[ZEEland]

Over the last few months I have read with interest posts about schooling and such like. I have to say I am more than a little worried that the kids won't be as challenged as I'd hoped. And what of the quality of the teaching staff? I havent seen much in the way of comment about teachers. Are they strict? I am more than happy for a teacher to reprimand my children, here in the UK they seem too scared to do so, preferring to leave the discipline entirely to us parents at the end of the day.

ZEEland

[Voice]

I have no complaints about the schooling here. Both our children were immediately slotted into extension classes for all subjects as they were well ahead, they also both went up a year (rather than do six months of the year again) and continue to achieve really well. Our son is currently doing NCEA level one exams and came top of the year in English, Maths, Chemistry and Physics, so we are really pleased!

Discipline seems good, the pupils are expected to be respectful and behave in a way which represents the values of the school. But to be honest (and no offence) I am someone that thinks that discipline is primarily the responsibility of the parents anyway.

[ZEEland]

No offence taken Voice. These are your thoughts. However, I believe that when I am not around to discipline my children that others in authority should adopt the responsibility to do so. I fear this is one of the reasons that children get away with murder (almost literally) these days. People seem too scared to chastise a child.

It makes me happy to hear of children who are excelling at school in NZ, and are happy into the bargain. My three are all excellent scholars but their out of school time is not quality time and I wish to improve their extra-curriculum scope. I had heard from other forums that if there is a large maori % of pupils the funding of the school is lower and education suffers. I also hear of bullying of new white rich kids. This petrifies me.

[sizzlingbadger]

My eldest is just starting school, he does one half day a week at the moment. There are three schools in Featherston, local, rural and catholic. We've taken the decision to send him to the Catholic one. We have looked around all three and he decided that he like that one the best plus the teachers are just fantastic. He also gets to wear a uniform which he wanted to wear. The local one does have a large Maori following but they're all great and there is non of this keeping up with the Jones' attitude.

Not blowing my own trumpet here. But we live on one of the most sought after streets here which I thought was going to cause a few problems that I had come across back in the UK from the other end, ex council estate house and no one talking to me because we didn't have 'money' ie massive house, posh car. It hasn't come true everyone is very friendly and welcoming and couldn't care less whether you have a big house, small house, posh car, old banger they just want to get to know you.

I also take the other two to Play Centre and Music Groups. Play Centre is like baby kindy and also fantastic. If a child misbehaves and the mum isn't around it's up to whoever saw it to sort it. This is great as everyone can watch everyone elses kids and there isn't the stigma that you told my child off that I often used to get or in some cases ignored what I had seen. The outcome is that a couple of the children really love coming to me for cuddles and love playing with me. Nothing like that happened back in the UK which is saddening.

Just hope your kids will love it here as many other kids do. :)

[Voice]

everyone is very friendly and welcoming and couldn't care less whether you have a big house, small house, posh car, old banger they just want to get to know you.

This is what we have found too, One of the things I like most about NZ is that people here like you for who you are, rather than what you are, which I find incredibly healthy and refreshing!

I guess it all rather depends on how you are yourself, if you take everyone as you find them and treat others as you would have them treat you, then you shouldn't go far wrong. I told my children, who were coming from a very different environment (in school terms) to be welcoming, respectful, friendly and open to everyone, regardless, and that's exactly what they did. They have had no problems fitting in.

My children went to a good school in the UK, but it was an environment in which everyone was expected to do well, so much so that if you got a 'B' you were almost deemed to have failed! And that's not fun. In NZ I find things more relaxed and kids seem to be celebrated for their talents, wherever they lay and achievement is rightly rewarded.

Out of school their lives are much improved too. They come home from school (which finishes at 3 pm (ish) and have a swim, they don't have heaps of prep which lasts all night and there's still time for a family walk before settling down for the evening.

We are very happy with the way things have turned out, though I sympathise with your concerns ZEEland, as I had them myself before arriving. Thankfully they proved unfounded, and I hope yours will too :)

[veronica]

schooling is not just about academic qualifications. It seems to me, and I admit to not having children in the education process here, that the schooling here is more geared to a child ending up a well rounded person.

