[Andy-Dee]

Thought I'd start a thread on this as it is the one topic that was on our priority list and where we got mixed reviews. Having now visited 4 schools in NZ this is my thoughts on what I saw - it won't be everyone's view but I'm hoping other people on the forum will add to it so that new forumites can get some idea of schools / areas etc.

Christchurch

St Margarets (private & girls only)
Lovely school, very impressed with staff and pupils. Encourage independance, ballet academy, own pool, encourage sport and the arts.

Thorrington (mixed)
Staff were very good, lots of facilities. Only issue was that they can only stay until year 6 when they have to transfer to other schools in the area. Not a major problem but something to consider.


Wellington

Samuel Marsden (private)
Hot on discipline, pupils stand up when teacher walks in etc but strangely the atmosphere was happy and relaxed. Excellent facilities, encourage music and the arts.

Queen Margarets (private all girls)
Really couldn't take to this one - seemed a little 'Miss Jean Brodie' a little too stiff and staid for me but facilities and academic results were excellent.

Hope this helps someone.

D

[Lupin]

Our daughter attends a very rural school and I would do the whole emigration thing all over *just* for her school. I've never experienced anything like it but ime what people look for in a school varies so enormously I couldn't in fairness recommend it to anyone unless I knew them and knew they shared my education values.

Good luck with finding somewhere that suits, I'm sure you will as there seems to be so much variety between the schools. :)

[gil]

Hi AndyDee,

I think the original reason Douglas created the Health, Education and Family Board was so people could find threads on schools more easily. Also, the search button calls up a mine of information on the subject.

http://www.emigratenz.org/forum/search.php?searchid=260790
is the page it pulls up at the moment if you search "schools in NZ".
It is really helpful to have the info in one place, I agree.

Our three go to a college, an intermediate and a primary in Bucklands Beach, all excellent in our opinion.

Good luck with your choices,

Gil

[Andy-Dee]

Hi Gil
I must be doing something wrong because its not bringing anything specific up.
D

[gil]

Hi there, best thing is to click on Search on the tool bar at the top of the page, type in schools in NZ and you should get a list of threads on the subject.
Good luck
Gil

[Sam B]

Schools in Cambridge generally have a good reputation, and my daughters are attending Goodwood School which so far has been brilliant. The outdoor area is amazing with pool, 3 adventure playgrounds and 2 tennis courts as well as fields galore. I really think you can avoid private education in NZ if you find the right school. The academic work is much more challenging for them and they have more homework than they did previously, but they are v happy. The school is GREAT.

[Lupin]

My 9 year old daughter gets set "assignments" for her homework and has several hours worth a week, so I'd second Sam's experience :)

[Andy-Dee]

Really appreciate the positive comments about schools - seems as though there are lots of positives out there to combat some of the negatives.

Thanks all for replying.