Education Standards of SA

Mon Gol on 29/01/2015 - 16:52
Last edited 30/01/2015 - 00:44 by 1 other user

Hello everyone,

we have moved to SA from NSW. my daughter has finished year 7 in NSW and was enrolled in year 8 in SA.
However, year 8 is there first year in high school in SA whereas year 7 is the first year in NSW high schools.
what worries me now - they did maths test and it was may be year 3-4 level… it worries and upsets me.
Understand it is the beginning of school year, but how can year 8 given this:
126+254
11*10
123+39
??? and all others are pretty similar. My daughter's score was the highest in the class.. and this fact is not a joy for me, with all the honesty - its a ringing bell…
BTW, daughter was in selective school in Sydney…
scared to think we have downshifted her greatly…
Close to panic really…

I am going to arrange appointment with year 8 adviser at her current school to verify what they are going to study within this school year. However, when enrolling, principal said that year 8 in NSW is equivalent to year 8 in SA. Which i really really doubt now…
May be there is someone here who moved interstate with kids of school age (high school).
what year your kids were enrolled when moved to a new school?

and btw, she is in public school in SA. In good (by recommendation) public school.
Hope it is not too late to seek and advise on the forum.
Which school would you recommend?
She is currently in Norwood Morialta.
Shall we start thinking of catholic or private school?
please recommend a good one (reasoning would be greatly appreciated)

Thank you for at least reading this long post.
Have a nice day everyone!

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Comments

  • xyron on 29/01/2015 - 17:28

    I don't have any experience with the NSW schooling system but unless I were sending my kid to a fully private school (not a catholic school but somewhere like Walford/Wilderness) I would much sooner send them to Marryatville, Norwood Morialta, or Glenunga than an unknown NSW school (where getting into a public school of the same quality would be much more difficult).

    If your child is even halfway smart she'll have a much better time rising to the top in SA and getting the focus of her teachers than in an equivalent school in NSW. If she gets 99.95 in SA that'll translate to the same score anywhere in the country.

    In some regards it is good to be a large fish in a small pond. :)

  • Mon Gol on 29/01/2015 - 17:59

    she IS in Norwood Morialta.
    and she was in Hornsby Girls High in Sydney which is selective school…
    thank you for your comment, i understand what you mean)
    but if she does not have competitors of the equal level, she will be going backwards in terms of studying…
    teacher is not going to focus on one student and if the level of studying is much lower than what she is capable for, it is a regress for her.
    that's my point of view. may be its wrong. happy if anyone can prove it is wrong)) as i am devastated..

    • xyron on 29/01/2015 - 18:08

      Oh my bad, for some reason I thought you'd moved to NSW from SA (must be that South Australian education system failing me!). I don't know of many people who would move in the other direction, for reasons other than the education system of course :)

      Norwood Morialta is one of the best public schools in the state - short of a private school, she should get a good run there.

      At the end of the day, year 8 being the first year of high school in SA means that teachers will often have to spend some time bringing kids of different levels of primary school education up to speed.

      Norwood should have different streams for kids of different abilities - maybe look into this in a bit more detail. I certainly know this was how things worked at Glenunga (I have more friends who went to GIHS than NMHS so that's the best I have to work with).

      If you have the funds available, have you considered a private school? On balance, girls' schools seem to be cheaper in SA than boys' schools (co-ed schools like Pembroke and Westminster seem to err on the higher price side, and Scotch is colossally expensive while failing to provide the education outcomes that you would expect). Loreto is an example of a high quality girls' school that isn't in the top tier (and is therefore not as expensive); those I know who came out of there have all done well for themselves :)

      The best girls' schools in SA are Walford, Wilderness and St Peters' Girls, but they are pretty expensive these days.

      Disclaimer - I went to PAC, and if I had kids (and could afford it), I would be sending them to the best private school I could afford, notwithstanding the quality of some SA public schools (NMHS, Marryatville, Glenunga, Unley, Urrbrae, Adelaide High).

    • ESEMCE on 29/01/2015 - 21:48
      +3

      You sure it's not a scaling test to determine skill level and in a week or two she'll be switched to the hgigh capability class?
      I went to a State Shcool (in Adelaide) and recall being put into a higher level class possibly after a few weeks, possibly after the first term.
      Seriously though, it's Year 8, I'd be more worried about my kids settling in and making friends in a new school than test results and difficulty at such a low level and so early on.

