for primary schools

[krisp]

I always thought I would send my children to a private school right from day 1. We checked out the private school close to us (one of the leading private schools in Melbourne and indeed Australia) and also a public school close by but not actually in the same local council area as we are right on the border.

My experience was:

The Private school was very big and I mean very big! The children were all dressed beautifully and incredibly well mannered and well behaved. The facilities were excellent also.

The Public school was much smaller and quite noisy. The children whilst they all wore uniforms they were all slightly different shades of red and the girls had all different ribbons/clips on their hair. The rooms were well equipped but a little messy. The playground was fab as it was renovated last year.

So...... whilst the Private school would offer DS an excellent education the children seemed like little robots. I can't imagine DS actually playing in a blazer I paid $200 for! The children all ignored us and were just too quiet and the rooms were just too neat and sterile. The children at the public school were excited to see us and all said hello quite freely. Their uniforms were able to be played in and they seemed really happy.

I changed my mind after those 2 visits and decided public was the way to go.

This has of course all changed now as we are off to live in Alaska and I'm delighted to say the public school he is enrolled in there is also excellent!

[Jennifer13]

I think it depends on your area and it depends on the schools. We didn't want single sex for as much of her schooling as possible for our DD and as most of the private schools in our area are, we looked elsewhere.

I'd go along to both and check them out. No harm in putting DS's name down if you've been to the private school and you like it (there is a fee). It's also worthwhile leaving your options open, you won't have to confirm your enrolment until much closer to school starting for him, so talking to other parents (who are and are not sending their kids along) about both schools might help.

We ended up choosing the public primary school, it's a bit closer (we can walk to it), it's co-ed, we liked the other families we know who are going there and I was totally impressed with most of their facilities. The turn offs for the closest private school was single sex, didn't like the 'feel' and the cost. Hard to put your finger on, but you really have to look into your options yourself.

We are planning on a private high school. It's very common in our area for families to do what we're doing, which is why there are so many public primary schools and less public high schools than private schools.

Oh and FWIW, I went to public schools all the way (who score very badly on NAPLAN now, I might add), in a regional area and I have since completed 1 1/2 undergrad degrees and a Masters with merit at one of our best unis. My education is second to none and I was in no way disadvantaged compared to private school students when I went to uni. In fact, lots of closely managed private school students struggle with the free-flowing, free-thinking approach at uni.

[Phteven]

Oh and FWIW, I went to public schools all the way (who score very badly on NAPLAN now, I might add)

NAPLAN only measures what NAPLAN measures. They don't measure community service, students charity fundraising, school gardens, recycling programs, student wellbeing, chickens in the class room, worm farms or yummy mummies.
DH is a bit disappointed by the lack of MILFs at our school. He was assured that there were lots of yummy mummies where we live. Maybe they're all at the private school lol.

[Lulu]

oooh I so want single sex schools for my two at secondary....

[Jennifer13]

NAPLAN only measures what NAPLAN measures. They don't measure community service, students charity fundraising, school gardens, recycling programs, student wellbeing, chickens in the class room, worm farms or yummy mummies.

I can safely report that my school failed on all of those measures too. Although, not sure on the yummy mummies, since I clearly wasn't paying attention.

Perhaps you've just set a high standard for your DH and he's disappointed they're not all as gorgeous as you.

[trishalishous]

I've taught in both and think its definitely the school/area rather than the system.
we are looking at the local grammar school, as they run from 830-530, with meals provided, before school homework classes, and sports/music/swimming lessons after school.
ideally I'd be teaching there too.
otherwise we are going to the other extreme and homeschooling (i can teach anything to year10)
the mums in my mums group have already enrolled their 4month old bubs into the 'good' schools in this town, for 2014/15.
we are likely to be leaving town anyways, and then everything will change

[mrsmac]

NAPLAN measures one group of children in one small test on one day. It changes every year depending on the cohort and as Onyx so rightly puts- it measure none of the other important facts that make up school culture. (Onyx- I am loving every post of yours in this thread)

[Jennifer13]

You're right, mrsmac. I'm pretty sure my old school would fail on any measure, accademic or otherwise, especially back then. Although there have been improvements in the last 15 years (goodness, I feel old!). However, there's no comparison between that school and the public school we chose for DD. I was very impressed with the teachers, the technology and the generally friendly atmosphere.