As to the disciplining of children in the UK., I worked at a school there for 5 years and teachers have no real powers to reprimand children. you can't give them any physical punishment, so you have to go for the detentions or extra work, if they refuse,then what recourse do you have. Call the parents in for a meeting and there is a fair chance they won't turn up or it will be a case of 'my kid wouldn't do that, why you picking on him/her and telling lies, what you got against him/her'. Very difficult. But I firmly believe that discipline is up to the parents and is not the responsibility of the school. while all kids are guilty of having an odd kick to their gallop if the discipline and respect are installed at an early age there is very little else that has to be done.

Sorry if thats a bit black and white for others, I also apprciate that not all children turn out as the parents deserve, some are wonderful in spite of neglect and others are rogues when having been given every advantage.

[adamsat]

that the schooling here is more geared to a child ending up a well rounded person

I would very much agree with Veronica on this. Here it's not all about academic work. For example our kids (much to their disgust) have to regularly give presentations / speeches to their classmates on various subjects.

[lisa]

hi

what are parent's evenings like here? I used to get a bit dissillusioned in UK when it was really just well so and so is level whatever for this and level whatever for that - nothing about them as a person or individual- am still waiting to have a parents evening here so hopefully will be pleasantly surprised and not be bombarded with SATS levels.
school definitely seems more relaxed here and they seem to be happy and settled.

[Voice]

Hi Lisa :)

The parents evening at our son's school was really good. His teachers were keen to tell us how well they thought'd he'd settled in and what he brought to the class etc. They seemed delighted to have a child that was keen to learn and they in return were keen to help him.

Other English friends here have told me that generally teachers like the English students as they have a good work ethic and 'raise the game' of the whole class. Don't know if that's true, but it's what I hear!

Either way they have been extremely helpful and encouraging.

[Hannah]

There's other stuff i like too, such as children being allowed to pop down local shop to buy milk for staffroom, doing photocopying, answering phone, filing etc. and they are all more than happy to be the one chosen to do it. In my son's class i've noticed children are trusted far more than in UK schools, and given far more responsibilities, and i've not yet noticed anyone let the teacher down (I helped in school and noticed this a lot). These too are learning opportunities, about life itself, responsibility and self control, and they would be unheard of in my children's school in UK either for health and safety fears or worries that parents would come in moaning that their children were'nt being taught or were 'doing teacher's work'. i think NZ has a broader mindset about what education and learning is, that extends beyond academic but also focuses on producing confident people who have no fears about trying different things. I'm the product of academically pushy parents, and a just as academically pushy school, and i left school with the social skills of a goldfish!!!
Also, re homework, when i knock of work at 5pm i want to come home and do home stuff, i don't want my employer sending me home with yet more work. i want the same for my children too. In their school in UK they were given 3/4 hour homework a day (incl my seven yr old) and if they didn't do it they were kept in at lunchbreak next day to complete it - thus forcing parents to nag kids to do it. I appreciate the fact that their school here doesn't shove more school work down their neck as they leave the school gates - not sure if this is typical of all schools though!
I wish i went to a kiwi school when i was little!!!!

[Carol]

In their school in UK they were given 3/4 hour homework a day (incl my seven yr old) and if they didn't do it they were kept in at lunchbreak next day to complete it !!

I think that is disgusting!


From a teacher's point of view

- yes I love teaching here.

- No "English" kids dont raise the bar - the bar is raised by each individual child.

- "Funding" is an on-going problem - especially for Decile 10 schools who are deemed to be "fit to look after themselves" LOAD of rubbish!

- I wouldnt dream of taking my kids out of the NZ system - having experienced both (and from both sides of the coin - parent AND teacher) I love it here.

- I am about to go back to a class of 11-13 year olds in February after teaching 8 year olds for a while.
A class I ASKED to take.

I cant wait.



That should speak volumes.

[StevieD]

All I can say folks is thank you for your candid views and insights.

[willsken]

Also, re homework, when i knock of work at 5pm i want to come home and do home stuff, i don't want my employer sending me home with yet more work. i want the same for my children too. In their school in UK they were given 3/4 hour homework a day (incl my seven yr old) and if they didn't do it they were kept in at lunchbreak next day to complete it - thus forcing parents to nag kids to do it. I appreciate the fact that their school here doesn't shove more school work down their neck as they leave the school gates - not sure if this is typical of all schools though!
I wish i went to a kiwi school when i was little!!!!


Here here! Very well said. I know my boys are looking forward to going to school in NZ and I'm looking forward to it on their behalf!