      • Mon Gol on 29/01/2015 - 22:54

        Sorry but what made you think i do not worry about my daughter settling in and making friends? This part is very important, sometimes, and quite often, more important than studying. This side of school life seems to be alright now as we talk a lot- she tells me the names of new students she met at school, what they talked about, etc. Hopefully she will make good friends, its always quit challenging especially at teen age.

        • ESEMCE on 30/01/2015 - 08:11
          +2

          This is going to sound glib, but you asked for advice on the internet.. so glib is what you get cause it's difficult to convey an argument otherwise….

          Your freaking out about a single maths test is what makes me think that.

          And I think you're way overconfident that she's settled in… your daughter has been in a new school, in a new state for 3 days. She's (along with her classmates) still getting lost in the corridors and learning the names of her teachers!
          How can she, let alone you, judge whether she's settled in yet?
          At best, she's telling you that it isn't as bad as she feared.

          The good thing is that it's a new environment for everyone, but most will know other kids from Primary School at least.
          After 2-3 weeks I'd be starting to consider that she's found a group and then you can focus on her workload.
          You'll also have 2-3 weeks of workload to evaluate as opposed to 2 days.

  • Mon Gol on 29/01/2015 - 18:26
    -4

    thank you for your comment.
    to be honest, i did not know SA education system could be lower than NSW.
    Now i regret this move (which is good otherwise)…

    going to talk with year adviser.
    and going to Glenunga anyway - to apply for enrollment.
    we can't afford private school, but will def try for scholarship when application is open
    that's the plan.. in the meantime, even if she stays in Norwood Morialta, she will be attending to coaching college.
    that is totally my fault… a few people recommended eastern suburbs of Adelaide saying all schools are good on this side.
    Very disappointing.
    thank you for your input)

  • swiggity swag on 29/01/2015 - 18:42
    +3

    I think OP is over reacting, it's the beginning of the school term and the test is probably just to gauge which level the students are at from primary school. Anyway this is one test in one subject. What about the rest of the classes, are they the same. See what happens over the next two weeks and go from there, you don't want to make a decision you'll regret, all over one test.

    • Mon Gol on 29/01/2015 - 22:59
      -1

      Right you are.
      however, given it is year 8, how can they be given such eady test to determine the level? Test was year 4-5 if not lower… Wouldn't you expect kids be given something closer to their level if studying?
      and if year 8 in SA is equalent to year 8 in NSW, that means year 7 in primary school in SA has the same syllabus as year 7 in NSW high school. Hope you get my point?
      thank you for the comment

  • Ughhh on 29/01/2015 - 18:50

    I did yr 8 in SA, under the old SACE though, not sure how much had changed, but those 11*10 Questions weren't the level of maths we did. That test could just be a preliminary test to see what level each student is in maths. It's not until yr 10 you do proper challenging maths anyway.

  • mskeggs on 29/01/2015 - 18:52

    I think you are panicking unduly.
    My daughter just finished yr8 at a NSW selective school and she does work substantially more advanced than general stream kids at other schools.
    Like a couple of years more advanced.
    Talk to your school about it's gifted and talented program, or whatever they call it.
    Your daughter will get plenty of attention and the challenges she needs.
    Remember to focus on areas other than maths too.
    Many of my daughter's class mates have parents that push them very hard academically, to the severe detriment of their kids happiness.
    Don't be like that!

    • Mon Gol on 29/01/2015 - 23:02

      No way i will be putting studying before the simple healthy happiness. I just dont want my kid to waste her time. If this level is too easy for her may be we can ask to transfer to advanced class.
      thank you for commenting

  • [Deactivated] on 29/01/2015 - 18:56

    you're putting way too much stock in school and worrying too much, it is the start of the year. I moved from NSW to SA as a youngster and that was not the Maths I did. Perhaps being the start of the year it's just some questions to get the kids into the gist of it and build confidence then get more difficult. What text book is she using? The syllabus should be uniform state-wide for public schools and you can find this.

    I was sent to a private school in the city (USC) and hated it and found it worse than going to a public school in a rough neighbourhood. I chose to go back to the public school and I'm talking the Northern Suburbs of Adelaide (eastern suburbs people think of it as the gutter). My girlfriend also went to a ghetto school and now tutors kids that go to the most prestigious colleges money can buy and she is gobsmacked how little they know…parents think the school is the sole reason on their child's academic ability, when really they should be more active in the education rather than dictating to the school 'what they should be doing' for their kid.

    All this talk of 'coaching college' makes me think you're just going to give your daughter an illusion of competence with rote learning crap and not really fundamentally learning anything at all. If you're so concerned this is where you need to take an interest personally in the material and not just making demands to the school.

