Lifestyle and Leisure
Low down on Australian schools
Are you stressed about how your children will get on in Australian schools? No worries, says Hanna Lindon
It's a question that crops up in our inboxes again and again: will my child's education suffer from a move to Australia and how good are Australian schools? Of course, the easy answer is simply that it's impossible to predict. Factors like the age of your child at the time of emigration, the particular school they attend and the state you are moving to will all have an impact on the quality of your child's education. To give you a basic idea of what to expect, though, we've answered some of your most pressing questions on the Australian education system.
How does the system work in Australian schools?
The system for Australian schools is managed by the individual states. Each state provides rules and regulations for their schools, and you may find that the curriculum varies depending on which area you live in. The learning areas, however, remain the same across Australia. Unlike the UK, Australian schools are not necessarily structured by year-group. Elizabeth Foxlewin, who emigrated from England to New South Wales some years ago and has a ten-year-old daughter, Ruby, thinks that this can be a positive thing. "I believe multi-age classes are good, because children can find their own level. They also improve social responsibility, with older children 'buddying' the younger ones, especially for reading and computers."
There are a number of different types of Australian schools. There is a basic division between private and state schools (68 per cent of Australian students attend state schools while 32 per cent choose to go private), but you can also choose to send your child to an international school, which bases its curriculum around the international baccalaureate.
Some areas also have faith schools, with Catholicism being the predominantly popular religion. Judy Hargreaves is a British immigrant whose son, David, attends a Roman Catholic primary school in New South Wales. "The main difference is that Catholic school are explicit in their teaching of core values, which makes discipline easier," she comments. "State schools seem to be a bit ambivalant on values, so as not to alienate anyone I suppose. Catholic schools also generally service more priveliged families, so they have less problems with student welfare."
Class sizes in Australian schools are partly dependent on the school, with the general rule being that rural schools have smaller class sizes, while city schools have larger ones. Elizabeth, whose daughter Ruby has recently moved from the local primary school to a bigger school in a country town, recalls that Ruby was the only one in her year for years 2, 3 and 4. "The school had 20 children enrolled, kindergarten to year six, so the class sizes were tiny. Ruby now attends a school of 200 children, and is in a multi-age class of 25." Although city-based schools often have bigger class sizes, many states are considering 'capping' classes at 25. New South Wales, in particular, has a strong campaign to limit class-size.
How do the results compare to the UK?
Parents tend to have two main concerns when it comes to their child's education in Australian schools. The first regards the quality of academic education in Australian schools as compared to the UK; the second is whether Australian grades are as internationally valuable as GCSEs and A levels. Figures from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) show that, on average, Australian's achieve better results in both maths and science that Britons. The mean achievement of Australian students across these subjects has also increased in recent years, whereas the UK has seen a fall in achievement levels. Judy Hargreaves speculates that this is due to a difference in attitude. "Children in David's school want to learn," she says. "When he was at school in London, it was 'un-cool' to be keen in class." Australian qualifications are also accepted quite happily at Universities across the world – although with the latest OECD figures showing Australian Universities significantly outperforming ones in the UK, your child may do better to take a degree Down Under.
Will my child settle in socially?
Surveys show that the majority of children, especially those of primary school age, adapt well to school in new countries. Whether they settle in well to their new Australian environment, though, will largely depend on the Australian school they attend. Elizabeth's daughter, Ruby, has been one of the unlucky ones. "There has been a lack of tolerance for her in the local community," says Elizabeth. "We are not sheep farmers and we don't go to the pub, so our family is a bit odd. Bullying has been a minor problem at times." Ruby's school, however, has been quick to take action. "School staff have been very supportive, and work towards zero tolerance of bullying," Elizabeth comments, "but harrassment can be subtle and difficult to police. In my experience, though, it's the same everywhere. The UK has the same issues." But David, whose school is based in a larger town, has had no problems. "He loves school, and has had no trouble making friends," says Judy. "All the children seem very tolerant and accepting. "The best thing you can do to limit the risk of your child having problems is to do your research," she continues. "Look at the league tables, talk to other expats – find somewhere that has a reputation for tolerance. Our experience of the Australian education has been almost entirely positive. "
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Read another related article:
Growing up in Australia
For more information:
Australian Government Department of Education