Skip to content

Victorian Parents Council

Home | Information & Resources | Choosing a School

Choosing a School

News

New Pathway into Teaching
The Minister for Education, Julia Gillard, has announced the Australian Government will fund a new scheme to attract Australia?s best graduates into teaching?.

Under the new program, high performing graduates in areas like commerce, law and science will be able to enter teaching through a new pathway that ensures the best and brightest are attracted into the profession.

Quick Poll

Relationships between Schools and Parents
 

Choosing a School for Your Child

You are choosing a school for YOUR child. You as the parent are in the best position to judge the suitability of a school

What Do You Want?
A school that brings out the best in your child, helps them achieve their full potential, excites them about learning and a place where they feel safe, secure and valued.

Remember!

  • children change as they mature
  • one school may not suit all your children

You must be happy with the school's:

  • curriculum
  • values
  • policies on discipline etc
  • expectations of its students and parents
  • religious and philosophical affiliations

Make a list that considers the following!

1. Practical considerations

  • Location
    • Is it close to home? Can your child walk, easily take public transport or school bus
    • Will their friends live nearby or in a range of different suburbs?
    • How much time are you willing to spend driving to after-school activities?
  • Are there before and after school care and holiday programs?
  • Is Saturday sport compulsory?
  • How up to date are the facilities?
  • Is there a compulsory uniform?
  • Is it a Kinder-12 school and is it all on one campus?
  • Is there a compulsory lap top program and what does this cost?

2. Philosophical Considerations

  • Is it a large or small school?
  • Do I want my child to attend the same school for all of their education?
  • Is it single-sex or co-educational?
  • Does it follow a traditional curriculum or does it offer, for example, Steiner or Montessori programs?
  • Does it offer Vocational Educational Training (VET) courses or International Baccalaureate?
  • Does it offer acceleration and university enhancement courses?
  • What foreign language does it offer?
  • Does it encourage or expect parent involvement in the classroom or in the running of the school?
  • Do I agree with the religious/philosophical affiliation of the school and will my child be happy to abide by these beliefs e.g. compulsory religious education classes
  • Is there a compulsory outdoor education program that may involve your child being away from home for a considerable period?

3. Extra-curriculum Considerations

  • What sort of sporting, music, drama, and art etc opportunities does it offer?

4. Primary Schools

  • What are the early learning programs like?
  • How are children taught to behave, work with each other etc?
  • How are they supervised in the playground and on excursions?
  • Can you help out in the classroom?
  • Is there a parent association you can join?

5. Secondary Schools

  • What is the curriculum range? Does it offer VCAL?
  • What are the expectations regarding student involvement in sport, music and drama etc...?
  • What are the uniform, behaviour and discipline expectations?
  • Are there school camps and/or overseas campuses?

Once you have completed your lists you can decide what you are not happy to compromise on and what questions you need to ask when you visit a school.

You must always ask yourself what suits your child and your family.

If you and school are at loggerheads your child will be the loser.

Visit schools on open days or ask for a tour on a school day so you can see the place in action

Children with special needs
Children with disabilities receive much lower levels of funding in the non-government sector than they do at government schools. This means greater costs for you and the school when you enter an independent school. While many children with disabilities can be integrated into mainstream schools, there are nine independent special schools catering for children with physical disabilities and social/emotional difficulties.

Pastoral Care
 Independent schools pride themselves on the pastoral care they offer, and time- poor families are coming to rely increasingly on schools taking on a parental role. Check out how the system works. Are there counsellors or welfare officers? Does the school offer education in drug and alcohol abuse, sex education, mental and emotional health?

Academic Results
 Ask about NAPLAN tests and VCE results but don't rely solely on these. There is a lot more to education than VCE results.

What Does It Cost?
 Fees range from $1,500pa to over $20,000 pa (plus boarding where applicable).
Expenses on top of this can include

  • Uniform
  • Textbooks
  • Sports equipment
  • Music lessons and instrument hire
  • Laptop computers (usually replaced every 3 years)
  • Camps and excursions

How will this impact on your family? A second job and/or both parents working, less discretionary income to spend on home, holidays and cars etc?

Conclusion
 Knowing the questions to ask, and being confident in your knowledge of your child?s needs, will make the job of choosing a school much easier. Independent schools offer your child the chance to embark on an exciting adventure of education, and for parents the pleasure of seeing their child achieving their full potential.