St Mary MacKillop College

"Pretty cool school with nice facilities, just too many strict teachers compared to other schools although it is a private school."

"The schooling journey at MacKillop for me was absolutely magical, met so many lifelong friends and gave me a push into my dream course for UNI in the business industry. The resources you get here are useful and helpful for any student."

"My sons both HATED this school. DO NOT ASSUME because you are paying private fees you are getting anything 'more' at this school than you would in the public school system. Aside from the uniform, he only thing we got 'more' of at this school was a heavy dose of Catholic bigotry and hypocrisy, with zero Christian care from teachers who revelled in being on a power trip - detentions issued for petty infringements, rigid, strict, patronising. 'Do as I say' culture - "Yes, Sir/Ms". No-one noticed or cared that my sons' grades plummeted as they hated this school for its hypocrisy. My son couldn't do music as an ongoing elective because it 'clashed' on the roster with language. School couldn't care less - 'Take it or leave it' attitude. Well, we left and guess what? My sons both transferred to public system (Tuggeranong college) for years 11 & 12 where they found MORE subject choice, MORE support, MORE caring and better resourcing (registered psychologists, well-being officer, tutors, all the same opportunities PLUS more in public ed.) than we ever did at Mackillop. I tried sharing feedback of -ve experiences with SMMC - not interested. They say it is their 'culture'. Asked principal why resourcing was better in public school than private despite fees we pay - no answer. Asked why if teacher/student ratio is lower my son's decline went un-responded to - no answer. SMMC is self-inflated and hollow, convinced they are righteous even in the face of evidence to the contrary. If your child is unquestioning of authority even when that authority is wrong and if your child has a high tolerance for dogma, hypocrisy, unreasonable rules, teachers who are uncaring, distant and disengaged, long masses, studying Catholic scripture and donning a uniform right through to year 12 then they may do well at this school and even be happy. BUT - if your child expects a school to practice what it preaches, to give support, to genuinely care, to have more curricular choice, to treat students respectfully as autonomous intelligent beings (not just think what the school tells them to think) and to care about them and interact with them as individuals (not obedient puppets) then this school is not for them - they are likely to be unhappy and at risk of becoming disengaged and not reaching their potential. We had to go to a public school to find teachers who were not on a power trip but who were genuinely engaged with students, working collaboratively with them to achieve student goals, where teachers were on a first name basis, where teachers respected students as intelligent individuals with the right to express themselves, where there was true professionalism along with greater subject choice that was all missing at Mackillop. Do your research what schools REALLY offer/ is best for your child and DO NOT ASSUME private is better - it wasn't at this school, Tuggeranong college outstripped SMMC by miles. SMMC is out of touch with the real world, living in a bubble that will one day pop. It is NOT a school for everybody and it will NOT cater for everybody, only for those who fit into its own agenda and who can tolerate its narrow-mindedness and holier than thou attitude."

"Good school that provides heaps of opportunity for students and prioritises students learning and wellbeing. Teachers were able to help me with my assessment load when I had a lot going on in sport and life outside of school. Very good experiences"

"Not a bad oval"