Chch girl’s high schools??
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Topic: Chch girl’s high schools??
Posted By: freckle
Subject: Chch girl’s high schools??
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 10:50am
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Scarily my oldest is starting high school next year and we're trying to decide where to send her... We live in the country at the moment and she's at a school that goes right through to high school. However, we have the option of her going to school in the city as my parents are moving back into town. So trying to decide whether to send her to a school in town and if so which one? She's a bit boy mad at the moment and kinda feel she'd do better in a girl's school. So any opinions greatly appreciated!! ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Replies:
Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 11:03am
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Your parents will have to move "in zone" for most schools and you will have to have a private board contract written up as most schools in ChCh require that now.
I teach at an boys secondary school so we have a lot to do with the Girls schools round town. Are you interested in private or state? All these are only my personal opinions etc: Girls High has a very good rep and a really good staff in most subject areas. Sports wise they achieve well and push top students to keep striving. Can be quite "white middle class" at times. It is similar to the school I teach at but the girl version. Often you find lots of working parents who buy their kids lots and tend to think the school is there to parent not them - this is a very general statement though. Villa - Headmistress is an interesting character but senior managemnt and deans are great. Your child will do well here if they are self motivated and willing to work. The shcool is small so tends to stick to the good old basic subjects rather than dumbing down the system with lots of little irrelevents subjects. Really good mix and make up of kids. Great sporting school. Is catholic so only take 10% non-preference a year. Marian - catholic school. High staff turn over and can be unsettled at times. Not sure of too much as staff never stay the same for long so never get a "true" idea of the school etc. Avonside - know very little about it. That kinda covers your state schools. Then theres Rangi and St Margarets (both do boarding). St Margarets would be my pick of the two. Excellent, caring staff. Amazing subject choices. Great Head and senior management etc etc. -------------  
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 11:45am
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Thanks for that peanut!! Your job must be full on!!!
We are looking at state, although I would like to send her to st Margarets the fees are just too much.... If we decide to go ahead with schooling in town then the school we think is best will influence the area in which my parents buy... in saying that I know they would rather live out sumner way which would put her in zone for Avonside - where I went many moons ago  and wasn't great then but that was a long time ago!
I was leaning towards CCGH but as I have little knowledge on the other schools I thought I should look into it more... and I also need to make sure it's worth the big change from the school she's at now... ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 12:17pm
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Unfortunately all the open days for high schools have been and gone and lots of applications for out of zone is closing soon. Obviously if in zone its not an issue as they are obliged to take you - that is where the boarding contract needs to be written up etc though as they can exclude you from the school.
ERO reports are good but often confusing and really only show major defects in the school. Talking to parents is your best bet and often stopping people at malls etc if you see them in uniform is the best way to get a real opinion on teh school. Avonside has mixed results...I personally would avoid it but that is just me. I shoul dhave said also about Marian that they have "dumbed" down alot of their subjects and choices which is not so good for their intelligent students but a great school if your child is below average and probably not going to reach too much about average even with constant monitoring and tutoring. I am hearing you on St Margarets - fantastic school but bloody expensive and if you were looking at priavte I would highly recommend looking at STAC although it is co-ed but is a really good well rounded school. Feel free to PM me as I am happy to help with an info you need. Just remember that these are my opinions only and may not be what you find/think. I think my biggest advice fro secondary school is def look for a school that suits your childs needs!!! -------------
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Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 3:19pm
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I'll give you my experience from a student as I finished school 03 and my lil sis finished 07.
Rangiora - I went here 3rd to 6th form and loved it although I did really really sidetracked and didn't do particularly well marks wise. I learnt a lot about 'life' lol going there. CGHS - Went there for 7th form after getting into a bit of trouble at Rangiora and not doing terribly well in 6th form. I did well academically and somehow managed to pass 7th form (although because of the school my marks were graded up but not sure if it still works like that). The girls were all quite precious and have all had it drilled into them they are so amazing IYKWIM Unlimited - My little sister went here, she was the first year and she loved it and did really well. But she is quite determined and doesn't really follow the crowd so it was good for her. Some kids do need more structure and discipline though. |
Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 6:56pm
peanut - thanks again it's great to get opinions from someone in the job! I worked for the MOE for years but in special needs so my knowledge of schools is from that perspective which ain't much help! Yeah I was planning on having a look at the ero reports.... I do have huge reservations with avonside after my experiences there, although, I was a bit of a distracted kid back then... My daughter is much more focused than me and is generally up the top of the class so I want to ensure I send her somewhere which will meet her needs.... Marion doesn't sound like it would be a good fit either.... I would consider Co-Ed and I have heard great things about STAC but we'd all have to go without food for a few years 
RachandJack - wow must have been tough changing in 7th form! I kinda got that impression of CGHS but then again I guess it's better to head out into the world thinking your amazing that thinking your useless which is what happens to lots of kids eh... I had never heard of unlimited - just looked it up, it looks awesome but like ya say it wouldn't suit everyone... Nice to see schools catering for different ways of learning ...------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 7:05pm
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Rach, I must have "taught" your sister at Unlimited as my first job was there. It was my first year teaching and there first year open. Can't say I was overly fussed by it but can def see how it would work for some kids.
