How to Choose Private School?

LViberoptus991 on 21/03/2025 - 22:55
Last edited 22/03/2025 - 09:26 by 1 other user

Hellooo OzBargainerrsss..

I want to put my son to private school in Melbourne Inner suburb.

The plan is to stay in the same school from P-Y12.

How to choose the right one?

As my son is still toddler, it is hard to know his interest. I dont know what extra curricular / curriculum that is ideal /interest him.

I am happy as long as he has a good relationship with his friends / no drugs / smoking / kind.

In term of naplan / VCE/ ATAR. The 2 schools in the list are similar. So academic score does not matter so much.

One school has more kids. The other school has less kids. And I am also not sure whether my son will thrive in big school or small school.

Any advise?

Education & Work Private School

Comments

  • trustnoone on 21/03/2025 - 23:10
    +11

    I don't think there is any real answer tbh and it seems like you've analysed them both enough that they are both the same/similar which is why your having trouble choosing.
    Beyond that, I think just being there for your kid is the best thing you can do, which it sounds like you already are. No matter which school they go to, they'll likely make friends, they'll likely deal with bullying, they'll likely do teenager stuff as they grow up and try a cigarette from some kid. Etc.

    As they get older I suggest letting them explore/try different thing and thats when you'll be able to see where their interest lies. And I personally believe if you can nurture that interest, they can use that as a north star to thrive through goals. No matter what school they go to.

  • MS Paint on 21/03/2025 - 23:38
    +44

    Aim for a selective school then write a forum post on ozbargain about how disappointed you are in your child for not passing the entrance exam.

    @blitzzbargain - how is your son going 18 months later?

    Any advise?

    Definitely don't homeschool spelling lessons.

    • bargaino on 22/03/2025 - 14:19

      :-) But OP is Melbourne, where the selective schools are 90% LBOTE. Presumably higher for the new intake. "White flight" is in full force. And don't take the colour literally - it includes middle-class Australian parents of Asian heritage. Plus, it has got a lot harder to get in.

  • sumyungguy on 21/03/2025 - 23:42
    +8

    Thirteen years at the same school may be a bit too long a sentence; Australia's average job tenure is 3.3 years. Attending the local public primary school means you'll meet a diverse range of families from your 'hood. Onward to private secondary school for the attributes & benefits that appeal to you. Of course if money is no object, private school all the way.

    • MS Paint on 22/03/2025 - 00:26
      +4

      Both of my kids went through a private P-12 school. The biggest advantage they found was the transition from primary to secondary was a non event. Just another year. The school was clever and mixed the classes up every year so they made new friends / friendship groups via the new classmates and concurrently the parents made new friendships as well. As the school was co-ed those awkward teenage years as you enter high school were less complex as most of the opposite sex weren't strangers.

      • jjjaar on 22/03/2025 - 10:11
        +3

        The biggest advantage they found was the transition from primary to secondary was a non event.

        Appreciate there would be advantages around less stress/anxiety of starting secondary, but did they still get the benefits of finishing primary school and the excitement of starting high school?

        Grade 6 was such a fun and exciting year at my primary school, with loads of events, celebrations and acknowledgement of our accomplishments.

        Then starting year 7 was also really fun as it was something new to look forward to and experience. I hope they didn’t miss out on those things.

        The benefits of being a grade 6/starting something new far outweighed the anxiety of the transition, so if they didn’t get those benefits then I’d call it a disadvantage. 13 years of schooling with no mid-point to break it up? Sounds exhausting.

        • MS Paint on 22/03/2025 - 10:27

          In a way that occurred. Years 7-12 are on a separate campus but in the same school compound if that makes sense. There was definitely feelings of excitement and anxiety moving to the "big kids" campus but also a lot of familiarity which was reassuring. This was in a regional area as well if that makes any difference.

          • jjjaar on 23/03/2025 - 20:46

            @MS Paint: Ah yeah that’s what I was hoping - then yep, no disadvantage.

            I feel like a lot of people I know still had that familiarity because the local primary school feeds into the local high school, so a lot of your primary cohort move with you.

