School enrolment help in Canberra?

KTB said :

Don’t do it. I was a parent of a Gold Creek student up until recently.

We were warned. We didn’t listen. We regret it but thankfully have now relocated our child to a school that is, so far, galaxies away from Gold Creek in terms of management, discipline and educational opportunity.

I’m sorry to have to say it but that is our experience. Yes, every school has issues, but when assaults are occurring and the police ‘don’t need to be involved’, then that’s a sign there’s something seriously wrong.

All the best to you lizw, I sincerely hope you (but more particularly your kids) never have to deal with the atrocious nightmare we’ve been put through.

What school did you switch your child to? That might be helpful to the original poster.

My father taught at Gold Creek, and brought home many horror stories. But I can’t recall if he was teaching at the high school or the primary school at the time. This was about 7 or 8 years ago though, so maybe the quality has improved, however it sounded like a really bad school back then, possibly the worst in the city. My only advice would be to visit there yourself and take a look around.

Thailand71 said :

The reality is that getting your child into an out-of-area public school is going to be almost as difficult as finding a private school place. We found ourselves in this position at this time last year when we moved to Canberra & didn’t really want daughter to go to the local school. You may find your local school is your only option.

We found the opposite, and that this is the time of year to do it. At the start of the school year, your school of choice may well have no places for out-of-zoners; by now, numbers may well have dropped and vacancies are more likely. Come next year, being an existing student means your spot is preserved.

The reality is that getting your child into an out-of-area public school is going to be almost as difficult as finding a private school place. We found ourselves in this position at this time last year when we moved to Canberra & didn’t really want daughter to go to the local school. You may find your local school is your only option.

grunge_hippy – I think you are right in some instances – but having been told I was over reacting pulling my son out of a public school with “Oh Boys will be Boys” “It’s normal” “It’s just kids mucking about” “It wont be any different anywhere else” and from the school principle “If he doesn’t want ***** to do it then maybe he should just stay inside at lunchtime” This advice given about an 8 year old…..

When I had been called to the school 8 times in the year because a particular kid had assualted my son – 3 times seriously enough to require medical attention – I tend to give most parents the benefit of the doubt……

not that I know anything about your particular story, but I find that the term “bullying” is bandied about so much now that it has lost its meaning. kids these days are becoming less and less resilient and the slightest disagreement with a peer is misconstrued as “bullying”. I have seen it time and time again where a parent becomes all irate and threatens to pull their child out before even getting to the bottom of the problem, usually with it being a minor playground disagreement, a clash of personalities or something else that could be easily fixed with some communication.

If your child is truly being bullied (systematic, persistent threatening behaviour and victimisation by a peer) and you feel that the school is doing nothing, then yes, by all means pull them out. But think long and hard what message you are sending your child if you do it for the wrong reasons. The number of times as a hormonal teenager I wanted my parents to move me to another school when I had a spat with a friend I would have moved schools 20 times.

Good luck. I tend to agree that if you find a school’s nature to be unacceptable, the only viable solution is to change. Surprising variability from one to the next, even within the public system.

I don’t know Gungahlin area schools, but will offer my experience from Belco area (potentially not so useful, but no harm either):
– should you happen to put the pen through Gold Creek, I suggest you don’t even consider Kingsford Smith (Holt) – it holds an uncontested reputation as Canberra’s worst.
– cub no. 1 is in Y9 at Belconnen High and no. 2 starts next year – we’ve been completely happy there.

Don’t do it. I was a parent of a Gold Creek student up until recently.

We were warned. We didn’t listen. We regret it but thankfully have now relocated our child to a school that is, so far, galaxies away from Gold Creek in terms of management, discipline and educational opportunity.

I’m sorry to have to say it but that is our experience. Yes, every school has issues, but when assaults are occurring and the police ‘don’t need to be involved’, then that’s a sign there’s something seriously wrong.

All the best to you lizw, I sincerely hope you (but more particularly your kids) never have to deal with the atrocious nightmare we’ve been put through.

Thanks guys I appreciate all your helpful comments. I have made an appointment to have a look at the local school

Again this is Canberra, our worst public schools aren’t that bad and the local catholic high schools have a suprisingly high turn over of students with Canberra’s “worst” public high schools. (IE public schools get the majority of the lower socio-economic sector of Canberra but there are still alot of public service parent kids at whichever school)