And maybe it's worth pointing out that despite our under-performing school, we had some fabulous teachers. Out of my year came an optometrist, an anaesthetist, two lawyers, a vet, an OT, an audiologist, a teacher, a director, a couple of accountants, a chef with his own restaurant, a couple of public servants and I'm sure there are other noteworthy achievements amongst those I did not keep in touch with. There's so much you can do for your children by your own attitude to education and its importance that no school can give them.

Onyx - I so wish DD's school was bi-lingual. She's been doing French at preschool for two years and I'm very sorry she won't be continuing it. We're thinking about doing a 12 mth stint in France down the track, where she certainly won't be attending a private school! I think the experience will give her something more than any school here can. So we'll be saving on the private school fees to make that happen now. Let's just say we were inspired by your trip!

[Amity]

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.

[Jennifer13]

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.

I completely escaped this when I started working in Sydney, because I'm from a regional area interstate. It was always asked, but then let go if you say you didn't grow up here. It's like it only matters if you grew up in Sydney/Melb. And I can safely say it didn't affect my job-getting ability. I don't get the double-standard, but there it is.

BTW because of where I live now, I have a lot of ppl assuming that I went to one of the girls' schools around here. Ppl seem to stay around the area and I guess since I'm clearly professionally career-oriented, it's assumed. My Mum would be so pleased to know that others assume she paid out nearly $100K for my high school education, when I just went to the local high school!

[Phteven]

The 'which school' issue does seem to vanish as soon as you move cities and even more when you move countries.

Y's teacher had a chat to us yesterday. She's of the opinion that picking the right primary school is more important than the high school. Her reasoning is that if they get a solid grounding at primary they can succeed in any high school. I never thought of it that way before but it makes a lot of sense.

I'm kind of torn on the whole single gender V co-ed thing. On one hand boys do better in humanities and girls do better in maths/science when they are segregated but on the other hand it seems so artificial. It's not like work-places and unis are segregated and the girls at my girl's school were so dopey/clueless when it came to guys.
The high school I have in mind of we stay here is co-ed so if they can get in that's the way we'll go but if we move..... who knows.

[Jennifer13]

Onyx - there's a private school on the northern beaches that was a boys school and girls school amalgamated. In high school, most of the classes are co-ed, but for some subjects the girls and boys are split (maths and science I think are split, for eg). If we were closer and I thought the school was good (haven't visited) it'd be on our list for sure. Seems like such a simple solution!

[Lulu]

I went to a girls school to start with, then changed in Yr11 to a Co-ed. It totally blew me away how much time everyone spent on the BF/GF thing. Got crapped on for asking someones BF where the Lab was, asked someone elses exBF for a light yadda yadda. There was far more cattiness in the Co-ed schools I went to and far more attention to hair and makeup iykwim?

[toomanyshoes]

I went to a girls school to start with, then changed in Yr11 to a Co-ed. It totally blew me away how much time everyone spent on the BF/GF thing. Got crapped on for asking someones BF where the Lab was, asked someone elses exBF for a light yadda yadda. There was far more cattiness in the Co-ed schools I went to and far more attention to hair and makeup iykwim?

I actually found the opposite, all girls for 7-10 then co-ed for 11-12. 7-10 was super *****y/catty but 11-12 was so much more relaxed and "easy going". Maybe it was because the 7-10 was one of the most stuck up schools in that part of the state but I definitely felt more pressure to "fit in", have a boyfriend etc then when I switched to the co-ed 11-12.

[Schmickers]

I went to a co-ed public high school but they trialled segregating maths and science during my junior years. The girls loved it, but I hated it! It just encouraged more misbehaviour amongst the boys, and as someone who was trying to be studious, I would have given anything to be in the girls classes.

[BeautifulMadness]

it all coems down to the area, the public schools around here arent very good...so we are sending our boys to a cathloic school....Dh went to both ps and hs

[~ Zarava Flutterby ~]

Hey hun i am wondering if it's the private school i am thinking of, if so DP's cousins kids go there and they LOVE it, both are going through primary years.

Personally my girls will be going public, we don't have the funds for a private school education and both DP and i have fared well enough with a public education.
Crazy we need to look at these things so far in advance.. my only worry is whether the school i WANT to send the girls to will still be around then... it's got like 13 students total :0

[Miss.September]

Talking about Acacia ZF. We think we've decided that we'll send DD to the local public primary and then move her over for secondary (funds permitting!!!)