  • SmiTTy on 22/03/2025 - 00:20

    Try the "Melbourne school discussion" group Facebook page

  • Wiadro on 22/03/2025 - 00:44
    +9

    lol don’t stress about it
    Send him to whatever is local

    • greatlamp on 22/03/2025 - 19:33
      +6

      And spend the extra money on extracurriculars and tutoring. That's what makes a difference.

  • Benoffie on 22/03/2025 - 01:48
    +8

    Generally, long term, Catholic perform better when factoring in ATAR plus university completion. Public perform best with university completion but less on ATAR, private best on ATAR but last on university completion. Recently the PISA data shows most all come out the same, give or take, nowadays.

    A solid, low class numbered option is preferable where the senior subject options are large and include VET and have redundancy. In otherwords, what will the school do if your kid is an academic dud? Will they off roll them to the local public school to keep their ATAR numbers artificially high? Or do they suck it up and ensure every child graduates with a solid pathway?

    Naplan means nothing. Ignore that. Ask questions like 'my child cant write an essay by year 8. What would you do to ensure they get back on track for a successful VCE?'
    What additional free tutoring do they offer? What is communication like? Are you expected to chase them? What alumni programs are there? Who are they being exposed to?
    Go visit a couple of times each before applying. And applying to both - doesnt hurt.

    • tessel on 24/03/2025 - 08:06

      This guy majors in offspring.

    • Antikythera on 24/03/2025 - 17:27

      outer suburban private school had my niece not do difficult subjects, she would have preferred to do, in case her poor marks lowered the schools average results.

      • Benoffie on 24/03/2025 - 17:37

        This is unfortunately common and a side effect of the removal of prerequisites for university courses.

        Common losses:

        • economics
        • accounting
        • legal studies
        • modern and ancient history
        • geography
        • physics
        • chemistry
        • high level English
  • holdenmg on 22/03/2025 - 03:34
    +9

    Your post suggests a considerable shift of the responsibility of Education to the Private School.

    Consider what you will contribute as a Parent (apart from the selection of school and vast sums of money) such as:

    Reading to your Child.
    Encouraging them to become a self-motivated learner.

  • morse on 22/03/2025 - 03:58
    +1

    Attend a school tour if you haven’t. This helps with getting a sense of how the school feels and what they prioritise. Look at school fees too and consider what you’re comfortable with and can afford. If you’re planning on more children consider the impact of the cost for multiple children. Also consider if the schools are religious, how much religion there is and how this aligns to your own beliefs. If there is nothing else to distinguish the two schools I’d go smaller over bigger.

    • sam-1966 on 22/03/2025 - 18:14
      +1

      School tours can show the best aspects of the school and nothing negative - but still well worth doing.

      Also go to the school fair/fete/herbsfest (a Lutheran school in Brisbane used to have one every year) and you'll get an idea of the 'vibe' of the place with the parents volunteering the stalls, behaviour of the majority of the kids attending.

      • morse on 22/03/2025 - 18:23
        +1

        Yes agree, school fairs, fetes and events is another way.

  • Fredfloresjr on 22/03/2025 - 06:44
    +1

    Check the students if they iron their uniform, it’s a good school. If not, stat away. 🤣🤣🤣

    • anastasiastarz on 30/03/2025 - 00:09

      Also the length of their skirts! Especially on the yr11-12s.

  • joka on 22/03/2025 - 06:47
    +2

    I stuck. You want him to smoke and be kind? Or, you don’t want him to smoke and not be kind?

    • hentabara on 22/03/2025 - 07:14

      Good one. No smoking n be kind i believe

  • ihbh on 22/03/2025 - 09:07
    +3

    What's the cost p.a.?

    In Sydney, for 2 kids, around where I am it's ~$100k p.a, which is almost $200k p.a. before tax. I wonder which is the better investment for the kids, buy them a property (or at least pay the mortgage interest and some of the principle) or send them to private school?

