Christchurch?

Emz, not to argue with you but high decile schools are not suppose to be better teacher wise! I know lots of really good, qualified teachers that work in low decile schools purely to help and encourage students. Most of the people I know that are teaching in lower decile primary schools are head hunted by high decile schools for numerous reasons so I would def not judge the quality of teachers on a decile rating. Also wouldn't judge resources on a decile rating as often lower decile schools get extra funding from other sources so often have options that higher decile schools need to get parental funding for.

My husband works in lower decile schools so it is something I am slightly passionate about. The main advice I have when looking for schools (I am a secondary teacher and DH is a primary teacher) is to def read the ERO report and def visit a school a couple of times before deciding.

My top schools at the mo are:
St Albans
Russley
Cotswold
Waimari
Burnside
Harewood

But again that is my opinion only and probably because of the areas I grew up in and want DS to grow up in.

Peanut - totally know what you mean. I was very much generalising there. Unfortunately the majority of great teaching graduates in Chch prefer the high deciles due to the (overall) better support provided by the community, parents and other staff. But like you said, I also know of schools where this is completely untrue and there are some wicked low decile schools. As for the resources, yep they get the extra funding but my god you see what some decile 10 schools can buy with fundraising money and it leaves the extra funding to shame! There'll always be that inequality there though unfortunately. The way the world works. (PS I actually love low decile schools just like I love high decile schools - but I detest a lot of mid-decile schools cos they get stuck in the void and slip through the cracks).

Anyway, as you were ladies!

Oh, but one thing I will say re schools is all schools are required to have a School Charter available now too. Ask for one at the front desk. It outlines their goals for the short, medium and long term, what the community offers to the school and vice versa, and the main areas of development (both for teachers and students) in the next wee while, as well as all the usual stuff. Gives you a real feel of what they want to achieve with your kids and it will help you see if you think you will like the culture of the school.

We live in riccarton which is near to the uni - about 10/15min walk
and I have to say it is noisy!
the uni students are always partying and always having bombfires or playing music till all hours or burning sofas in the streets

we cant wait to move to be honest!

Hehe - just to stir things up - ditch Chch and come out to Southbridge lol

Hey I live in addington now we have just moved from St Albans it was due to getting a newer place for reasonable rent if we were to have this new place in st albans we would pay heaps believe me ive looked. Two things id like to add is St Albans is a posh place but has its dodgy areas and people we had people behind us that I had to call the police on due to domestics. Also I worked in a youth justice residence and the youth used to tell me they never S#@t in their own backyard, in other words those dodgy areas that people mentioned ie linwood are where alot of these youth reside however they go to the likes of merivale to do their crime.
My cousin lives out in Belfast and just had his place broken into and done over. I have also lived in Ilam and bishopdale and we got burgeled there too.

I have to agree with Aquaries also a home is what you make it and you get your dodgy people everywhere.

I lived in Christchurch for 4 years while I was at Canterbury Uni and lived in Upper Riccarton, Riccarton and Sydenham (because I couldn't find somewhere closer on short notice). Living in Sydenham was a mission having no car, I had to get two buses each way! I found it much easier in Riccarton, I could bike to Uni in 5 mins or walk in 10-15mins. Mind you I was renting. Not much help but wanted to offer my 2cents