Schools in Melbourne

**fionaC** · 28-06-2006 21:16

Hi all I am moving over to Melbourne in the next few months and was just wanting some advice on good schools in Melbourne we are looking at renting in Sunbury (is that a good suburb any suggestions). I have a daughter who is 7 and a half who has just completed First Grade in the American School system she should start Second Grade in August so Im not sure where she would fit in the school system over there. My younger daughter is 4 and half and has just completed nursery school not sure where she would fit into school system either. Any advise or comments would be appreicated.

**bigglet** · 28-06-2006 21:33

Hello and welcome to Melbourne!

Sunbury is in the west of Melbourne - I would say on the outer suburbs of Melbourne.

At the moment the school years is based on your child's birthdate and the cut off date is 30 April. I guess with your first daughter she would be in Grade 2 here - perhaps she may like to spend the rest of the school year here in Grade 1 with children her own age and then go up to Grade 2 next year - and with your second daughter they usually like to wait until children are 5 years of age before they start Prep - but depends on their birthdate.

Are you thinking of going to the local primary school or opting for a private school system?

hope this helps somewhat and welcome again!

**fionaC** · 29-06-2006 20:36

Hi Bigglet thanks for the reply as yet we havent decided which route to go public or private but having read the post on public versas private I think that public in primary and private in high school may be the way but having said that I still dont know if the schools in that area are good be it private or public. My younger daughter will be 5 in Febuary so I take it she would start in prep school next year.

**bigglet** · 29-06-2006 20:47

Hi Fiona,

You can ring up the local primary school in your area and they would be more than happy to give you a tour of the school and what they have to offer. A lot of schools have open days (both public and private) so you can visit them and make your own decisions from what you hear and see.

And yes your younger daughter should be in Prep next year.

It is very common for young children to go to the local public school and then go onto the private school system in high school but as you said it does depend on the local public school as to whether it is decent or not.

All the very best!