    • kaleidoscope on 22/03/2025 - 19:11
      +2

      In Sydney, for 2 kids, around where I am it's ~$100k p.a, which is almost $200k p.a. before tax

      :O

      • MrThing on 23/03/2025 - 14:53

        Any of the top private schools in the eastern suburbs or North shore have a price tag around 40k a year

        • kaleidoscope on 25/03/2025 - 11:56

          40k i’ve heard, but 100k 😳

          • May4th on 25/03/2025 - 12:09

            @kaleidoscope: 40-45 is the norm, grammar is edging 50. that's 100k pre-tax income, or 2 for 200k pretax or 100k after tax as referred to in the original post

            • kaleidoscope on 25/03/2025 - 13:00

              @May4th: Hmm i see. Didn’t know kids school fees are tax deductible for he who foots the bill. Or may be I completely missed the point 😬

              • Muppet Detector on 27/03/2025 - 21:17
                +2

                @kaleidoscope: Contributions to building funds are tax deductible, not the school fees.

                A lot of schools will split their fees into the tuition costs and building contributions to give the parents access to that tax deduction, but building contributions are not compulsory so if too many parents act in bad faith and choose not to pay the building contribution, they will just spoil it for everyone because the school will change their school fees to all school fees with no option for building contributions and their taxation advantages.

    • May4th on 22/03/2025 - 19:37
      +3

      why not both? /s
      a family I know is choosing to have only one child as they want to give them the 'best' and can only afford one private school fee. nothing wrong with choosing to have one child, but if the reason is because you can only afford one school fee it is quite sad

      • greatlamp on 23/03/2025 - 14:51
        +1

        Seems like a risky strategy. What if the child has lower IQ, all that fancy schooling is a complete waste. Better off having 2-3 children and sending them to a cheaper private school or hiring one tutor for all 3.

        • May4th on 23/03/2025 - 18:51

          or you know, send them to a public/catholic school like the rest of us plebs and invest time in their upbringing to foster a good work ethic

  • SBOB on 22/03/2025 - 09:26
    +3
    • 12 years of private school, or
    • 12 years of public school, and the equivalent of the private school fees (which if you're taking inner Melbourne won't be low $) invested into a broad whole world index fund over that time.

    Which would set them up better for potential success in the future?

    • boomramada on 22/03/2025 - 10:23

      And the kid will cash the index fund to smoke some pot or pay some gambling debt :P

    • Muppet Detector on 27/03/2025 - 21:19

      You can give a man a fish and he eats for one day. Teach him how to fish and he will eat for the rest of his life.

      • tenpercent on 27/03/2025 - 21:42

        Give him a healthy trust fund and he'll eat for the rest of his life too. And you can still teach him to fish.

      • SBOB on 27/03/2025 - 22:35

        Way easier to fish with a massive safety net supplied to help catch those fish in the future though.

  • owli on 22/03/2025 - 09:53
    +9

    NAPLAN is gamed. Many private schools offer Kindy programs that allow children to transition smoothly from Kindy to Prep. The two conspire by 'redshirting' the retarded kids to repeat another year of kindy so by the time NAPLAN comes around — which is not separated by age like sports are — the results obviously come in above average.

    Affluent class are more likely to have the resources to repeat their kid in Kindy.
    Aristocratic immigrant culture will be glued to the NAPLAN results per school as that is seemingly all they care about.
    It is a cool scheme they run.

    • tenpercent on 22/03/2025 - 10:37
      +4

      Aristocratic immigrant culture

      Thank you. This is the perfect term to describe some of the people I've been seeing in Australia recently. I will borrow it.

    • mskeggs on 22/03/2025 - 10:54
      +1

      Yet there is a cohort of parents who think no further about these matters and happily pay up.

    • Benoffie on 22/03/2025 - 11:05
      +1

      Just look at Linden Park PS in SA. Classic example.

  • djones145 on 22/03/2025 - 09:58

    get all the prices for the schools
    rank from highest to lowest
    start at where u can afford

  • Hardlyworkin on 22/03/2025 - 10:22
    +7

    Are you doctor yet?

    • MrThing on 23/03/2025 - 14:51

      Are you lawyer yet

      • May4th on 23/03/2025 - 18:52

        only on ozb/reddit/whirpool

  • shaybisc on 22/03/2025 - 10:22
    +11

    no drugs

    That criterion will make your choice very easy to make. It fits no private school I've ever heard of.

