MK
The 2 schools mentioned are parochial schools. They can be good and can be ordinary. Catholic schools in Australia belong to one of 2 clbuttes. Order owned schools - Iona and others; which are owned by largely autonomous Catholic Religious Orders (most are 'Pontifical Congregations', responsible direct to Rome, but subject to some diocesan direction). The rest are CEO schools (controlled and owned by the Diocese - in this case the Archdiocese of Brisbane) and conducted by the Catholic Education Office for the Diocese. The detail is boring and probably not of interest to you - but the outcomes can be significantly different. Many non-Catholics (and I suppose most non-Australians) do not understand the complex hybrid organisation of schooling in Australia. State Schools, and only State Schools, are totally Government funded. Private Schools are subsidised on a sliding scale, but are also funded by parent fees. Understand that all Catholic Schools in Australia (certainly Qld) are 'approved' - so they meet required standards. Understand also that CEO schools charge lower fees than 'Order Owned' schools. I have been (and I hesitate to record my work history, because it reveals my idenbreasty - not something I ever do on Usenet normally - your questions are so obviously sincere.........). I have been a District Inspector of Schools in the State Dept of Education - and subsequently became a Principal in an Order Owned (Christian Brothers) boys primary school - and since there's only one in Brisbane..... My personal belief is that Order Owned schools are uniformly of higher standard than CEO schools. Some Order Owned schools are superb - by any standard. CEO schools are often good, but sometimes very ordinary - in fact of lower standard than State Schools. I don't know the current standard of either school you've mentioned - they well may be excellent. I do know Iona is an excellent school.
All my previous advice stands! Your choice of Secondary School is far, far more crucial, than your choice of Primary School!
Good Luck!
