Parents camp out to enrol kids in top schools

Parents have queued outside some of the state’s top public schools for more than 24 hours for a chance to enrol their children out of catchment.

Parents have queued outside some of the state’s top public schools for more than 24 hours for a chance to enrol their children out of catchment for 2023.

Among those waiting for the 8am enrolments at Sherwood State Primary School today was Ashneet Kaur.

Parents queue to enrol at Sherwood State School.

She said she was first in line to enrol at the school on Oxley Rd.

“We have been out here with everything we needed for 24 hours. I have been taking shifts with my husband,” she said.

Ashneet Kaur took shifts with her husband for 24 hours.

Mrs Kaur said they had considered other schools but Sherwood had a good rating and was recommended by friends.

“The school has good ratings and scores as well as my friend said it’s a great school. I have considered other options but this is our first choice,” she said.

Some parents who were enrolled in local kindergartens were trying to keep their kids with friends and familiar faces.

A local mother said her son went to daycare across the road from Sherwood State School and she wanted to keep him with his friends.

“Most of his friends are going to this school and I want to make the adjustment as easy as possible. I also have another child enrolled in a daycare near the school, so it will just make things easier,” she said.

Sherwood State School was prepared for the demand, with a sign marking where parents should line up.

Narelle Ballard is a resident in the area who saw a number of people lining up outside the school.

She commented on the competitiveness of the placements as parents line up every year.

“I’m a resident on Oxley Rd and every year we see parents start their quest to be one of the lucky few who achieve an out of catchment placement for their child,” Ms Ballard said.

“They arrive with their chairs and sleeping bags, swapping out as need be.

“The annual positions available vary so it really is first in best dressed.”

A few kilometres down the road, eager parents had camped outside Graceville State School since Sunday for a chance to enrol their children out of catchment.

A Graceville State School employee said the school had good scores and that the staff were committed to children’s education.

“This is a really good school community where the staff are committed to learning and the scores show that,” she said.

Parents were also waiting for long periods of time outside Graceville State School.

A parent who currently has a child at Graceville State School said the school pushes hard academically and is a good pathway into some of the elite private schools in the state.

“They really push ... for kids to succeed here. It is also a good school to go to if you want to get into private schools later, like Somerville House or Boys Grammar,” she said.

Graceville State School currently has around 700 students.