    • MS Paint on 22/03/2025 - 10:29
      +3

      No school is immune from some students experimenting/using drugs.

      To think a school like this exists would be very naive.

    • MrThing on 23/03/2025 - 14:51

      Or any school, every school offers drugs, booze and smoking trials….it's part of growing up and maturing

      • IggyOz on 24/03/2025 - 15:59

        yeah agree but its about different choices of drugs - coke vs meth. Both have merits

        • MrThing on 25/03/2025 - 07:16

          Kids who take ecstasy tablets have all had meth

          The pills these days are full of all sorts of shit

  • tenpercent on 22/03/2025 - 10:34
    +4

    One school has more pupils.
    The other school has fewer pupils.

  • mskeggs on 22/03/2025 - 10:51
    +5

    good relationship with his friends / no drugs / smoking / kind

    Sorry, you can’t pay a school for parenting outcomes.
    Spend the time now on considering how you can best raise your child, inculcate values that you believe in, find good friends and family of your own who will be role models.
    Basically, you have their attention until they are about 11 to get the whole job done, after that it is just fine tuning.
    Also consider the message that you send a young person that you expect to buy this from a private school might undermine other lessons you might want to instil.

  • shaybisc on 22/03/2025 - 11:06

    What are the two schools?

    • MS Paint on 22/03/2025 - 11:14
      +3

      I don't think we will ever know.

      Looks like a new account with post and ghost.

  • scotty on 22/03/2025 - 16:04
    +3

    It usually comes down to what do you want to get out of the private school education, and whether what the school values match what you want.

    Do note that the private schools don't usually offer the best, kindest and friendliest kids, as they are non-selective and most pupils come from affluential background so might be complete opposite to what you are looking for. Nor do they offer the best ATAR result — again, while they are often more resourceful than public school, they are non-selective and they might have other priorities.

    Private schools do offer religious education (my kids went through Anglican school) and offer good academic care program for kids that need help. Many private schools have big P&F assoc for those who are interested in networking (not my cup of tea).

    Do you have family or friends that have gone through private school or sent their kids through one? Do you have friends who teach at one? In the end it often also just come down to recommendation from people you personally know.

  • altomic on 22/03/2025 - 16:45
    +10

    I went to an inner-city melbourne private school from prep to year 12. In hindsight I personally think it was a waste of my parents money. I wasnt academic, or maybe it was because i went to the same school from such a young age ,so i viewed it as the place to be when i wasnt at home. It was only a few years after finishing year 12 (and doing 2 years of accounting and disliking it) that i found my passion in a totally different field.

    Based on my experience i sent my kids to a lutheran primary school (private) and then sent them a state high school.

    I was quite active in the their at home academic work, and encouraged study. My 2 eldest have gone on to uni, and my youngest (year 11 ) is doing health science courses for extra curricular credits/opportunities.

    My belief is that regardless of the school, it is the study environment at home that will best shape how a child gets educated/achieves.

    I explained to my kids that sometimes their teachers may not make sense/explain well, and then they can come to me to ask. Which they did. I had to learn a lot so i could assist them. That was fun.

    My kids also saw me writing my thesis and went to my graduation 7 years ago, so i did also demonstrate studying as a norm.

  • pipboy on 22/03/2025 - 17:17
    +4

    Don’t write off the local public school without checking it out first. If you have the time to read to your kid and help them with their homework every night, and have time to take them to extra curricular activities after school hours then I don’t think there’s a massive difference in the social and learning outcomes.

    Go to open days and speak to parents with kids already in the school for both public and private.

    Some popular private schools have waiting lists years ahead so get your enrolment applications in early if you’re committed to that path.

  • dankru on 22/03/2025 - 20:16
    +6

    This is a forum for tightarses. You’re in the wrong place.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 22/03/2025 - 22:30
    +1

    One school has more kids. The other school has less kids.

    ….

  • lainey13 on 23/03/2025 - 00:16
    +1

    Before handing in your non refundable wait list fee in the hundreds, I suggest enquiring into your kids chances to get in, as often they need to be down AT BIRTH and even then sometimes you still need an alumni connection to have a chance!

