High school advice for uk year 11

[are we there yet?]

We are flying out at the end of May with still no idea which area would suit us, but I know this is a wide area but somewhere between port noarlunga & Henley!! my question is I have 3 boys currently in years 6,8 & 11, the eldest boy is going to just miss his gcse's in the uk, (we have to enter australia before beginning of June) does anyone have any advice at which high schools I should be looking at? He is quite academic but loves his sport, hes finding the wait quite hard as feels there's no purpose to be at school to revise for something he's not going to do (although is happy to stay at school) I'd like to help him feel more in control, or if anyone has any 15/16 year olds that could offer advice ect that would be great too, Tia

[samandcraig]

Sorry I don't have any advice as we are in the same position as you, but we arrive in March. I have a son who is in year 7 and is struggling to focus, so I couldn't even imagine how your son being in yr 11 is feeling! So many emotions aswell! Good luck with your move and hope someone can offer some advice

[NicF]

Have a look at Henley High. It's a good school with a good reputation that gets good results. I believe it is also quite sporty, but don't know for sure. Brighton high school is also a really good school so well worth a look. Both will be zoned so you will need to live in the catchment to get your son in. Have a look at the sticky Snifter posted for links to information about the schools.

[are we there yet?]

Thank you both for your help/advice I know we won't really know what a schools like till we take a look but it's always good to get opinions, gives us something to go by, my younger boys are taking it all in their stride so hopefully no dramas there!! Lol

[samandcraig]

Same here, my little girl is very excited

[snifter]

I hear good things about Henley High. I know we had family looking to buy in the area as the school appealed to them. It has a good sporting reputation. Check out the school website here http://www.henleyhs.sa.edu.au/ and look for Programs on the menu then the drop down for Specialist Information, it lists a heap of sports. I think there would be more than just those listed but those are the focus ones I'd say.

 

Brighton is also ranked highly. Its a musical school and sport wise the focus is on volleyball, though it does do other sports but not to the kind of specific level Henley does on the sports program I don't think. Have family and friends kids attending or attended it. Also be aware that from this year I think it is, the school zone is expanding to take in a lot more kids. Its already a big school and will be taking in a 250 or so more. No one can know how this will affect the school in future years.

 

Of those two, I'd lean toward Henley to live but others would prefer Brighton. Both are good areas to live and both beachside suburbs (though may be you'll still drive to the beach on hot days depending on where you live), access to city, transport links and more.

 

Hallet Cove HS offers a volleyball program but no clue about other sports. Their website lists a few things but it doesn't read as such a sports focused school like some others do.

 

Also keep in mind lots of sporting activities and clubs will be found outside of schools. Our son (much younger but to give you an idea) does cricket, Aus rules, tennis and cycling. All to be found at local sports ovals or clubs. We shopped around areas when we were looking to buy and researched options available within a certain distance drive. We do our footy down on the flat still for one more season, cricket in Coromandel Valley and swimming at Marion. Tennis is a choice of two clubs in two different suburbs, we are still making up our mind. Cycling we do all over, but compete at events for kids, usually in the city parklands but sometimes elsewhere.

[coolerking]

Probably best to put the eldest into year 11, here. That way he can settle in and have less pressure. Also, may have to do this as he needs PLP (personal learning plan) completed.

 

 

Cheers,

Cooler

[are we there yet?]

Thanks all for your advice it really is appreciated, I've given my eldest the job of researching schools/sports ect to hopefully give him some feel of control!! And it should help familiarise him with the areas, he's quite happy to stay in year 11 so there's no worries there, thanks again for everyone's advice

[Anne B]

It depends on when your eldest's birthday is but if he is in year 11 now in the UK then he would be in either year 10 or year 11 here. If his birthday is between September 98 and approx April 99, then he will go into year 11 and be about half way through the year in May this year. If his birthday is May, June, July or August 99 then he most likely will go into year 10. My son's birthday is late July 99 and he is about to start year 10 next week, even though if we had stayed in England he would be in year 11 now and taking his GCSEs later this year (he was the youngest boy in his class at primary school in England).

[candt]

Hi

We went through the same thing when we moved here in July 2014. We waited for our son to sit his exams in England though and flew out about 1 week after his last exam.

When we arrived here he was 16 and went into year 11. He's about to start year 12, school terms begin in January here not September.

 

We chose Henley High because of the good reputation and we've not been disappointed. You will need to live in the catchment area to go there.

There are school fees $725 for 2015, and they do need to wear uniforms. If he chooses sport as an option then he will need sports gear and that can get pricey too.

He will also need a laptop, only available from the school (he cant use his own). They sell them new for Just over $1,000 or they do have reconditioned ones for less that $100 but have limited availability.

 

The location is great for us, near to both mine and my husbands work and my son can walk to school.

 

At 16 they can learn to drive here so that might cheer him up a bit. When we were shown around the school the teacher asked if he drove and told us where the student car park was.

 

Another option is an international college (I think they are called). They are for year 11 & 12 only. They don't have to wear uniforms there. Also because they are only years 11 &12 they are all in the same boat as appose to settling into a school year with children who have known each other for years.

 

If you want any more help feel free to PM me.

Edited January 21, 2015 by candt
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