Eton house (Broaddrick) vs Australian International school

[girlPower]

I am interested to find out parents experience on the above schools. We are an Aussie family but am interested in Eton due to it's location (Eastcoast) and size (small). However, we have not yet visited either of these schools and just trying to collect as much information as we can.

[Thaiclan]

My 4 year old attended Eton House Mountbatten which was absolutely wonderful. When she turned 5 we decided to send her to the bigger school Eton House Broadrick assuming it would be of the same philosophy..however after just a couple of weeks we realised we had made a mistake and we did not like the Year 1 programme at all. We could have kept her at Mountbatten until she was 6 and we wished we had, but as we had already prepared her (psychologically)for a big school it wasn't an option to return.
She now attends Year 1 in an Australian School and is absolutely brimming each afternoon she returns home. The class sizes are small, the curriculum is extremely inquiry-based and child-centred and the parent input and support is most welcome.

[girlPower]

Thanks for that info. Have you heard much about Avondale? We are also considering the school but since it's fairly new not much is heard about it.
Is there any chance you can PM me with your contact info so I can ask some specific questions if it's not too much to ask(I'm too new to PM)? Appreciate all the help.

[RIP]

I too was thinking of Eton @ Broderick. What was it that you didnt like about it? Anyone know anything about Pat's?

[melodies]

I won't ever recommend EtonHouse to anybody based on my experience. My child was previously in EtonHouse and what had been 'marketed' by the school was not delivered. Their teacher's absentee is very high (often go on MCs), in addition to their 35 days of leave a year and another additional 1 week of school's self-declared closure days allowed by MCYS.

The school 'marketed' themselves to have a low students to teacher ratio but this was usually not fulfilled. The school also 'marketed' that they recruited native English-speaking techers to teach English to the kids, but I realized only very much later that this was not fulfilled as well. It was only much later that we heard from the other parents that they had individually talked to the EtonHouse's school director but this had been brushed off and the parents were told that the so-called native English teacher has not been promised by the school. Thereafter, the parents grouped together to talk to the director and further furnished proof that EtonHouse has 'advertised' (as in their brochures) that they had promised to engage native English-speaking teachers to teach English to the kids. It was after this that they agreed to fulfill what had been 'advertised' in their brochures.

Another frustrating issue is that they keep canceling school programs (due to absence of the teacher who is in-charge of the particular lessons). We frequently found the kids to be watching TV when we picked our child up and they were sitting so close to the TV! (and this is what I hated most!).

Since EtonHouse charge a 'premium' (HIGH) school fees, it is only expected that they deliver 'premium' quality. However, I would rate it as an average quality pre-school, and thus it is not worthwhile the 'premium' school fee for an average school's quality.

[Thaiclan]

I found a world of difference between Eton House Mountbatten Rd pre-school and Eton House Broadrick Rd Primary school. I couldn't fault the pre-school at all, yet Broadrick Rd failed miserably. I don't understand how/why this could be under the same management/philospohy etc.??

[splat]

Melodies - I don't think you experience is with the International School at Broadrick. Are you talking about a pre-school some-where else?

My kids were at EH Broadrick and the class sizes have always been small and teachers were from Australia/UK - my kids loved it there.

If you want to live out East there are several school to choose from. EH Canadian School, Chatsworth and One World which is more upper east coast.
I have just enrolled the kids in One World - the grounds and classrooms also look really nice and its very close to my house

If you don't want your kids to have a long commute you should live as close to the school as possible. A 20 minute trip can easily turn into a 40 minute trip when you have to stop at every condo along the way!

[melodies]

My kid is in EtonHouse (not appropriate for me to identify exactly). Anyway, all the EtonHouse branches and including the International School are under the same ownership and top management. In fact, the difficulties we had with the school's director had been brought to their top management's attention but there was no satisfactory outcome. May be the ratio had been maintained for several months because it just happened that they cannot find so many kids to fill up, and then the ratio would be bursted again without us knowing. This has happened several times and each time when we found out and complained, they will give some excuses (such as some kids will be leaving in a few months later, or they anticipate some kids to leave soon... (what lame excuse is that?)). :mad:

[HLSF]

I too am looking for a good IB or English school for my 5yr old kid and will be visiting a bunch of the schools in a few weeks time. Would love to have you guys views on what to look out for such as things like:

School atmosphere and characters

Facilities and quality (playground, sports hall, swimming pool, etc.)

Classrooms, equipment, cleanliness

Staff friendliness and qualifications, level of English

Kid's behaviour and manners

Curriculum - IB, etc. and standard

Daily time table, how much study time, play time, snack time, etc.

After school afternoon activities

School meals

Strategy for nut anf food allergies

School bus

[splat]

well the best thing is to find out which schools don't have a wait list and go from there! Also decide where you would like to live. There are lots of good schools here - too many to comment on.