Guest shaz3110 Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 Hi guys From Scotland originally but been living in Abu Dhabi for the last two years. Husband and I are flying to Sydney in July to have a look around before we make the decision of job move to Sydney. One of my concerns is my teenage kids who are 13 an 16. They both attend private school here in Abu Dhabi and my daughter is currently sitting her GCSE exams, if we remain here she will go into sixth form in September to begin A Levels and I am not sure how easy the transistion will be for her if we make the move to Oz and what they will offer (A levels or similar). The office location for my husband would be the Ingleburn area SW of Sydney so if anyone can offer any advice positive or negative we would love to hear from you. Sharon
Paul1Perth Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 I think your daughter would be doing the Tertiary Entrance Exams for the state you are going to. It might be a lot different curriculum than GCSE's so she may find it a difficult transition. She might not too, I'm no expert in schooling. If you are intending settling in Oz TEE is recognised by the Uni's here as their entrance criteria. I don't think GCSE's mean much in Oz at all, although there might be some kind of relationship to TEE grades. There are some good schools here and it may be in your best interests to check with them.
an1ta Posted May 13, 2011 Posted May 13, 2011 Hi guys From Scotland originally but been living in Abu Dhabi for the last two years. Husband and I are flying to Sydney in July to have a look around before we make the decision of job move to Sydney. One of my concerns is my teenage kids who are 13 an 16. They both attend private school here in Abu Dhabi and my daughter is currently sitting her GCSE exams, if we remain here she will go into sixth form in September to begin A Levels and I am not sure how easy the transistion will be for her if we make the move to Oz and what they will offer (A levels or similar). The office location for my husband would be the Ingleburn area SW of Sydney so if anyone can offer any advice positive or negative we would love to hear from you. Sharon Hi and welcome, I moved here over 2 years ago with a 13, 15 and 16 year old. My 16 year went into year 11 where they start there A-levels they are not called that here, she did great and passed all the ones she took. My 15 year old is now in year 17 (she started in year 10) out here and she has found it a bit hard but u can get help if needed. My son now 16 is doing great and just started in year 11, all my kids settled into school really well. The one thing I would advice u to do is get them into a private school, I tried to get my son into one but most are Catholic schools and we arent so my son didnt get into the school, but hes doing great at the school hes at. If you need to know anything just ask Im happy to help, I love living in Australia and so do our kids :biggrin: Anita
Guest annaok Posted May 22, 2011 Posted May 22, 2011 Hi all, Im a newbie and have sooo many questions my head is spinning! Husband has been offered a job in either Sydney or Brisbane (think its all the more complicated having that choice really!)...as a family of 5 (son will be 16, 2 daughters will be 12 and 6), so every range of schooling...we initially thought Gold Coast definitely in terms of affordability and life styles changes (life/work balance that we havent achieved here in UK over the last 4 years economic climate)....however, I have a cousin in Sydney and another cousin due to move there soon also with their 2 young children. Sydney is sooooo expensive at the moment though but culturally and vibe wise I think it is more us (Im a Londoner born n bred and much as I love the idea of Gold Coast beaches and nice contemporary large houses, Sydneys appeal goes a bit deeper)....any advice? Are there nice affordable family areas commutable to Sydney CBD, with good primary and senior schools or is this asking the impossible? Northern Beaches appeals most but not sure can afford what we would want/need/like! Also, for my son who is finishing GCSEs at the moment here, would he go into High School or do we need to look for TAFE colleges (Im not at all sure of the system and cant seem to find much info)...my son wants to do Business Studies and ICT Diploma (he is mildly dyslexic and has been at an independant school with specialist dyslexia support...do the colleges/high schools in Sydney recognise and have units for dyslexic students? any recommendations?? Ooooops...sorry I have gone on!!! If youre still there, any info would be so very much appreciated! Thanks Anna
Quoll Posted May 22, 2011 Posted May 22, 2011 For Anna - sorry, should have quoted! In NSW your son would be going into year 11 and will do the HSC at the end of year 12. Schools in NSW go from K -12 so he will be in HS not TAFE (kids of that age usually dont go to TAFE unless they are really struggling in school). HSC is very much like A levels except the kids do usually 6 or 7 subjects. Support for dyslexia is virtually non existent - if there is an intellectual disability you will need to bring all assessments with you and he will get some accommodations for exams etc and may get some additional classroom support. Another thing to bear in mind is the visa that you will be coming here on - if it is a temporary visa (457) then you will be slugged $4.5k pa per child in school fees in NSW (so if you are on one of them, then the choice is really Brisbane as Qld dont charge those fees unless your salary is considerable!) Should add - he would go to TAFE after year 12 to do the ICT/Business Studies diploma
Quoll Posted May 22, 2011 Posted May 22, 2011 Hi guys From Scotland originally but been living in Abu Dhabi for the last two years. Husband and I are flying to Sydney in July to have a look around before we make the decision of job move to Sydney. One of my concerns is my teenage kids who are 13 an 16. They both attend private school here in Abu Dhabi and my daughter is currently sitting her GCSE exams, if we remain here she will go into sixth form in September to begin A Levels and I am not sure how easy the transistion will be for her if we make the move to Oz and what they will offer (A levels or similar). The office location for my husband would be the Ingleburn area SW of Sydney so if anyone can offer any advice positive or negative we would love to hear from you. Sharon Kids generally start year 11 as they are turning 16 (so she would be in a class with kids who have turned 16 since end July through to kids who will turn 16 before the end of July next year). Most important thing is that she starts year 11 in February - it's like A levels to the extent that if you dont do the full two year course then you miss a whole lot of content and when you come to exams at the end of year 12 then you could be disadvantaged. Kids generally do more subjects than at A level as well. If you arrived here late this year then she could go into year 10 and pick her HSC subjects ready for next year. She will probably be a bit older than her peers but that may not be a bad thing. Remember that NSW charges fees ($4.5k pa) if you are on a temporary visa (457). Another alternative might be to send your daughter to boarding school in UK for A levels (or send her back to family) then she will keep all her options open and A levels travel back to Aus universities very well.
