moving to Perth from uk

[jazoma]

hello, we are moving to Perth at the end of November from Bristol in the UK. We have 3 girls ages 8, 6 and 2, so I am wondering what advice I can get from mums already living in the area? Obviously settling kids in ok is my top priority, so any advice gratefully received! I have been trying to find out about schools, without much luck, is it standard over there to go to the local school? Is there any way for me to compare schools from over here? We do not know where we will base ourselves yet, but thought the hills to the east look rather nice? Again, any comments from those of you who know would help. I am sure there are lots of other issues I should be thinking about, but never having moved with kids in tow before, I can't even think what they might be! Is there anyone else out there who has recently moved from the uk and might have some 'top tips'?

The whole thing is starting to feel quite daunting (although very exciting as well, of course) so any advice would be gratefully received.

Jazoma

[Rhoxie]

Welcome to Bubhub Jazoma!
Perth is a very wide spread city - there are alot of suburbs, areas, schools etc to choose from.
The best way of choosing an area is to narrow it down via affordability and convenience (commuting from one side of Perth to the other is a nightmare and fuel prices have been quite high of late as well.) If you already know the area that you or your hubby will be working in then look for something in the surrounding suburbs. (look for local shops, libraries, sporting groups/grounds etc things that you will be spending alot of time driving to as a parent ;) )

The majority of WA students are in the state school system if you wish to look at the profiles of each school look here
http://www2.eddept.wa.edu.au/schoolprofile/home.do

State schools are between $10- $100 per year + equipment + excursions etc.
depending on the school. Majority of state schools wear uniforms (usually a polo top with crest & plain coloured bottoms)
Each state school is quite different and I'd really reccommend visiting each one in your chosen area before making a decision as although profiles can give you the basic info they can't give you a 'feel' for the place.

Best wishes with the big move ! I hope all goes well :)

[jazoma]

Thanks Rhoxie for some good tips and info. I will look at that website now!

Jazoma

[mythreelittlemonkeys]

if you looking to move to the hills I recommend highly Kalamunda Primary School :smiliedance: (no website unfortunately) but my DSD goes there and they have turned her around she is 8 and has been struggling at schools and had no motivation to learn and they have been soooooooooo good providing fantastic assistance and really caring....all the children seem to be very pleasant and the teachers are really enthusiastic, they have a fantastic P&C too (bit like PTA in UK) and there always something going on...reminds me of village primary school...Kalamunda/Gooseberry Hill and even Lesmurdie, Roleystone and beyond along the great eastern highway etc are lovely places to live...real villagey feel to them...nice cafes/bakeries and the odd fantastic restaurant scattered around...reminds me a bit of home at times...I am from Somerset/Dorset borders so not too far from you...I personally have been surprised how many children go to private school here...they are much lower fee then at home...you are talking 1000 a year for a regular anglican or catholic school, some of the independents and really elite schools are more expensive though. Most private schools are also religiously tied unlike at home...I think if the primary school you are zoned to is not that hot people then opt for the private one in the area...if you child is exceptionally bright and in the state system there is an opportunity for her/him to be put forward for Perth Modern for high school which is a selective school (bit like grammars in UK) which has specialist courses epsecially good for Music...thats all I have learnt so far...hope it helps...and good luck settling in :D

[jazoma]

that's really helpful, Kalamunda is definitely one of the areas we are looking at. Have you been there for long? I have been told that because you don't get the seabreeze out there it can mean really long hot summers, have you found that? Also what is it like for families/kids in the area? It's profile seems to indicate a more elderly population. Fine, but I do want to find a neighbourhood with lots of young children, ideally. Again, that school info is really helpful, thanks.:) I am just starting to realise what a tight time frame we are on. If we arrive in Perth at the beginning of December, I really don't have much time to visit schools and sort out where we want to be before the summer holidays. And I think it is important that the girls start school at the beginning of the school year, I certainly wouldn't want to move them.

[Rhoxie]

ooh you are on a very tight time frame - the school year in Perth finishes on the 7th of December.

[jazoma]

that's even tighter than I thought! I was (obviously naively) thinking I would have at least til mid december. Oh dear.