What factors helped you pick the right school for your kids?

[peanutter]

So, DS1 has turned 3,and we have to start thinking about schools a bit more seriously.

there are approximately one billion in our area, and they're so varied.

Everything from 60 students and some ponies, to 550 students and no ponies.

I've had a look at the my schools website, but I'm not sure how they get those academic figures, and how current the rest of the figures are (male/female ratios, etc).

I've chatted with a few friends about how they picked, and they're based their decisions on everything from:-

• academics
• distance walking
• amount of outdoor play area
• number of off grounds activities
• where their cousins etc go
• percentage of students whose first language isn't english
• subjects offered (especially languages)
• relationship with daycare/kinder

What impacted your decision?

[FabFiona]

Distance walking and a supportive environment are my top two. Having a school close by means that more local kid go there which then means more sense of community.

For me, a supportive environment is also vital. Academics are part of this, but if my kids turn out not to be the smart ones, I want them to get the help they need.

[FabFiona]

Why would % of kids whose first language isn't English matter? In the west it's pretty common so I'm curious.

[*Ang*]

The number one factor which straight away halved our options was that we wanted to send our DD to a catholic school.

Other factors that we considered or that helped to influence us were:

- Distance - I didn't want to be driving more then 10 minutes
- No of students - we decided on a single stream school as opposed to the two and three streamed other schools. We felt that it offered a better learning environment with less children
- Community feel - everyone knew everyone and when we had been at the school the parents and students were all very welcoming and friendly
- The "feel" of the kindy facilities - we preferred these over other schools which had more equipment.

[~Kim~]

I wanted a school that was as similar to my beliefs in learning as I could find. Initially I thought Steiner would suit that the most. But looking at it, it wouldn't have suited dd.
I also wanted a school where she wouldn't be bullied for who her dad was. He's a policeman here and many many of the local population come into contact with him/ his colleagues. So we had her booked into 2 private schools.
But when I visited, their schooling all seemed to involve religion, even the basic English and Maths type lessons. They were also highly competitive in terms of academia. Not how I think small children need to be encouraged into learning.
One also was lacking in an anti bullying policy, and insider knowledge showed me there was a problem with bullying there -not okay.
The teachers at the public school we chose are open, relaxed and friendly. The transition and now year 1 teacher is a huge believer in play based learning. There are anti bullying and buddy policies. It is a very community oriented school without being pushy.

The playground, ability to walk to school and art/music/language program's are an added bonus.

[Amity]

Walk to school is #1 for me by a long long way. Particularly given the hours I work. I want the kids to be able to be at home as much as possible.

[feeb]

We are picking now!!

Number 1 is closeness to home I want the kids to be able to ride or scoot and walk rather than need to drive every day.
Size of school and classes
Music programs
LOTE programs
Art programs
Bullying managment

They are the things that have been important to us. From what I have been told from friend who are teachers and others in the area is that the NAPLAN results are only as good as the teacher student and parents that year. As it all depends on how they are committed to reaching there best and how much outside help and support they have for there learning.

We have 2 schools I am looking at 1 is 6 min walk, has Chinese program, Instrumental music is avilable, small school 180 kids has art program.
Other is 30 min walk on busy main road, so driving is realisticly going to happen most and hard to get to due to position and traffic at those times, amazing art program, Vietnamese bilingual program and teaches african drumming!

So both have most of what I want but art program at further away school far out shines the other but benefits to other school are swaying decision eg how close!

[peanutter]

Why would % of kids whose first language isn't English matter? In the west it's pretty common so I'm curious.

This confused (and upset) me actually - the reason this was of a concern to the friend (or I believe, her husband and parents in law) was the belief that there is a high percentage of refugees (she said 40% - I looked up the myschools website, and it lists 29%) with little to no english skills, and therefore the other students get a much lower percentage of the teachers' attention. I have no idea whether that's accurate, and I would imagine there would be a wealth of benefit to be received on both sides of that coin, but that was one of the major factors in that friend not sending her kids to that local school. The school apparently was advertising for a principal who speaks the relevant language, which infuriated her husband, but frankly I thought that was a very sensible idea, to ensure that the parents could communicate with the principal.

Not saying I condone or share that perspective - simply that it is one for some.

[Phteven]

Ponies. Go the ponies. That school is awesome.

For us....... we've gone down the rather obscure path of bilingual education so that limits us. Luckily for us most of the bi-lingual schools are excellent.

FWIW schools with a higher percentage of families from non ESL backgrounds get extra funding. We have a few non ESL children and they're fantastic because their second language in the playground as well as the classroom so my children get extra language exposure.

Also small school, we decided against the French school because it was too big. Happy students. Passionate educators (when you meet them you can tell).

[wysiwyg]

Walkability is top of my list (as aren't any bad schools around here really) - we both use PT to get to work so far easier to walk kids to school then walk to station (so fact there are before and after school care options at school is a factor).