    • MrThing on 23/03/2025 - 14:48
      +1

      hundreds…. Thousands

  • trevor99 on 23/03/2025 - 10:24
    +2

    Take any of these schools and some people will have good experiences, some bad. It's the way it is.

    With traffic getting worse and worse, the main factor should be distance. How would you like to travel half way across Melbourne if they've forgotten something important?

    They will make local friends, so same reason.

  • MrThing on 23/03/2025 - 14:48

    am happy as long as he has a good relationship with his friends / no drugs / smoking / kind.

    Doesn't matter where you go there will be drugs, smoking, nasty people.

    I went to private school and there was plenty of drugs, booze and partying in years 11 and 12. Drugs and booze aren't the enemy like they say they are, they are the enemy of your kid can't control themselves

  • AustriaBargain on 23/03/2025 - 20:01

    Selective public schools are better than religious private ones imo.

  • GordonD on 23/03/2025 - 21:06
    +1

    Real OzBargainers let their kids choose what school they go to, and if they choose fee-paying private schools they make them sign an IOU for the fees, with interest. After all THEY are the ones that benefit. If there is actually any benefit.

    Why should parents do it any differently to how the government does with HECS/HELP?

  • daclaw on 23/03/2025 - 22:28
    +1

    The drugs are better at private schools ;)

  • p1 ama on 24/03/2025 - 02:07
    +10

    OP - former teacher here, with extensive experience in both public and private schools.

    First off, can I just say, your post is completely incoherent - like just a garbled collection of various random points that form no basis for anyone giving you any advice on school choice.

    Also, I noticed this a lot with parents, so you are not alone, but you are being dishonest in your post and you need to stop. This sort of delusion affects your kids, and it makes it difficult for your kids' future teachers to help them (or help you). In your post, you say that:

    I am happy as long as he has a good relationship with his friends / no drugs / smoking / kind.

    Then, in literally the following sentence, you say:

    In term of naplan / VCE/ ATAR. The 2 schools in the list are similar.

    So which is it, are you genuinely happy if your son turns out to be a kind person who doesn't smoke and doesn't do drugs? Or is academic performance important to you? If it's not, then why are you looking at NAPLAN / VCE / ATAR scores? Don't be dishonest with yourself and with your children. I have seen this time and time again, many parents do the whole "oh, I just want my child to be a good person", and in the next breath, are getting annoyed with their child for getting 93% on an exam.

    Personally, I have found almost every parent who does the "I just want my child to be a good person" spiel to be dishonest, almost as if they say that to lie to themselves that they don't care about other things (most often, academic performance, sometimes sports / music). Parents who genuinely really just want their kids to be a good person never have to say that, because to them, that is just a given. OP, be honest.

    In regards to school choice, my advice has always been that if you are unsure of where to send your child, you should send your child to the local public school as the default option. If your child is capable, they will have opportunities later on (e.g. scholarships to top private schools, entry to selective schools…etc.).

    Ultimately, from my teaching experience, school choice is a small factor in how children turn out. School choice is almost always for the parents than it is for the kids. Become comfortable with that fact. The primary determinant in how "smart" a kid is, or how well they do in school is just genetic. As a society, we've deluded ourselves into thinking that we can engineer outcomes for our children - that if we invest in private schools, and private tuition, and music lessons, and making them listen to Mozart, and sticking to some regimented study schedule that they would somehow turn out differently is not backed up by any scientific research. The evidence shows that certain things do make a difference, but they are at the margins. That's not to say that parenting doesn't matter, but your role is to be a guide, not an engineer.

    There are unquestionable benefits to private schools - better facilities, smaller class sizes, more opportunities to have unique experiences, more opportunities for networking, elite sports and music programs, they also pay better and are able to attract better teachers, more resources…etc. However, if you need to question the value of attending a private school, it is not for you. Similar to a luxury car, designer clothes, expensive watches - if you need to check your bank balance before you buy, they're not for you.

    Private schools are for parents who don't think about it - almost as if there were no other options. Just like people who drive Ferraris are not shopping around, they just know they want to drive a Ferrari. They have the money, they don't have the time, they just want the experience, and the cost is a sideshow.