Guest annaok Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 For Anna - sorry, should have quoted! In NSW your son would be going into year 11 and will do the HSC at the end of year 12. Schools in NSW go from K -12 so he will be in HS not TAFE (kids of that age usually dont go to TAFE unless they are really struggling in school). HSC is very much like A levels except the kids do usually 6 or 7 subjects. Support for dyslexia is virtually non existent - if there is an intellectual disability you will need to bring all assessments with you and he will get some accommodations for exams etc and may get some additional classroom support. Another thing to bear in mind is the visa that you will be coming here on - if it is a temporary visa (457) then you will be slugged $4.5k pa per child in school fees in NSW (so if you are on one of them, then the choice is really Brisbane as Qld dont charge those fees unless your salary is considerable!) Should add - he would go to TAFE after year 12 to do the ICT/Business Studies diploma Quoll - thanks very much for the info, much appreciated. Am desperate to find some decent school in Sydney (Northern Beaches areas) which would have some facility for dyslexia (albeit mild)...and/Or Brisbane/Gold Coast areas in order to make a reasonable comparison...I think I have been told that Queensland dont even recognise dyslexia but that NSW do? However the 4.5K payable in Sydney may be better used paying for this facility privately in Brisbane??! Many thanks again...so much to research, this site really is fantastically helpful!! :smile:
Quoll Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 Quoll - thanks very much for the info, much appreciated. Am desperate to find some decent school in Sydney (Northern Beaches areas) which would have some facility for dyslexia (albeit mild)...and/Or Brisbane/Gold Coast areas in order to make a reasonable comparison...I think I have been told that Queensland dont even recognise dyslexia but that NSW do? However the 4.5K payable in Sydney may be better used paying for this facility privately in Brisbane??! Many thanks again...so much to research, this site really is fantastically helpful!! :smile: Dyslexia doesnt rate in any state AFAIK. It doesnt get covered by the disability criteria but you might be able to make a case for some accommodation in exams. I wouldnt hold my breath though. Remember that you would be up for $13.5k for your 3 kids if you arrive on a temporary visa
Guest annaok Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 Thanks Quoll, just to be clear, if we chose private schools, would this temporary visa fee for schools still be payable on top? or is this only payable for schooling in the public schools? In which case am I right in assuming it might be cheaper to pay private?! Would my son be more likely to get any help (if needed) in the private schools rather than public? Thanks!
Guest annaok Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 Hi and welcome, I moved here over 2 years ago with a 13, 15 and 16 year old. My 16 year went into year 11 where they start there A-levels they are not called that here, she did great and passed all the ones she took. My 15 year old is now in year 17 (she started in year 10) out here and she has found it a bit hard but u can get help if needed. My son now 16 is doing great and just started in year 11, all my kids settled into school really well. The one thing I would advice u to do is get them into a private school, I tried to get my son into one but most are Catholic schools and we arent so my son didnt get into the school, but hes doing great at the school hes at. If you need to know anything just ask Im happy to help, I love living in Australia and so do our kids :biggrin: Anita Hi Anita, So nice to hear that you are all enjoying your new life in Australia (I hope we get to that place soon!)...could you tell me where you are in the Sydney suburbs? Im moving over with a 16, 12 and 6yr old - so would need to find good schools for primary and high school! Im willing to pay private (what should we expect to pay per annum?), if it means getting a substantially better school - and would this mean we dont have to pay the 4.5k per child fee (as coming over on a 457 temp visa)?? Thanks! Anna:jiggy:
Quoll Posted May 23, 2011 Posted May 23, 2011 Thanks Quoll, just to be clear, if we chose private schools, would this temporary visa fee for schools still be payable on top? or is this only payable for schooling in the public schools? In which case am I right in assuming it might be cheaper to pay private?! Would my son be more likely to get any help (if needed) in the private schools rather than public? Thanks! You are correct, AFAIK Catholic schools for example will only charge the local fees. Not sure whether the other independents are similar or whether they charge international fees (which is generally about the level of the government subsidy plus the local fees). I dont think he would necessarily get more support in a private school although of course you might find one that asks you to pay for additional support. Private schools in general dont do "difficult" kids too well, especially if they are going to impact on their HSC results.
