[Bergita]

I'm not sure where this thread belongs... here or maybe real estate? Anyway, I have 2 questions:

Firstly, is the decile system by which NZ classifies their schools a reliable indicator of the quality of a school? I.e., is a decile 8 school always better than a decile 3 school?

Secondly, having read the method the NZ govt uses to classify the schools, can you judge neighbourhoods by the decile number of the local school/s? I.e., is a neighbourhood with decile 8 schools likely to be safer to live in (and more expensive) than a neighbourhood with decile 3 schools?

Or have I got the whole thing wrong? Not being in NZ, I'm trying to do everything possible to get to know the areas without actually being there, and if the decile system works the way I think it does, then it seems like it might be a useful way to decide which neighbourhoods are in the running.... Particularly because my daughter will be almost of school age by the time we get there.

Another quick question - am I right in that children start Grade 1 / Class 1 in the year they turn 5? This concerns me, as in SA they start the year they turn 7. Now my daughter will turn 5 in 2008, but we're planning to get to NZ mid 2007. Which means that she will not have the year of pre-school required to get her ready for Grade 1. Will there be any problems if I hold her back a year?

Any opinions on my 2 + 1 questions would be helpful...

[kiwidebs]

Hi

As far as I can tell the decile ratings say more about the area than the school. A decile 10 school will be in a high socio-economic area (meaning the school gets less govt funding assuming the parents can afford to pay more) and a decile 1 will be in a poor socio-economic area (more govt funding). A decile 8 school is not necessarily better than a decile 5 school. (Someone correct me if I got this wrong). To find out more about the individual schools check out their ERO report-try http://www.ero.govt.nz/ero/publishing.nsf/Content/Home+Page

And yes, children in NZ do tend to start school on their fifth birthday. They don't legally have to start till they are 6. I think you might find the preschool year prior to starting school is actually incorporated into their first year or so of school (once again, someone correct me if I've got this wrong).

My daughter will start in November when she turns five. She currently goes to a daycare that incorporates 'preschool'. They do basic letters/numbers etc and get to go to a computer session once a week. But it's all learning thru play and my kids love it.

I'm sure someone who has actually already been thru the system will be able to help you a bit more.

Debs

[willsken]

That is the way I see it also. We are moving to an area that has a school with a rating of 5. I have been to see the school and it seemed fine. The town seemed lovey as well. Certainly wasn't in anyway a deprived area from what I could see.

[Angie and Mick]

Hi all

I believe that in NZ they can start on their fifth birthday no matter when it falls. It is not like here in UK where they start on the term, i.e. Anna will be five in the may, so start Easter. It would be interesting to know how children settle in this situation. From a previous thread I believe they are made to feel special as not only is it the first day at school but also their birthday.

Finding the right school would be my concern.