    • Mon Gol on 29/01/2015 - 23:04

      They have not been given text books yet. They have a printed photocopy of pages of maths for two weeks. I looked it through. And it accelerated my panic)))

      • Ughhh on 30/01/2015 - 00:14

        Are the printed copies from this publisher http://www.haesemathematics.com.au/publications.asp#series3

        From memory, my school used those text books, from year 8 to yr 12 maths specialist (but older editions obviously). I think many teachers use this technique to see which kids will definitely be struggling- one's who do badly in the easy test. My university used a similar method to kick out the stupid students who couldn't pass a test that a high schooler should be able to pass. Keep in mind that its not just about getting the answer, its also about the process, starting easy first.

        You're stressing out wayyyy too early in the year. If you're concerned, ask for the syllabus and/or text book and have a look through it to see if your daughter can do it all.

      • [Deactivated] on 30/01/2015 - 02:12
        +1

        printed copy for 2 weeks… Damn… you need to relax, you sound like an overbearing parent… its the first two weeks! Do you expect introduction to solving systems of simultaneous equations with matrices?

        Actually I lie… in South Australia year 8 maths involves singing timestables. For the whole year!

  • Mon Gol on 29/01/2015 - 19:00
    -1

    thank you everyone.
    as per other subjects - science and german.
    in Science they were repeating what she already did in year 7.
    German - they just started, doing letters and numbers.
    but she did German for one year in NSW… which means she is going to do it again? same level?
    sure thing will go to the school and seek an advise - they have advanced maths class, will probably ask for transfer.

    perhaps i am overreacting. hope so. really do.
    thank you guys!

  • Davo1111 on 29/01/2015 - 21:05

    Might as well just call up the council and schedule an interview as a garbage man :( sorry

    • Mon Gol on 29/01/2015 - 23:05

      Sorry, did not get it. What are you trying to say? Thank you

      • Davo1111 on 29/01/2015 - 23:11

        I'm saying your kids is a "write-off" now that you've moved.

        Just chill and speak to the school. Don't go in all aggressive when you get to this meeting.

        • Mon Gol on 29/01/2015 - 23:42

          That's harsh…
          well, i never aggressive towards people)

  • horsome on 30/01/2015 - 00:14

    I think there is either one of the following:

    1 child is misstakingly enrolled in leg up maths or is being scaled (first week of school!) or

    2 her previous school had a higher standard of learning compared to any school in Australia

    Your initial SA vs nsw reaction is astounding, you realise you are still in the same country? Calm down and do proper research on schools (you would expect the same from your daughter in her studies) , if you are based the east there are a lot of private schooling options then most areas of Adelaide if your meeting doesn't go so well.

  • Mon Gol on 30/01/2015 - 00:18

    Your initial SA vs nsw reaction is astounding
    sorry, just did not know how to call the topic.
    no offence meant

    • Davo1111 on 30/01/2015 - 00:45

      yeah ive fixed it up to be a bit more PC

      • Mon Gol on 30/01/2015 - 00:56

        Thank you!

    • Dumax on 30/01/2015 - 11:46
      +1

      I can understand your reaction, but the reason that you're finding this is because you have moved your child from a school that is substantially above average, into a school which is distinctly average. I don't think that the education systems between states varies dramatically, just the quality/expectations of the schools.

      • Mon Gol on 30/01/2015 - 14:11

        Hi, yes, you are correct. Totally agree.
        appreciate everyone's input, even criticism, it's good to look at problem (if it is a problem) from different prospective.
        I remember when both my kids started their first year at high school, they were given tests as well, but once again - not that easy my younger completed recently which made me panicking.
        i have arranged a catch up with maths teacher, will ask just to keep an eye and if he also finds this level of maths is too easy for my kid - transfer her to advanced maths. at the moment she is doing standard. Need to wait and see how she goes.

        Once again - thank you guys for reading and commenting.

  • sa-ozzie on 30/01/2015 - 12:03
    +5

    I did all my skooling in SA and did wel in all my subjects espechilly speling

  • stephi on 30/01/2015 - 13:58
    +4

    My cids go too scool in sa and they ave a grate edumacation!

  • Mon Gol on 02/02/2015 - 21:01
    +1

    Little update. Maths teacher confirmed that NSW schools maths syllabus is ahead of SA… Now she is trying to see what can be done.
    This is just about maths, other subjects seem to be aligned.

    To those who took my words about SA education level as offence - my apologies, no offence meant by any means.
    this could happen in any school, just happened to be a new one for us in another state.

    So that test wasnt just the beginning of school year))

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