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
    +6

    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
    +34

    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
      +1

      :-) 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
    +6

    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
        +2

        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.

  • SmiTTy on 22/03/2025 - 00:20

    Try the "Melbourne school discussion" group Facebook page

  • Wiadro on 22/03/2025 - 00:44
    +7

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

    • greatlamp on 22/03/2025 - 19:33
      +4

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

  • Benoffie on 22/03/2025 - 01:48
    +4

    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.

  • holdenmg on 22/03/2025 - 03:34
    +8

    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. 🤣🤣🤣

  • joka on 22/03/2025 - 06:47
    +1

    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

      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

    • May4th on 22/03/2025 - 19:37
      +2

      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

        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.

  • SBOB on 22/03/2025 - 09:26
    +2
    • 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

  • owli on 22/03/2025 - 09:53
    +6

    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
      +3

      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
    +5

    Are you doctor yet?

    • MrThing on 23/03/2025 - 14:51

      Are you lawyer yet

  • shaybisc on 22/03/2025 - 10:22
    +8

    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
      +2

      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

  • 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
    +2

    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
      +1

      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
    +7

    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
    +3

    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
    +5

    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

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