sevenseas

Hi there's quite a few Meetup groups (www.meetup.com) in the Manly area - suggest you have a look/pop along to a few. Lots and lots of people in the same situation as you.

Agree with Nippers as a great activity. My two go to North Steyne where they also have a fantastic youth program for U14's onwards so lots of continuity after Nippers age. 12/13 still a good time to start and plenty join at this age.

Hi Deb the best thing would be to contact schools directly and get applications into them as soon as possible. Both Pittwater House and St Lukes are well-regarded but also quite hard to get in to. You may also want to consider Oxford Falls Grammar which is also very well regarded (and I'm told not quite as religious as the website would perhaps have you think). Another option might be Davidson High School which I believe has a feeder primary school right next door (Mimosa Public School), however you would need to be living within the catchment for these schools. Best of luck.

You're welcome. Just so you know, Stella does not require you to be religious to attend (we aren't and may send our 2nd daughter there). They have an ethos of contributing to the community and that includes the education of (a certain proportion of) non-Catholic girls.

Hi, yes I think Mackellar can be hard to get in. Of the 9 classes in my daughter's year 7 were selective (academic, dance, sport, art, music etc) and 2 were non-selective. So if going for a non-selective place you would need to be living close to the school. Stella Maris is a good alternative. If you are on temporary visas I believe you may need to pay something for state-school education in any case. Stella is a catholic school but they do accept non-catholics. It's in a great location too. Other than that I know that Killarney Heights has a very good reputation especially with languages and a lot of families/children from overseas go there, which could be good from the point of view of fitting in/making new friends. You would need to be living in the catchment area.

Hi, Northern Beaches Secondary College has a number of campuses - Mackellar Girls, Balgowlah Boys, Manly Selective, Cromer and Freshwater. Cromer is comprehensive, Freshwater is a senior campus (similar to a 6th form college I believe). My daughter goes to Mackellar and is very happy there. There's also Killarney Heights, Davidson and Forest High. Relatively inexpensive private schools would include Oxford Falls Grammar, Stella Maris and St Lukes. All the best.

Fab. Will send you a PM with my number.

Hi, I live in Balgowlah and am happy to meet up for coffee (sorry haven't been on here for ages). I have two in school, youngest is at BHPS.

Hi Lisa, sorry I haven't been on here for ages and have only just seen your post. I live in Balgowlah and have a 9 and 12 year old - would love to meet up for coffee after the holidays if you're about.