    Parents who scrape money together to attend a private school are almost always unhappy. Sometimes this is transferred to the kid. This is because the benefits of a private school will never satisfy their expectations and the sacrifices they are making to send their kids there. The pressure of "we are giving up XYZ to send you here, why aren't you doing better" will be a constant pressure on the parents and the kids because the standards that the kid will be held to are just variable standards that will happen to be beyond what they can currently achieve. In that sense, if you have to ask, it's not for you.

    My apologies if this is patronising, but I've seen this scenario countless times. Private schools are not an investment, they are a luxury spending category. Sending your kid to a private school with the hope of a positive ROI is as insane as buying a Lamborghini and expecting a positive ROI. Some limited few do, most don't and are just a money pit.

    • sauce2k on 24/03/2025 - 09:24
      -3

      geez did you get fired from private schools?

      Parents who scrape money together to attend a private school are almost always unhappy. Sometimes this is transferred to the kid Insane claim. What's your sample size? Sounds like you are a failed teacher.

      • p1 ama on 24/03/2025 - 22:19
        +2

        geez did you get fired from private schools?

        No, I haven't, and I'm not the sort of person who would change my advice even if I were. I've always believed that the best school at the primary level for kids is their local primary school, generally speaking. This was my opinion before I was a teacher, whilst I was a teacher, and after I've been a teacher.

        Even when I worked in private, I would give this same advice to friends and family who would ask. I'm not a salesman.

        Parents who scrape money together to attend a private school are almost always unhappy. Sometimes this is transferred to the kid Insane claim. What's your sample size?

        Obviously this is anecdotal and not scientific, and I'm not aware of the financials of each and every student and their families. However, what I can confidently say is that I've seen plenty of the following scenarios:

        1. Parents who get very upset about their kids' outcomes, and anchor it back to how much money they have paid. Real life example 1: parent who was very upset their kid was not selected for an elite sports program and got very emotional saying that she had made such significant sacrifices to be able to send her kid here, and that this was unfair. Real life example 2: parent who got very upset at a parent teacher interview, and basically said that they were not working overtime, and making XYZ sacrifices so that their kid could get below 90% on a Year 8 maths test. This happens invariably every year.

        2. Kids who face significant pressure because of their parents sacrifices. Real life example 1: a student emailed me after receiving his ATAR score and wanted to come in to discuss - he told me that he was afraid of the consequences because his parents had borrowed money from relatives overseas to send him to this particular school and expected that he would become a doctor or a dentist, and his ATAR was too low. Real life example 2: similar to examples above, I've seen several times where parents have berated their kids in parent / teacher interviews and said basically "you know how much I am paying to send you here, this is unacceptable…etc."

        It's up to you whether you want to classify the above behaviour as signifying unhappiness. However, I do think that it is symptomatic of this view that a private school education is some sort of "investment" and that parents (and sometimes, even kids by extension) expect some sort of return (whether that be high scores, a certain career path, certain academic scores, or so on).

        The reality is that it is very cut throat - only a limited number of kids will get 99.95, or get into medical school, or law school, or whatever other goals parents have set. Most kids will not live up to that goal (through no fault of their own, it's just statistical). When parents are spending over $500,000 on a K-12 private education, and they are sacrificing and struggling to get the money together (sometimes going into debt, or relying on family members), there is some expected ROI. I think you're kidding yourself if you don't think that a lot of parents are making this calculation.

        I'm not criticising the decisions of those parents, its their life and their finances. However, having seen the level of pressure some of these kids are under, sometimes I do wonder if everyone would be happier if their parents had just spent that money on family holidays (or heaven forbid, a down payment on a house) instead.

        That said, most parents and students have a positive experience at private school - it just happens to be the case that for them, the money was never a big deal anyway. I think that's what you lost from the point that I was trying to make. The wisdom of "live within your means" seems to be common sense around here (see any thread of someone wanting to buy an expensive car). Somehow, that wisdom is lost when we discuss private schools.

        Sounds like you are a failed teacher.

        Because you seem to disagree with me on a single point made on an internet forum, that somehow casts doubt on my professional career? You're a failed cat.

