Desperately seeking advice on choosing a primary school (Brisbane).

[galloway]

Hello

I'm a newbie here, desperately seeking information regarding school options. I have 2 children, my eldest is 4 and due to start Prep in 2012, we currently live in the Mt Gravatt/Holland Park area of Brisbane. We are renting so we're able to and prepared to move to access a good school. We would like to buy a house in the next couple of years probably when our youngest starts school.

This issue (deciding which school) is complicated because personally I'd rather move to The Gap/Ferny Grove area but my husband is more keen to stay on this side of town (although he is prepared to move if necessary). We went to the Open Day for The Gap State School last year and we were both really impressed however my husband doesn't think there are as many good (and affordable) high school options in that area!

The primary schools we're currently considering, if we stay in this area, are:


St Agnes' Mt Gravatt
St Martin's Carina
St Catherine's Wishart
Mt Carmel Coorparoo

The secondary schools would then be:


Villanova Coorparoo
St Laurence's South Brisbane
Clairvaux Mackillop Upper Mt Gravatt

The primary schools, if we move to The Gap/Ferny Grove area, are:


The Gap State School
Hilder Road State School
St Andrew's Ferny Grove

The secondary schools would then be:


Hillbrook Anglican Enoggera
Mt Maria Enoggera/Mitchelton
Marist College Ashgrove

I'd be really grateful to anyone for sharing any opinions/experiences regarding any of these schools or if anyone has any suggestions on how to settle this dilemna as time is running out...:eek:!

Thank you in anticipation.

[EmPowering]

bump for you :) :)

[tomsmum]

I hear very good things about Mt Carmel and have family who go there. We have our son's name down at Villanova. We know people with kids there who are very happy.

Holland Park State School also has a good name in this area.

HTH.

:)

[galloway]

Thanks tomsmum, I have also heard good things about Mt Carmel but I've almost written it off as an option because I have also heard that it's very difficult to get a place there. :(

[ziggy29]

Can I ask why there are only catholic schools listed for primary on the south side?
We are trying to choose between wellers hill and Marshall rd primary. I have my heart set on loreto for high school( where I went).

Dh went to villanova. And if we had sons I think we would lean more toWards st lawrences. But that is based on when he went to school over 10 years ago.

[Mysurprisebaby]

I live in The Gap, so I'm obviously a bit biased! But it's such a lovely area here, and Hilder Rd SS in particular is a great school with a really big oval - great for sports.

I grew up in the Gap and went to Hilder Rd, then Mt St Michael's College at Ashgrove. My hubby went to Marist Ashgrove. And we lived in Ferny Grove for 5 years before eventually buying a house at The Gap (so know both areas).

PM me if you want any more info on those suburbs or the schools. I love it here - it's a great place for kids to grow up. :cheerleader1:

[Izzys Mummy]

Hey -

I'm an ex St. Bernards (southside near St. Catherines) and ex Clairvaux mackillop student and i really liked both schools and as a member of the parish my children will be guaranteed admission into both schools. So my choices are made :)

First check to see if the schools take students who are not from the area/not parish members. then it depends if you want co-ed or single sex education and lastly fees...

Also Marist Ashgrove is an awesome school - Some friends did prac work there and loved working there. Big sports tradition. St. Laurences also got big thumbs up from ex work-collegues that have children there, and friends who are teachers there. St. Laurences is on the Busway and thus really easy for the kids to get to school themselves but their football fields are in the southside, I think near springwood so you would be travelling for ages on sat mornings if your kids play footy.

good luck!

[galloway]

Thank you to everyone for your replies, I certainly have some food for thought.

In answer to the question about why I've only listed catholic schools for the southside; I guess we are leaning more towards the catholic education system (as catholics) but we happened to go to some open days for the state schools at The Gap and were very impressed. I haven't been to any open days for the local schools but I intend to throughout this year. I have to say that I have been impressed with what I've read about Marshall Road State School (in particular the permaculture/environmental studies).

I just don't know a great deal about any of these schools so I'm certainly open to further information or suggestions.