Education

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With a little preparation and planning, you can help your kids to settle into a new school with ease, where they'll be able to enjoy a first-rate education

Leaving behind your home and your friends to make a new life in another country is one of life's biggest challenges, and one of the most exiting adventures you can have. But if it's daunting for you, how much harder might it be for your children? If they're of school age, they may have spent their entire childhood with the same small group of local friends, absorbing the way the education system works through their wider circle of family contacts and early teachers. So how can you help them step out in confidence when the school run takes them to the other side of the world?

As with every aspect of your move, planning, preparation and local knowledge will be the key to success. With the right information at hand, you'll be able to prepare your children for entry into school in Australia or New Zealand, confident in the knowledge that you've just signed your children on for an education that's considered to be one of the best in the western world.

The education system Down Under has much in common with the UK system, but also many points of difference. Elisabeth Hobbs, a teacher, mother and immigrant, has seen and experienced these from all sides - not least through the eyes of her children. She vividly remember her six-year-old proudly handing over a file of maths homework from his Australian school to his new teacher, only to be told grimly, We don't mark maths as right or wrong here; we explore the answers, while on the other hand, her bright and lively four-year-old was reduced to tears because he hadn't learnt his letters at his nursery. However, she says that if you're prepared to work with the teaching staff to find a way through these teething problems, then your children will soon be flourishing in their new environment.

Work the system

Education in Australia is the responsibility of the state government, with general policies decided at a national level. While the system is broadly the same from state to state, it will help if you understand the way things work at your target destination. Currently, this particularly affects school starting age and the transition from primary to secondary school. The next few years, however, will see a period of change as the Australian government's National Goals for Schooling in the 21st century is implemented. The aim of this strategy is to establish greater consistency in schools, including implementing a common school starting age, introducing national tests in key subject areas, and launching an Australia-wide Certificate of Education for year 12 children.

In New Zealand, schools have responsibility for their own governance, while working within a framework of requirements that have been set by central government. The New Zealand education system is based on culturally appropriate early childhood services, free school education for citizens and permanent residents, and quality assured qualifications. The provision of flexible pathways for study is also an important feature, while national policies and quality assurance provide continuity and consistency across the system.

Private schooling

In Australia, most private schools have a religious affiliation. On the other hand, state schools are never affiliated to a particular religion. There's no equivalent to the British faith state school, and parents who particularly want this for their child will need to go to the private sector for their education needs. Currently, more than a third of all students in Australia are enrolled in private schools.

Private school fees Down Under are significantly lower than in the UK, making this choice a popular option for many migrating families. At secondary school level, scholarships are available for academic, musical and sporting achievement, and can cover up to 50 per cent of the fees. Many independent schools provide centres in the UK where students can sit for scholarships at the same time as their Australian counterparts, so if you're considering private education, it's worth checking whether this option might be available to you before you make the move.

State and private schools both follow the same curriculum and there's no selective entry exam, such as the Common Entrance. Students in both sectors move from primary to secondary school at the same time and it's common for children to go to a state primary school before moving on to a private school at the age of 12. Independent schooling in New Zealand operates along similar lines and offers the same range of primary, secondary and boarding options.

The school year

The academic year runs from late January to early December and is divided into four terms. Broadly speaking, this means two-week holidays at Easter, late July and early October, and a long summer holiday of around eight weeks over the Christmas period. The mismatch of academic years can be awkward when moving your child from one system to another. If your children have just finished a hard year's work in July, they aren't likely to be very impressed with the idea of going back to school in a new country a couple of weeks later and finding themselves in the same year group!

Melanie Barnes, a head teacher in Perth, offers the following advice: Adjusting to a new school can be difficult for any child, and to add to that, the stresses of moving to a new country can mean that children take longer to settle down. Don't be tempted to put your child into the next academic year group if they've just finished a year in England. It's much better to let them coast for a term or two back in the same year – it will give them a chance to consolidate and find their feet. Then when they move up with the rest of the group in January, they'll be raring to go and achieve their best.

As in England, the school day starts at around 8.30am and ends around 3.30pm. There's no tradition of school dinners as everyone brings a packed lunch or orders something from the school canteen, which is usually run by the Parents' Association. Expect healthy eating - I've never seen chips on the menu!

Most schools wear a uniform, usually of a fairly economical and practical kind, such as shorts and a polo shirt with the school logo. A school hat is essential in such a sunny climate, and most schools operate a 'no hat, no play' policy. Forget your hat and you'll be kept in at lunchtime, without exception.

Study time

The curriculum won't offer too many surprises: the basics of reading, writing, maths and science remain the same, with similar SATS-style testing. In Victoria, for example, the Achievement Improvement Monitor (AIM) tests these skills in years three, five, seven and nine. In New South Wales, students take the ELLA, SNAP and ESSA tests, which examine the same core subjects, while in Tasmania, it's the PIPS, or Performance Indicators in Primary Schools. On the other hand, when it comes to areas like history, your children are likely to cover new ground: world history didn't begin and end with the kings and queens of England! Instead, be prepared to swot up on the discovery of Australia by English, Dutch and French mariners, early settlement, convicts, the Gold Rush and Federation.

Simon Parry, Head of Curriculum at a Canberra private school, suggests, "The internet will give your children a wealth of resources so they can start familiarising themselves. Let them explore online and get a feel for the way that Australians and New Zealanders experience their own social history. If they come with an open mind about what they're learning, they'll absorb it all enthusiastically."

Respect for indigenous (Aboriginal and Maori) history is also important, particularly in New Zealand, where Maori language and culture are taught in all schools. All students also learn a language, but don't expect it to be French! With the multicultural nature of your new home, it's more than likely that your children will be learning Indonesian, Japanese, Mandarin or Greek.

The great outdoors

Thanks to the endless sunshine and a competitive nature, Australians and New Zealanders love their sports. At school, children get plenty of chances to play games, with rugby and Aussie Rules football in winter, and cricket and swimming in summer. Also, make sure your children know how to swim well. All Aussie kids train rigorously from preschool, most do advanced lifesaving awards, and many surf and sail. Swimming lessons are subsidised by the government from nursery and if your children can't keep up, they're likely to feel left out. As for Aussie Rules, this great game of football, now played all around the world, is available in PlayStation format. Go online and find a copy so your son can learn the rules before he goes. He'll love it!

When moving your kids to a new school Down Under, remember that Aussies and Kiwis are famed for their friendly nature. Teachers are fair-minded, and this translates into an open, happy atmosphere. Your children will quickly feel included and it won't be long before they're running through the door at four o'clock, shouting, "How ya goin', mum?"