    • h0mbre on 24/03/2025 - 10:20
      +4

      You haven’t minced your words and many may get offended by what you have said. Regardless, I think you are totally right.

      I am a selective school alumni and my close peers are all in a position now to send their kids to the best private schools. Originally there were many of us who were resistant but this attitude has slowly chipped away. I suspect I may be the only one still considering a public high school for my kids.

      The best take away from your post is for the parents to be honest with themselves about what they want.

      • May4th on 24/03/2025 - 10:45
        +2

        yes. harsh, but true
        if you have the money to spare, why wouldn't you? but sending your kids to private schools doesn't automatically guarantee a future of happiness and prosperity and you need to manage your expectations accordingly.

        it's like going to a fancy $80 a week exclusive gym instead of your local anytime fitness. yes you will have better facilities, yes you may benefit from networking at the vegan protein shake bar but in the end if you don't put in the hard yard or have the genetics you're not going to get any better gains

    • Benoffie on 24/03/2025 - 17:54
      +2

      Whilst I agree with much, the one incorrect point is the notion that smart kids just perform well anywhere.

      The evidence, decades worth across all countries and education systems, shows that gifted students (not smart or simply academic performing) need appropriate structures to ensure they reach their full potential.

      Very, very few public schools in Australia can achieve this. Most with excellent results are in WA. Selective schools aren't the same thing.

      As the OP has no clue what their child is capable of, a school with competent programs catering for all options is something they ought to consider

      • p1 ama on 24/03/2025 - 22:22

        Yep, agreed - I should have caveated that point to mean that "generally smart kids", and to exclude specifically gifted kids (or for that matter, kids who have specific needs and requirements).

        The reality is that kids who fall into that bucket are rare, and even in that case, I still think we both broadly agree that, in the first instance and absent of any other evidence, the local primary school is the best default choice.

        If the kid turns out to be gifted, or require certain needs that cannot be met by the school, then that can be considered when the need arises.

        • Benoffie on 24/03/2025 - 22:33
          -1

          Certainly I think putting their name down at some good options then revisiting at end of JP and again at end of PS would be best.

          There's very little difference in outcomes at primary level especially with so many pro forma literacy and numeracy systems. The most successful of which (the Goulburn Diocese Maths Program) has been rolled out to most public schools country wide

    • CalmLemons on 24/03/2025 - 20:21

      ^This.

      The most important one is scraping together money when you cannot afford it thinking it is going to solve anything at all. Student success is a two way street, and you need to invest time as a parent too.

      Also OP tbh if you're asking this now you're unlikely to be able to get a spot at some of the most desired ones.

      Depending on the private school, you may find that your kids will be amongst slightly better behaved peers, but it depends on the demographic, school, year level.

      I have numerous reasons for sending my kids to private school, seeking good value wasn't one of them.
      I guarantee you if you think you can pay the $40k+ a year and do nothing otherwise thinking the school will take care of it, you are being dellusional.

      I see the same thing amongst parents at the school, pay, drop off, leave. If you have the money, no problem. If you don't and don't want to invest in altertive education of your kids then it's often a false fallacy. Most of the parents tend to be dillusional to think the school is going to fix the kid.

      You say your kid is a toddler and it's hard to know his interest, bro, I see people who are 50+ who aren't sure what their interests are, your kid is going to have no idea.

      At most your kid will just have buddies with better ipads and parents who might train their kids better to be well behaved, but other than that, you're better off going to a selective school if your kid can get in.

      Most of this is pretty pointless though as most of the top Melbourne private schools for boys, haileybury, scotch, melbourne grammar, you already have zero chance of getting in as the wait list is loonnngg and you aren't legacy entry.

      A lot has changed in the past few decades, there is much more uptake of private schooling and most of the private schools friends I have were hesitant at first but everyone has sent their kids to private.

  • feelingroovy on 24/03/2025 - 10:00
    +2

    Don't send them to private school from P-12.

    Local public school for P-6.

    Private school 7-12.

    This is the better way to do it, speaking from my own and the experience of many others I know.

