Moving to Sydney- Need help reagarding area and schooling

There's selective high schools in Sydney (from year 7 onwards). Don't know about selective primary schools.

Of course, selective schools are for those with high academic success. Is your 7-year-old particularly brilliant???

re. selective schools
Thank you for your prompt reply.
Did not realize selective schools take in children only after year6.
As for my 7yr old, yes, she is academically way ahead of her age group which is the reason for my query. But looks like there's a long wait for that:-).
Is home schooling recognized? and if one does home-school, are there any requirements that have to be met?
Would really appreciate comments from any one who can help.

This website may provide usefull informationabout accelerated learning programs and Gifted and Talented Education in New South Wales.
http://www.curriculumsupport.education.nsw.gov.au/policies/gats/index.htm



It is my understanding that home schooling is against the law but you really need to check that opinion out properly.

Private schools may run accellerated learning programs
here is a list of non government schools in NSW.
http://www.boardofstudies.nsw.edu.au/ebos/static/AccredSchoolsA.htm

This site may help you to search for potential schools.
http://www.isd.com.au/search_syd.php


http://www.kambala.nsw.edu.au/ is a girls school with a high reputation (and fee structure)
good luck where are you coming from? schools starts very soon 2-4 weeks

re.schools in sydney
Thank you dadpad!
The links you have given are fantastic. I'm going to go thro' and hopefully find something suitable. Private schools seem to have a pretty hefty fee structure so that's an option I'm not going to look at for the time being.

I'm moving from Dubai where my kid goes to a British school. I s'ppose there's not going to be much difference in the curriculum.

Have another query regarding location...am looking at an area which is well connected ( rail &/ bus) preferably not too far off from the city.
Hope you/ anyone accessing this page can give me some ideas.

Thank you once again for all the help.

My experience of sydney is limited Su13. My wife has relatives at greenacre near Bankstown but I have only been there twice. I have pm'd a Sydney member on this site who may be able to assist you but these Sydney people are pretty unreliable.

(thats a joke su13, Sydney Melbourne rivalry..... you'll get used to it.)

This Sydney person has been down checking out Melbourne - usual weather disasters - 4 seasons in one day! (wotchit, dadpad!)

Both Strathfield and Chatswood are reasonable areas. They are both old, established suburbs, with grand old houses, and lots of new apartments near the station. Good city access and close to schools, etc. Both have heavy immigrant populations now. If you are remotely racist, don't bother!

I'm not sure what you consider cosmopolitan. There's plenty of restaurants in both places, and you're close enough to the city for other things.

Chatswood. High percentage of population of Chinese derivation. There's a couple of big shopping complexes to soak up your excess money. A local symphony orchestra occasionally plays there. I can't add anything on schools - dadpad has given you the links, and I've had no exposure. Certainly with the emphasis Asians place on education, I'd expect that there are good schools in the vicinity. I know nothing about sporting facilities.

Strathfield. I live near here, so know the area a bit better. Noticeable Asian, especially Korean presence, and is not far from the Chinese / Vietnamese / Sri Lankan enclaves of Burwood / Flemington / Homebush. Small shopping centre (supermarket and some specialty shops, nothing flash). Not far (good walk or 1 stop on train) from the bigger shopping centre of Burwood, with big shopping complex and main street shops. Plenty of schools, both public and private, with some good religious schools, if that's your thing. Parks, golf courses, tennis centres in the vicinity.

Let me know if you need more specific information and I'll try to help

(PS dadpad sent me!)

re. schools and areas in sydney
Thank you Margo and thank you too dadpad!
D'you know, this is the first time I have ever joined a forum( yes, i know where have i been, eh!) and have to say, I am touched by people like you who have taken the time to help out a total stranger...so thankyou once again!

margo, thankyou for the the info on chatswood and strathfiled...i', going to chechk out burwood too. yes, my main criteria is schooling and as for the need to be close to rail/train stops is because i don't drive and although my husband does, if i need to move around i'll need to be in a place which is well connected.

margo, hope you don't mind if i get back to you if i have any more queries!
dadpad, nice to about the lil' things like the rivalry between sydney & melbourne

Margo; The last time I went to Sydney there was a train strike. We went out for dinner in the city and it took, like, 4 hours in the car to get from Greenacre to the sheraton on the park in elizabeth st (city). Thats fairly typical of sydneysiders.
Mind you, it was the best meal i have ever eaten (Geko restaurant Sheraton on the park).

Melbourne weather? Variety is the spice of life.

su13,
Hi.... sorry I can't help you in your quest... have lived in Melbourne was glad to leave it... liked Sydney and it has some great suburbs, but to me it was to big and to busy have seen most of the big citys in Aussie, there is of course only one place to live in Aussie... that's the Gold Coast Queensland. If you would like some info on this fabulous place I would be only to pleased to tell you.

Anton:

ooohh! good! a nother banana bender to hang it on. I'll enjoy that.

Happy OZday mate.

su13 - ask away. I'll help if I can - but I'm a childless old maid (or similar) so don't have too many answers on schools. Restaurants, yes.

Where do you hail from originally?

After a little burst of activity - I've spent Australia Day watching the Poms take yet another walloping from Australia at cricket. Soon to watch the Australian Open 2nd semi-final (tennis) to see which poor fellow is to be the bunny in Roger Federer's headlights tomotrrow night.

Dadpad - good food at Gecko - but I think it's closed now. Next time - try my old favourite, Seans Panaroma, at North Bondi.

re. sydney areas and schools
thank you anton for replying. wow! the goldcoast... sounds great but my husband's concentrating on sydney... atleast for the time being .

as for your question margo, we are from india but have been in dubai for quite a while now. kid goes to a british school here with a class of 9 different nationalities! the place itself is booming with people from all over the world so we are at ease with a multicultural environment . its wonderful to see people from all walks of life living in such hamony which is why i was looking at similar areas in sydney too .

if you can think of anymore places that i could check out, do let me know.

thank you all once again.

I think Strathfield has a greater population of Indians that Chatswood.

My favourote Indian restaurant is Abhi's at North Strathfield.

To the best of my recollection there are excellent rail links at Strathfield.

http://www.railmaps.com.au/sydney.htm
strathfield is (on the map i have linked) to the right of the football and horse racing icon. approximatly central but low on the map.

re.schools and areas in sydney
thank you dadpad for the rail-link!
i am now able to visualize where the areas are!
margo, thank you too for the ' indian' info strathfield seems pretty well connected. shall check out schools in that area from the links that you had earlier given me dadpad.

can't thank you both enough for all the info you have given me!

heard about cheltenham public school being realy good....any ideas about how the area is? i see on the map that cheltenham is also on the main line.

I don't know about the public (i.e. primary) school, but people re-locate to get their kids into the catchment area for Cheltenham Girls High. You can't get in if you don't live in the area.

Cheltenham is a good area - but further out of the city than either Strathfield or Chatswood, so not as convenient - but still on a railway line . Considered part of the northern suburbs bible belt area.

I'm not sure about the state schools around Strathfield - but there are a number of private religious schools with good programmes for primary schoolers.

Meriden - Anglican
Del Monte - primary part of Santa Sabina - Catholic
MLC - Methodist Ladies College - between Burwood and Strathfield
PLC - Presbyterian Ladies College - Croydon - next station after Burwood on the way to the city.

For a boy, Trinity Grammar prep (some Protestant, ?Anglican) is in Strathfield (but I think you said you had a girl - too lazy to check!)

There may be others - I've never needed to check.

Su13 do you know cricket?

EDIT you have an indian background. My question therefore is redundant.

and if not, start learning! - aren't the Indians touring again next summer!