St John's College

In the beginning the school started off the same as any other schools with regular rules such as no excess jewelry and if you were caught with it you would be told to take it off. Now the school has gone as far to give the students a lunch time detention without warning for even wearing socks that don't have the school logo on it even if they are plain white with no other logo. this new system is affecting peoples time to study and socialize with their friends which they claim is important. I understand rules for the school to keep a reputation, but it has reached a point of unreasonableness, and it is ruining relationships and respect between teachers and students. it is clear that the school is more focused on its outside view rather than student mental health and education. Very unrealistic!!

This school is outdated and seems to care more about outside appearance rather than the quality of their education. Unnecessary uniform requirements between teachers and students causes arguments and tension. It should really not be an issue to have a few extra earrings or one necklace. Not to mention, the new disciplinary system is out of hand. Being late a minute or wearing the sports uniform instead of formal results in detentions, where probably about 100 kids a day (total of both breaks) are having to attend, which is every 1 in 10 students. If anything, these unnecessary detentions interrupt student’s time to study, especially those in older grades who need the breaks or afternoons to study for important subjects. These unnecessarily strict rules actually can affect students learning, which should be at the core of a school, not the outside appearance of the school. This school can try to boast as much as it likes that we are a formal and well put-together school, but dropping grades from students every year show that this school is going downhill. Instead of upgrading facilities, this school chooses to spend its money on a stage and plants. Thousands of dollars were raised last year, with promises of better facilities and a basketball court with a wooden floor, and all we got was a stage, GLASS windows in a basketball court, some fans when they promised aircon, and plants on the outside. Burnside State School currently is building a whole new hall, and just looking at the outside you can see it has better facilities than this school that boasts it is better than a state school. Instead of focusing on punishing students for minuscule issues, this school should really be focusing on their quality of education, as it needs an upgrade. If you are considering sending your child to this school, I urge you to consider other options. This school is too expensive for something that you can get in a state school, and there are plenty of other better Catholic school options.

The whole uniform policy peircings, hair colours, socks and jewellery is focused on way too much, and create unnecessary friction between students and the school/school staff. The principle and other high up staff are out of touch with their students, and are more focused on the outside appearance of the school rather than education. They shut down students that try to speak their mind about them, and the staff 100% show favouritism towards certain groups of students (probably because half of their parents work at the school). Completely focused on the wrong issues but are either oblivious or in denial. They have some good qualities but still have a lot to work on, pretty mediocre school.