Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts

Honestly, it's fun to say you hate your school as a teen, and I definitely have my issues, but WHSPA is not as bad a school as we students like to make out. Most complaints we make are really complaints that should be directed towards NESA or the Government to be completely honest.

My one true complaint is that too much emphasis is put on performing arts while also still having a local catchment, it should be one or the other imo. For example, my maths class was once berated for wanting to leave for a period during a music showcase rehearsal to take an exam IN YEAR 11. We had about a month's warning for the maths exam and a couple days' warning for the all day music showcase rehearsal. The other small issue is in the kids vaping in the bathrooms, but I get the feeling that is not just a WHSPA issue.

In my (mostly STEM biased) experience, however, the school takes a lot of care in finding kind teachers who love teaching their subjects. Especially the science faculty, there's not a single teacher there who I don't love. The attention put towards mental health and support services is amazing, too. I've never used them so I can't speak for their efficacy, but the fact the school leadership places such emphasis on them is terrific. The student culture in my cohort is also pretty wonderful. In junior years, groups were a little bit seperate but since we've all grown up a bit that's mostly dissapeared to create an amazing support network. I've never been afraid of being involved in, or even seeing a fight. In my time here there's been two serious physical fights, both of which were dealt with quickly and effectively.

If you're thinking of sending your kid here, I would absolutely reccomend it. They're not going to get a world class private school-esque education, but it'll be leagues better than some other schools in the Illawarra.

Poorly funded and organised, disrespectful staff& deputies. Overpriced canteen food. Overpopulated. Unorganised day structure.

Music performing arts system is pretty rough, but the majority of teachers are really nice :)
Shoutout to the art and maths teachers for being the coolest people ever! Watch out for screaming year 7s in the covered areas, the echo is like no other