Bound4Tassie Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 Just out of interest.... How much 'grace' do you get between landing in Australia and having to have the kids in school? Presumably you would want time to see the local schools and to get a few official things sorted first...a permanent address....? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pasteypoms Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 We would love to know the answer to your question too x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skani Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 As much time as you need. No one will be tracking you! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HelensvaleHoward Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 We arrived September and kids started school the start of the school year end of Jan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ali Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 A month - but that's because we planned it to arrive during the school holidays and to start the first day of the new school year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted January 24, 2015 Share Posted January 24, 2015 We landed on the Wednesday, he started the following Monday. We were able to get him in with our holiday rental address but people arriving later were not able to do so, so you might be able to, it will depend on the school. I reckon it's best to get them in and started asap for them I reckon it helps them settle, make friends etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MovingtoTasmania Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 (edited) We arrived, as you know, at the beginning of December and I'm off to register them on Tuesday and they will start school on the following Monday when the new school year starts. A point to remember: Australia isn't like the UK where you can apply for the school of your choice. State schools have strict boundaries, only private schools take you regardless of where you live and assuming you meet the criteria/there are places. E.g. Catholic schools take non Catholics if there's places, Islamic schools take non Muslims if there's spaces etc. On the road where I live, my side of the road is in the catchment for an excellent state high school but the other side of the road is in the catchment for an average state high school. So, you can either pay a slightly higher rent and send the kids to good state schools, or pay less rent somewhere and send them privately, but the "best" private schools are over-subscribed and names are put down about 3/4 years in advance. And they are expensive too!! Edited January 25, 2015 by blossom Op's request Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
northernbird Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 We arrived on Thursday, enrolled then Friday and they started Monday. We arrived in the August. We wanted to get into a routine as soon as possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Was talking about this the other day. We arrived 27th Jan. Eldest had 6 weeks off (the time we were booked into temporary holiday accommodation) When we found a permanent rental in suburb of choice we enrolled same day and she started there and then. We needed a permanent address and had to show rental agreement. Couldn't do that from temp place as knew we wouldn't stay in that suburb Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quoll Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 No one will give two hoots if you take several months. If it takes you a while to get a permanent address then it takes that long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bound4Tassie Posted January 25, 2015 Author Share Posted January 25, 2015 (edited) Thanks for the replies. If all goes to plan we should have about 3 months before our eldest has to legally be in school but regardless it's good to know there's some leeway if you arrive during a term. If you rented in one area but moved 6-12 months later can the child stay in that school or do they have to move? Edited January 25, 2015 by Bound4Tassie Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MovingtoTasmania Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Thanks for the replies. If all goes to plan we should have about 3 months before our eldest has to legally be in school but regardless it's good to know there's some leeway if you arrive during a term. If you rented in one area but moved 6-12 months later can the child stay in that school or do they have to move? If they're in state school, it depends on how rigid the boundaries are set and how full the school is, as state schools HAVE to take children that live within their catchment area. Private schools will just expect that you can get them there on time. Consider distances from school, friends in the local area etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NicF Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 A point to remember: Australia isn't like the UK where you can apply for the school of your choice. State schools have strict boundaries, only private schools take you regardless of where you live and assuming you meet the criteria/there are places. E.g. Catholic schools take non Catholics if there's places, Islamic schools take non Muslims if there's spaces etc. Just wanted to point out that this depends on where you live. The area I lived in the UK you could apply for any school but you were only guarenteed to get a place in the school you were in the catchment area for unless you had compelling reasons for a particular school. Kids outside the catchment were then allocated any remaining places. Here in Adelaide not all primary schools are zoned so you can go to any school that isn't zoned or to a zoned school if you live in the zone for it. All but one of the high schools here are zoned though. The one that isn't is a specialist agricultural school where application is by letter. Three other state schools also take kids from outside the zones as part of a gifted and talented program. Oh, and our kids started about two weeks after we arrived, which was about two days after we moved in to our rental. