[Randomz]

Thank you

This post has been edited by Randomz: 09/02/2013, 08:16 AM

[kpingitquiet]

I think, barring major problems that cannot always be foreseen, ability to thrive in a school usually comes down to the parents and home life rather than the school. If you support, encourage, and enrich, they will likely shine anywhere.

[pitzinoodles]

What age kids are we talking about? If it was high school I'd go with option A. Also how many kids? If it is high school 2 kids and one of you lost your job, you may be able to get a scholarship for 1 or 2 kids if you are well entrenched in the school.

If it was primary maybe option B, you can change them to school A or eqivalent for high school.

[beljane]

We just lived through a very very similar decision. My oldest two have just left a school that sounds very very similar to your current school and started at what sounds like the other school! We had to make a decision in September last year as we had to give 1 terms notice and it was extremely hard. I don't think they were really getting a better Education, but the environment was amazing.

When it came down to it, both my Husband and I are public servants and are on contract which, in Qld, is a very uncertain thing at the moment (previously it just ment we signed a new conract every 6 months and in every other aspect were just like the Perm staff even the rate of pay is the same!) and we couldn't afford the fees on one wage. I must say the up side is the financial freedom it brings not having to pay those fees!

The boys love there new school and I am slowly coming around, but I really really miss our old school community : ( I feel a lot of animosity towards the current Qld govt for putting us in such a constant uncertainty, let me tell you!

This post has been edited by beljane: 08/02/2013, 07:40 AM

[Just Another Cat]

I'm not sure why you even considered moving them. They love their current school and so do you. You can afford the school and a reasonable quality of life.

Based on the information you've provided I would stick with the current school.

[RunDMC]

If you are talking say 5 years of $13,000 savings = $65,000

How does that change your perspective?

Savings for higher education?
Holidays?
Towards the mortgage?
Savings for an emergency?
Held in trust for your children to eventually put a deposit on a house?
Additional extra activities? For the children.for you and DH.?
Less stress?

Personally I think community is what you make it, get on the new parents committee and influence it the direction you would like to go. Just because you move schools does not mean you need to leave friends. If they are in primary they will leave it in the next 5 years anyway....from the sounds of it you have done the right research....think of the savings in travel time that can become quality time for you and the kids.

[Therese]

That's such a tricky one. I love the idea of kids thriving at school for lots of reasons. But financial concerns are really valid issues too.

I think I would leave them at school a. But I would be really torn.

[axiomae]

I'm a teacher in a school in a very low socio-economic area that has issues with student behaviour, attendance etc. Despite this, the school has a wonderful community feel and is so supportive of its students and the teachers so loving and caring. When I first started teaching there I realised that the students with stable, loving homes and parents who care are the students that will thrive anywhere, despite external factors to them. This is certainly the case at our school.

I would think seriously about changing if it meant a savings of $65K, as noted by a PP. Put that money on your mortgage and don't spend it, and then take a wonderful holiday with your kids each year that will create memories and give them experiences they'll have forever.

[MrsLexiK]

Though we are 5 years off from this, we have thought about this. Their is a school within easy walking distance, which has good results, and all in all is a good school. Their is a second school which is longer away (but still walkable just probably not every day and we would need to be out the door fairly early) driving there in a car is a royal PITA as the road blocks up for a very long way, it is a religion teaching school (which we do prefer), however this costs a bit more. I love the ease of being able to walk just down the road to the other school and most of the kids in our estate go to the first school, the problem is that high school options in our area are not so great and the only way our child will get into the high school we want is if they go to the second school (which does have a great name it is just further away and costs more)

We wouldn't be able to go on the overseas holidays we currently do and most holidays would be at our free family holidays houses once this baby is at school. But unless the high school changes dramatically I don't see any other way.

[Pooks*potters]

I would leave them in school A. Holidays can wait. Being at school A would matter a lot more to me than holidays.