[Mels]

I have been spending hours and hours on the web looking at schools in Wellington in case we get to move.
I have just come to the conclusion that I am obsessed with getting into the 'right' school. Very much a hazard inherited from where we live now.
We were lucky when we came here, schools were not an issue then and we were desparate and homeless so we fell on our feet when we discovered that the schools were good. But 15 yrs ago people didn't get so up tight about these things I don't think.

I have been looking at Wellington High, Wellington College, HVHS, Onslow and Tawa College as they all have reports on this forum.
I was trying to work out, as far as you can before you need to visit, which would be 'best' for our shy and dyslexic eldest boy (12yrs at mo).

Then I compared them with some in Auckland. To my suprise they all come out either better or resonably equal to Mcleans and Westlake.

I know these are only out of date stats and I can pull holes in them like the next person but that really suprised me. I did not expect them to all do well.

That or I'm talking rubbish and can't read these reports at all :exit

I would greatly appreciate a view from formites in the know. Then at least I need not worry so much where the guys go to school as none of them are so bad.

[Mels]

Need to clarify my suprise.

Its not that they are good schools but that they are ALL good schools. :D

Where we live at the moment we have two good schools but then 3 or 4 that are not so good. So people are selective about where they live, but in Wellington we can live not only where we like but where we can afford. :raebanana

[Carol]

Need to clarify my suprise.

Its not that they are good schools but that they are ALL good schools. :D



The thing is Mel....most people would probably only have experience of one of them ......our kids go to Tawa and it's excellent.
But I wouldn't have the foggiest about the rest tbh.

Carol.


P.S. We actually moved house to get into Tawa's zone.
It was a very good move!

[Mels]

I suppose here as the schools are closer you tend to get to know their reputation even though you may not have kids there, but you are right you only really know a school when your kids start there.
It was just that the exam stats of all the schools I mentioned were pretty good and that just is not the case around here - hence my pleasant suprise.
Any area here that has 'good' schools also has silly house prices too.

[eternalkiwi]

My pick of the schools would also be Tawa, though each school would have their positives or negatives. Like you mentioned most Wellington schools are good, so you will not go too wrong with any of your choices.

Ultimately the choice would depend on which school offers the right mix for you and your son.

Tawa College is not too big, or too small. They offer a good range of subjects and are co-ed. From my contact with the Principal and teachers, I have found them to be very proactive and quite student focused.

Shawn

[gonzo]

Hi Mels,

Given your son's dyslexia it may be that you will be looking at other criteria other than straight intellectual achievements at those schools. Sport is also a key factor in NZ schooling.

In my opinion the nature of the school usually depends on the catchment area and the socio economic make up of the families living within that area. I know this is likely to be a highly contentious view and I therefore refer back to the statement that this is only my view.

The western suburbs are where the money is in Wellington (another huge generalisation I know :laugh ) and as is usual in these situations the estate agents comment that areas are zoned for Wellington College. Similar comments are usually made about HVHS in the Hutt

Other highly regarded schools in Wellington are Scots College (private), St Pats (Catholic)

Both my boys are currently at Wellington College and have done really well so I am obviously biased, it is however run on traditional lines prefects etc ( very much based on the old English Public School System, again just my opinion)

Hope this is of help

[Mels]

Hi Mels,

Given your son's dyslexia it may be that you will be looking at other criteria other than straight intellectual achievements at those schools.


Yes absolutely, the biggest factor is 'feel' of the school as we are more interested in boosting his confidence than anything else.

Problem is people tend to regard dyslexics as not too bright (generalisation, I know but it comes from experience I'm afraid) and schools that have good intellectual achievement often do so because they monitor the students progress/or not, carefully and have the facilities to help when needed.
These schools tend to be better off financially and therefore have better 'non academic' facilities.

Private I don't think is an option, certainly not in UK.

I think he would like a gentle school of 600 - 800 lots of golf, IT and engineering stuff!!!! :nice1

So if anyone knows of one let me know!!!!

[Pookeko]

Hi Mels :)

This first bit isn't so much for Mels because we've already corresponded a bit about it, but really anyone reading this thread, I just wanted to let know that our family have had a really positive experience with Onlsow College. :D My son goes there now and he is really happy there.
Onslow has been really approachable about any issues we've had. He had a sort of hearing problem (yes apart from the usual teenage one ;) ) and they really worked with us on putting into place the classroom plan that the Specialist recommended.

Just FYI Onslow is not a traditional sort of school, like Wellington College is (as gonzo describes), and from the sounds of it Mels, all the schools that you have identified are very good - it will just be a matter of seeing which one(s) clicks with your lads when you are over.

Also sometimes you can go to a school outside of your zone, with special dispensation I believe (which is probably hard to get - I don't know sorry). Or if not the dispensation route, you could rent in the zone for the school that you want your kids to go to school at and then buy your house when you've decided where you want to live. :)