    • Muppet Detector on 27/03/2025 - 21:08
      +1

      I'd counter that opinion by saying that the foundation years of education are the most important. Not even the best high school can undo the damage of a poor educational foundation.

      • anastasiastarz on 30/03/2025 - 00:18

        As a former private tutor I can vouch for that, it's like only takinh dental care seriously later in life…

  • sauxliu on 24/03/2025 - 12:15
    +2

    A toddler boy not yet being on registered lists is already removing a lot of options for you. You won't even get offered a place.

  • justworld on 24/03/2025 - 14:03
    +2

    If your kid is smart he/she doesn't need the coddling that private schools provide and if your kid is not smart then the coddling won't make a difference in the end

    Save the $40k a year and use it to take some paid leave from work and spend more time with your kid doing enrichment activities. It'll pay off in the long run, though it's more effort than a bandaid solution like a school.

  • Miami Mall Alien on 24/03/2025 - 15:30

    As my son is still toddler, it is hard to know his interest. I dont know what extra curricular / curriculum that is ideal /interest him.

    F**king LOL.

    Seek treatment for your narcissistic/type B personality disorder first before having children is what I would have said but oh well… too late.

    Poor kid. He can consult this for reference when he's old enough.

  • Antikythera on 24/03/2025 - 17:15

    which one has the better old boys footy team?

    https://www.playhq.com/afl/org/victorian-amateur-football-as…

  • sam-1966 on 24/03/2025 - 17:29
    +1

    I don't know if it is possible to find out, but it would be interesting to know how many students at each school are 'encouraged' to skip the NAPLAN testing.

    I remember a parent at our primary school (private, incidentally) who was trying to pick a secondary school and kept on about test scores. I mentioned that some schools discourage some kids from doing testing and she was 'Oh, we'd never send our children to a school that would do that!'… then in the next breath, started bleating about scores again.

    Our two girls were totally different - eldest was dux, school vc, high school captain etc and our youngest is special needs (really needs to be a new phrase, that one is awful) and needed learning support etc.

    For NAPLAN, she was given what is called 'consideration' - she went to the learning support area to do the testing and had an extra half an hour. It was never even hinted at that she should not do the testing.

    The only time that came up was when our elder daughter was doing NAPLAN and my husband was rushed to hospital with heart problems. The deputy said it was fine if we felt it was too much for her to sit the test, but also said maybe the testing would take her mind off it.

    That's the type of school you should be looking for.

  • Muppet Detector on 27/03/2025 - 20:50
    +1

    Not all schools are the right fit for every child and their family at any one point in time.

    Just because it is great now, doesn't mean it will continue to be for the duration of your child's schooling.

    The school environment and subsequent outcomes are tied to the school principal, board of directors, business manager, teachers, support staff, parent body and the students themselves.

    If any of these change, the entire dynamics of the school can change.

    All you can really do is decide what your values and expectations are for your child's education then visit prospective schools and ask them how they meet the needs of your child and your family's goals, values and beliefs.

    An education only works when the child, school and parents can all work together.

    When you do choose a school, the best advice I can give any parent is to be involved in that school and the school community. Join the school P&F, volunteer a bunch. Become known to the school administration and other families. Be engaged in the extra curricular activities that other school students and families are.

    I looked for a school that provided the best opportunity to teach my kids the social skills I had no way of replicating at home. Academics are something the parent can provide and manage, but not those social skills so much.

    Not all my kids went to the same school either. A school that was right for some of my kids wasn't the right fit for all of them.

  • Muppet Detector on 27/03/2025 - 21:05

    There is more to a school than the overt curriculum. It's the covert curriculum your child is exposed to that every parent should be worried about.

    There are so many different pathways to universities or trades these days that school academic achievement is just a bonus.

    It's the soft skills that matter and the anccess/exposure to and practise of those skills that are critical.

    You're going to get dodgy kids in the worst public school and the billion dollar private school. The latter tend to have access to a better quality drug and better opportunity to mitigate the trouble that little Johnny found himself in. (Parents can afford directed donations or legal assistance when required).

    Even the best parents can have dodgy kids regardless of their socio economic status.

    • anastasiastarz on 30/03/2025 - 00:21

      Have you been watching Fool Me Once?

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