Fiona&Ricky Posted July 4, 2011 Posted July 4, 2011 Hi Sharon, we're not far from Ingleburn, we live at Harrington Park (about 15 mins from Ingleburn). I have a 15 & 17 year old in years 9 and 11. Mine are at a Catholic school in Campbelltown. There are schools linked to the diocese which are harder to get into or independent schools which tend to have more space. If there is anything I can do to help with where to live or schools please ask. It's really good to see somebody moving to this area as everybody else seems to be moving north of Sydney. Fiona
Guest motherof4 Posted October 6, 2011 Posted October 6, 2011 Hi Anna, Did you decide on Brisbane or Sydney in the end? We're living in Sydney with 17, 14, 8 and 6 year old. All enjoying it here - but still going through the settling in stage and not 100% sure if we made the right school choices for teenagers:sad: Hi Anita,So nice to hear that you are all enjoying your new life in Australia (I hope we get to that place soon!)...could you tell me where you are in the Sydney suburbs? Im moving over with a 16, 12 and 6yr old - so would need to find good schools for primary and high school! Im willing to pay private (what should we expect to pay per annum?), if it means getting a substantially better school - and would this mean we dont have to pay the 4.5k per child fee (as coming over on a 457 temp visa)?? Thanks! Anna:jiggy:
an1ta Posted October 6, 2011 Posted October 6, 2011 Hi Anna, Did you decide on Brisbane or Sydney in the end? We're living in Sydney with 17, 14, 8 and 6 year old. All enjoying it here - but still going through the settling in stage and not 100% sure if we made the right school choices for teenagers:sad: Hi I have only just got this, Im so sorry I didnt get back to you when u asked my advice. I really hope that everything went well with ur move and that u settled in well. If you dont mind me asxking where did u settle. I live in sutherland shire. Like I said Im so sorry for not getting back to you Anita :v_SPIN:
Guest Ritchie43BD Posted October 13, 2011 Posted October 13, 2011 Remember that you would be up for $13.5k for your 3 kids if you arrive on a temporary visa
Guest shusselmann Posted October 14, 2011 Posted October 14, 2011 Remember that you would be up for $13.5k for your 3 kids if you arrive on a temporary visa Hi, Just wanted to add that my understanding is that fees for temporary residents are 4.5K per child from K-Y10 but 5.5K per child for Years 11 and 12 at High School (in NSW). This document should clarify things: http://www.detinternational.nsw.edu.au/schools/downloads/trp_feespayment.pdf If it's suitable you may find Catholic Schooling cheaper and easier to get into at short notice. We chose Catholic Schooling for our children when we moved to Sydney (although we're not Catholic) and are very happy with our decision. "The Shires" are a good location for families and possibly cheaper for housing and better availability for schools. We're in Sydney's South Eastern Suburbs which we love but probably as expensive as the Northern Beaches. Good luck with your plans!
an1ta Posted October 14, 2011 Posted October 14, 2011 Hi,Just wanted to add that my understanding is that fees for temporary residents are 4.5K per child from K-Y10 but 5.5K per child for Years 11 and 12 at High School (in NSW). This document should clarify things: http://www.detinternational.nsw.edu.au/schools/downloads/trp_feespayment.pdf If it's suitable you may find Catholic Schooling cheaper and easier to get into at short notice. We chose Catholic Schooling for our children when we moved to Sydney (although we're not Catholic) and are very happy with our decision. "The Shires" are a good location for families and possibly cheaper for housing and better availability for schools. We're in Sydney's South Eastern Suburbs which we love but probably as expensive as the Northern Beaches. Good luck with your plans! I dont know about the fees, we are here on a different visa, I still have fees of about a 1000 dollars for 2 kids, and thats in the shire. The houses are far from cheap here, its one of the most expensive places to live along with watson and the nothern beaches :biggrin:
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