Less time getting too and from school means more time for other stuff plus shouldn't be too far from other pupils. I don't like rushing kids about so even if have to rush on foot it still feels like nice time with kids, chatting playing etc on way.

I think it also depends on what you can offer outside of school, so that school + home life complement each other to give whole picture. So things like art and exposure to animals, environmental stuff, open space etc. I feel can give outside of school so not fussed about in school (e.g. One reason I have heard for people not liking school mine will go to is lack of outdoor space - but I can take the kids places for that so doesn't bother me).Different families can offer different things so for me is just about achieving right balance and because there is lots I want to do with kids outside school then the fact travel time is so short enables that.

In my book any second language is good, it so happens or closest school is bilingual which I am mega pleased about although French would not have been my first choice, but if it wasn't easy walking distance I wouldn't have chosen to walk further just to go to that school. Some people don't choose it because it is bilingual e.g if child is already bilingual but not with French English.

My only real very slight concern is we are not that great a fit with the rest of the community, I know from playgroup and childcare that I am a bit of an 'oddball' but I am used to that and so "community fit" has been a consideration but only a very slight one.

[Santosha]

If we're thinking of the same school, we're enrolled at the one with the ponies! Though that might not work out if we can't manage the fees, it's out first choice because of:
- proximity
- emphasis on social and emotional development
- linked to above... an ethos and method that will teach my children to become active, engaged, self-directed learners rather than passive vessels for information - which will hopefully prepare them well for high school, irrespective of how many little details of 'content' the have retained.
- an emphasis on respect for individual strengths, temperament, preferences and learning style

[MissM]

The feel of the school and its facilities.

One school prep - yr12.

The fees. I was a single mum so I had to ensure if I lost my job I could still pay fees. And what was included in the fees ( for us everything but uniforms is included)

What the school offered in terms of extra education/gifted classes etc.

Vacation care/OSHC onsite.

[Rowellen]

We chose based on cost (public) and distance (5 min walk). I'm yet to meet the teachers and principal or see inside the classroom but I'm hoping when I do in a few weeks time, I will be happy with our choice. At the moment, it's actually my number 2 choice if not for the cost & distance factor.

I looked at several schools. It was quite easy to count some out. Some just felt wrong immediately based on their website! However, my perfect choice met so many of my requirements but was not the one we ened up choosing. I'm really stressing about whether we've made the right choice. The things I considered were:
Feel of the school and vibe from teachers and students
Opportunities outside basic learning such as sport, music, drama
Excellent and well maintained buildings and facilities
Anti-bullying policy with results
Respect and tolerance for others
Results on myschools website
LOTE - a nice to have but not a necessity
and as mentioned above - cost and distance. The school we have chosen ticks boxes for cost, distance & LOTE and I'm yet to see on the others. Fingers crossed for more ticks or I will have to have a very serious discussion with DH & do some serious budgeting if I'm not already too late.

Good luck. It is a tough decision. I think it would be easier if there was only one option.

ETA: Another serious consideration for me is the local public high school. I went there in yr 11 & 12. It was horrible. My kids will not be going there. Short of moving, we will be going private for high school. The school I LOVE, has prep to y12 and I love that idea of consistency. It's something I didn't have (we moved every 3-4 years and changed schools along with it). My concern is that with the high population growth in the area, if we don't get in early, we might not be accepted for high school. The school chooses it's students based on - sibling or parent enrolment (we don't have), involvement in attached church (we don't go), past results (DS is not showing signs of being a high academic achiever) before other considerations.

[Astrid]

Community and therefore locality was important to us. That the girls would be going to school with those kids who they would also be associating with in the community. We had picked the nearest kinder, which happened to have a good connection to the school. Most of the mums I deal with now (some are now friends) are from the kinder and DD1's closest friends are also from the kinder.

For me, academics mean nothing without a good emotional grounding and support. The friendships for DD1 are important to me, that she is happy to go to school so she can learn. Also the support I now get from the wider community is important to our family (no extended family near by).

I realise that there are going to be good years and bad years. Also that I would not really know that a school is any good until we use it. So I have taken the attitude give the school a go and if it does not work out, then look elsewhere.

Oh, on a petty side, parking. Go past the school at pick up time. Some are pure hell. A stressful drop off and pick up, can make for one stressed family

[Ginger]

Does the one with the ponies start with v. Just curious.

[nothing2lose]

Does the one with the ponies start with v. Just curious.

Yep, im pretty sure it does Ginger

Everything suggested is good. One minor, but potentially very important, thing to consider is availability of before/after/holiday care.

[Ginger]

Are you looking at fee paying, independent, catholic or government? I think the most important factor we considered was the same values and culture. We also really liked the environment at our school, and their involvement in sustainability.

[black_rose]

We seriously thought about the pony school too but with three kids it was going to be too exxy. We found another school which has a great sustainability program, chooks and a garden and we have been very impressed with the school so far with dd.