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappyHeart Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Thanks for the replies. If all goes to plan we should have about 3 months before our eldest has to legally be in school but regardless it's good to know there's some leeway if you arrive during a term. If you rented in one area but moved 6-12 months later can the child stay in that school or do they have to move? No we moved areas and daughter stayed at same high school though we had to write letter requesting son moved from pre primary to year 1 (1st compulsory year) stating he'd been there for first two years kindy and pre primary and to move would be disruptive. Not an issue once in compulsory years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tina0101 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 For your child/children I would recommend getting them in to school as soon as you can. Gives them a chance to get into a routine, make some friends, you can meet some other parents. My son finished GCSEs in the UK in June, we flew out at the end of August and he started school at the beginning of October. He's just had 2 months off for Christmas, and he is desperate to get back to school for the routine and to see, and continue to make, friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Maruska Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 It took us 6 weeks from arrival until our son started school. We came on June 1st, had a look at some of the school we had in mind, found a rental. School needed a rental contract to prove that we live in the catchment area. He started at the beginning of the term which was, I think, somewhere around July 12th. I do know some people in the same school who started renting in the catchment zone and moved out once children were already enrolled, it doesn`t seem to matter if you do that after the initial proof of address in the catchment zone. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jac2011 Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I am arriving in September and am torn too, I don't yet know where we will settle and my daughter will start in Y7 in the January so potentially we could be buying uniform for just a few weeks of the end of term. I was also tempted to get agency work initially so we could look at employment options and areas to live. It's nice to know we could keep the children off with us till January if needs be. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Que Sera Sera Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 I am arriving in September and am torn too, I don't yet know where we will settle and my daughter will start in Y7 in the January so potentially we could be buying uniform for just a few weeks of the end of term. I was also tempted to get agency work initially so we could look at employment options and areas to live. It's nice to know we could keep the children off with us till January if needs be. It would be February when they go back. A bored pre teen at home months can be a bit of a problem, if she could make some friends before the long holidays it would be better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Roberto Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 (edited) We land on 4th July, which is half way through the winter break. We aim to have the kids start school after about 4 weeks, as my wife and I could do with working by this point (even if it's freelance/agency/temp work) - We will aim for 4 weeks in. Which sounds like a decent enough plan as they are finishing school in the UK 10 days before we leave, and they will have about 6 weeks off in total. More than enough time off! ha ha Edited January 25, 2015 by Captain Roberto Grammar Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MovingtoTasmania Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 The midgets are bored beyond belief as they've been off school so long. It will be something like 10 or 11 weeks by the time they start. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beddy Posted January 25, 2015 Share Posted January 25, 2015 Just out of interest....How much 'grace' do you get between landing in Australia and having to have the kids in school? Presumably you would want time to see the local schools and to get a few official things sorted first...a permanent address....? as much grace as you need ..set your own time scale accordingly ... It will all depend on your own individual circumstance and work base . Most schools are catchment area so consider this when you are looking for rental or temporary address . Kids get around 6-7 weeks for main holidays before the start of a new school new therefore professional teachers see this time scale as no detriment to the kids learning . My advice is don't Rush it .. Settling in the right place is the most important thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaronspark Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 For your child/children I would recommend getting them in to school as soon as you can. Gives them a chance to get into a routine, make some friends, you can meet some other parents. My son finished GCSEs in the UK in June, we flew out at the end of August and he started school at the beginning of October. He's just had 2 months off for Christmas, and he is desperate to get back to school for the routine and to see, and continue to make, friends. Hi Tina We're in a similar situation to yours. Can I ask, what year did your son go into? Was that the last term of the last year? Thinking about coming out in August to the Gold Coast. Just concerned the time off will be too much (6weeks in UK, then about the same in Oz). My partners daughter will be 16 in August and finished her GCSEs but think she'll have to go back to school to do their equivalent. Is this the case? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aaronspark Posted March 5, 2015 Share Posted March 5, 2015 We arrived September and kids started school the start of the school year end of Jan Hi Howard. How old are your kids? We're looking at moving to the Gold Coast in August. Was concerned that he kids wouldn't be able to get into school till October after having a long summer holiday here. We've actually been looking at Helensvale school (primary and secondary). Is this where your kids go to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tina0101 Posted March 6, 2015 Share Posted March 6, 2015 Our son started Year 11 in the October and has just started Year 12 this January. Australia is doesn't have an equivalent to GCSEs. They sit exams at the end of Year 12 to get their QCS and OP for uni. If your child has done GCSEs in the UK, you can claim credit for them if they are only completing Year 12 here, as long as their results are decent (think it was 7 B grades, but the school can advise). Each school will be different. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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