freckle, it is such a big decision to make but to me by the sounds of your daughter (not that I know her!) and the fact that you are wanting single sex I would say that she would do really well at either CGHS or Villa. If your parents are happy to move in zone at CGHS I would def recommend it. I think Rach's opinions on it are really valid on the girls - well, lots of the boys at my school have a def sense of entitlement. Still a very good school though. Would def ring the school to enquire about the private board arrangement etc. You don't have to give too much info away or just use a fake name  -------------
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Posted By: kiwisj
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 7:18pm
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I went to CGHS and I AM amazing
I finished there in '99 so the year before the zoning requirements came in there and I would have to say (for back then) Peanut is pretty spot on, doesn't sound like much has changed. There ARE nice girls there though (would like to think I was one of them!) and TBH I think it is an asset that the school has high expectations of its students. There is definitely an expectation that you will carry on to further education, and I don't think that's a bad thing. Good luck choosing, I'm glad it's still a long way off for us yet!!! ------------- SJ Callum - Dec 2008 Daniel - Oct 2010 |
Posted By: surfergirl
Date Posted: 23 July 2009 at 9:27pm
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Ex CGHS student here...I had a BALL there and loved it. I do feel it set me up for soem great things in life and made me believe in myself. I also made some really good contacts which have been great in the professional world. There are some girls there who are catty etc, but all girls schools have the popular girls who can make some peoples lives hell. I don't think CGHS is any worse or better than and other school on this. My sister HATED CGHS, but got in the the wrong crowd in her first year, so it was all downhill from there. She moved to Avonside and it suited her really well. She did well and went on to Teachers College. My other sister started at Avonside, hated it and left to go to Hagley. Bad move! She was a hell child and needed some hard line teachers, personally I think CGHS would have been good for her, but she refused to go. I have a close family member currently at Marian. She loves it, is doing well across all aspects, including music and sport. She is not a practicing Catholic, but does not seem to mind the regious aspect of the school. Personally I think CGHS is great for strong willed girls like me, who with a firm hand and some one telling them they can do it all, will do it all. Good luck!! ------------- http://www.alterna-tickers.com"> 
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 24 July 2009 at 8:40am
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Yeah I was sorta thinking it would be either villa or CGHS... I know she will encounter cattiness at any girl's school but she's a pretty strong kid and I know she can handle it. I really want her to go to a school which she is pushed to acheive - where she is now she is not extended at all... in fact it took me complaining 3 times before they would provide her with Maths work at her level rather than her just helping all the other kids...
Kiwisj- I think that is awesome that they expect you to carry on with further education - I would absolutely hope that she goes onto university - when I was at school it was kinda rare that kids were... hence me not going until I was 22... surfergirl - your 3rd sister sounds like me! I was the hell child and went to avonside then hagley which was far to much freedom for me! Got my sh*t together eventually But I do think most kids at that age still need lots of boundaries and I can imagine even though my daughter is a good kid she would lose focus without being pushed a bit IYGWIM...
Thanks for the opinions guys!! It's great to hear first hand experiences!! ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 24 July 2009 at 9:54am
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Def go with CGHS then, freckle but make sure you get all the info and facts on priavte board or you will run into huge problems. -------------
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Posted By: freckle
Date Posted: 24 July 2009 at 10:40pm
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yeah I'm gonna ring the school on monday and suss out what we need to do in terms of the board arrangement...I would have had no idea about it so thanks heaps peanut!!! ------------- mum to 3 lovely girls :D |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 25 July 2009 at 1:26pm
| Thats so funny peanut what a small world, my sister is Lucy Campagnolo. |