[flowermama]

DD1 starts Prep next year (we're in Brisbane). She has been offered a place at Ormiston College, and we've just found out it looks like she'll be offered a place at Redlands College as well. Does anyone know much about either school? We're struggling to decide which she should go to!

[gina70]

I would choose Ormiston College over Redland College, mainly because of the religious views of Redland College. It is fundamentalist Christian (don't believe in evolution etc.)

[flowermama]

Hmm that makes it interesting, I knew Redlands was religious but didn't know it was quite so religious...it's quite a bit cheaper and closer to home which is why it appealed! Might have to give it some more thought, thanks for that

[Guest_Dinah_Harris_*]

Redlands College is a conservative Christian school. We will send our kids there because that aspect is important to us. But if you aren't really religious, it may not suit you.

This post has been edited by Dinah_Harris: 03/02/2013, 01:17 PM

[flowermama]

Thanks Dinah_Harris, I'm happy for DD to attend a religious school but would have concerns if it's very conservative and denies evolution. Do you know if this way of thinking is prevalent across all years/classes?

[Guest_Dinah_Harris_*]

I'd be surprised if they actually denied evolution.
I think what happens is that evolution is taught, with the acknowledgement that some Christians don't believe in it and believe that God created the world.
My kids don't go there yet, DD1 will be in prep next year so I can't say for certain exactly what is taught.
Most, if not all, teachers there will be Christians and will undoubtedly have a wide range of views. Several friends of mine teach there, and are Christians, but they are hardly fundamentalists.
You will find a pretty heavy emphasis on Christian culture, so I would definitely encourage you to think about that. Would you have a problem if the school encouraged kids to know Jesus personally, for example? Or that holidays like Christmas or Easter were celebrated in the Christian context? Or that they will be taught songs about Jesus and God and will likely come home singing them?
Sorry I realise I sound discouraging - but I don't mean to be! Just trying to explain what you might come across. I know a fair bit about the school, so let me know if you have any questions!

[flowermama]

As long as evolution isn't dismissed outright then I'm fine with all of that I grew up celebrating Easter and Christmas in a Christian context and went to Sunday School so I don't have an issue with the Christian aspects, it's more that I want balance in what's taught. I really like their approach to teaching (e.g. focussed on the whole child) and it seems like a nurturing kind of school rather than Ormiston which seems very focussed on results at all costs. DD is very sensitive and gentle so I'm looking for a school that she'll enjoy going to!

[Guest_Dinah_Harris_*]

That is one of the absolute best things about it - it is a wonderfully nurturing, caring and compassionate school for both the children and parents.
The environment always seems so positive, too. Of course I'm biased, but I really can't speak of it more highly.
Perhaps our DD's will be starting prep together
ETA: they definitely don't dismiss evolution outright. As I said, there is more acknowledgement of other points of view, is all.

This post has been edited by Dinah_Harris: 03/02/2013, 01:55 PM

[flowermama]

We'll have to eye off all the mums on the first day and try and work out who the other is Thanks for the info, it's been really helpful and has confirmed my instinct that it'd be a good choice for DD, now we just have to hope she gets in! Fingers crossed...

[Pinkpanda]

Long time lurker here, just joined up so I could post a reply. I went to both schools (although it was quite a few years ago...). Redlands is very, very religious. The Bible was taught to us as the literal truth, including creationism. Sex ed (in high school) was done separately for the girls and boys. Girls were told the best contraception is an aspirin - you put it between your legs and keep it there. Like most schools, there was a lot of variation amongst teachers. Some were great, some were pretty awful. There was religion taught throughout many of the subjects and some teachers required that students pray at the end of class. There was not much acceptance of differences between people and families who weren't regular church goers were looked down on. After Redlands I loved Ormiston