Oxley Christian College, Chirnside Park School Reviews

Oxley Christian College, Chirnside Park

School Reviews

By Employee - 22 Mar 2024, Rate: excellent

To all the folk who rate Oxley so poorly. It's so easy to dump your truths online without any fear of them being challenged.
To the readers of their vitriol, I suggest that you attend Oxley's annual performing arts events that play to the acclaim of full houses, attend the annual presentation evenings that celebrate student talents and achievements, attend the College Open Days and see the student ambassadors serving the community with joy and enthusiasm, speak to the specialist staff who spend hours of care in developing individual learning plans and wellbeing programs, speak to the College senior school leaders who celebrate student VCE achievements ranking the College in the top 55 schools, hear the students speak of the fantastic experiences of going on camps, join the college tours that showcase magnificent modern facilities and technologies, hear the students rave about sports carnivals and their appreciation of Oxley being a safe place.
Teachers are not ashamed of setting high standards of student behaviour that are expected of students as they are nurtured into mature, competent and young adults of good character. We are not ashamed of the Christian values of truth, goodness and beauty in education, and the delightful expressions of these values through student's work and chapel events.
To the folk who are critical of Christian values and generosity, of achieving your personal best in an affordable and yet premium educational experience, then perhaps you are better off in a less ideal setting. But that doesn't justify endless historical resentments, untested claims, a seeming lack of lack of self awareness and an obvious bias against the traditional civic expressions of the Christian faith that our Western society is also built on.

By Parent - 12 May 2023, Rate: bad

The school gives absolutely no freedom, your child's creative ability will drastically reduce at this school as creativity is punishable, the detention rates are higher than the egos of those running this horrendous place. I calls itself a religious school but what it should say is cult, if you're not Christian and neither are your kids DO NOT bring them here, they'll be bullied by students, teachers, and staff alike. The females that are unfortunate enough to end up here are undervalued and treated as objects, all the teachers are sexist and the uniform is horribly unfair, the girls don't have the same choices the boys have and everyday of school makes you suicidal. If you care about your kids, don't pick Oxley.

By Student - 12 Aug 2022, Rate: poor

As someone who has gone to this school, I recommend that you don't go. Christian values are pushed on students and homework is excessive. The older teachers bully students, using old-fashioned teaching methods and rather than helping students grow, you are expected to fit into a mould. Sport is very focused on and if you are not into it you're told to suck it up. The girl's uniform is terrible - not letting them wear pants, even though by now most christian schools have that as a basic part of the uniform. overall, I rate my experience here as a 4/10

By Alumnus - 21 Jan 2022, Rate: bad

I went to this school for 10 years and I absolutely hated it. Teachers cared more about Christianity and bible studies more than teaching us basic knowledge or even funding enough money to hire decent teachers. The teachers do not care about you if you are not a Christian or if you are different from the remaining students. If you get bullied, then no one will do anything, and you have to just play along and try not to get hurt.
I had to move schools just because of how incompetent the teachers are, the same rules don't apply to everyone. Even though I moved school because of the ill treatment I received from the teachers, I was still expected to pay for a full term, even though I was not attending the school.
If you want your child to be happy and cheerful, I would suggest sending them to another school, where they won't be bullied and teachers will consider everyone as the same, unlike Oxley.

By Student - 23 Jul 2021, Rate: good

the school is pretty good but some teachers seem like they haven't been educated properly... otherwise, the teachers are about as helpful as teachers can get (not very, but not bad) but they seem to care more about students' grades and results than checking on their mental state? and some teachers seem to have favourite students. i don't understand this because most students are very nice and do try their hardest. one thing is there are so many rules, especially regarding uniform... yet the teachers never seem to check? i guess rules really are made to be broken
homework: not bad, but less would be appreciated
i think something the school could work on is focusing more on the student rather than what the student is doing, i think that would really help improve work efficiency and understanding things for us
but overall, it's a good school

By Alumnus - 06 Jun 2021, Rate: poor

Cons: Oxley puts their reputation as a good quality Christian school first then its actual teaching and student wellbeing. Many teachers aren't educated enough in the areas they are teaching so many students are very behind average and many require tutoring outside of school. the school also favors students who are gifted in only maths other subjects do not matter and forget the students who struggle. Additionally, they give students way too many assignments which are not explained properly and they do not have any system installed which allow feedback from students about their learning for the teachers ( this has become an inside joke as relating to the high amount of assignments) - there is definitely more assignments then classwork ( most class times are focused on practicing and explaining an assignment which students hardly understands. Another important issue is they put Christian teachings first than anything - they have more Christian studies classes than their electives and some core subjects such as math and English. Lastly, they brainwash their students into thinking they are better than everyone and any other schools which resulted in many scandals.
Pros: They provide students with many useless gifts throughout the year, the toilets are very welled cleaned, microwaves are free to use during lunch (only in senior school)
- Tip: If you are not gifted in maths or know how to gain a high status you are very likely to get bullied by students and completely ignored by teachers.

By Alumnus - 09 Feb 2021, Rate: bad

Oxly Christian College is very much a one size fits all system. If you're gifted, you aren't allowed to get ahead at all, and any questions are ignored. I went to this school for many years and was bullied by both teachers and students. I learn't nearly nothing as teachers didn't take the time to help me when I didn't understand something, and I even got in trouble for asking basic questions when the teacher didn't explain it properly.

By Parent - 19 Sep 2020, Rate: bad

This school is terrible. They treat girls as second class humans. The Christian teachings are way over the top. I pulled my two children out of the school and placed them at Yarra Valley. The change has been incredible. Don’t send your children to Oxley.

By Alumnus - 12 Aug 2020, Rate: bad

Terrible school. Over the top Christian Ethos. Only interested in making money and brain washing the students. Don't send your children to this school it is terrible. Sexist, females are treated as inferior objects.

By Student - 23 Jun 2020, Rate: good

This school is great!The religious systems are NOT over the top and teachers DON'T bully students (never seen it happen at least).
The school is nice and big. The only thing I would change is that some of the students aren't controlled enough and are developing bad language and morals.
Over all, I love this school!!!

By Parent - 27 Mar 2020, Rate: bad

My child works very hard to try to get good academic results. However, the teacher is very bad and unfair at grading. Some teachers give whatever marks they like. This is very unfair for students. I definitely do not recommend this school to anyone. If your child is not in year 12, pull them out immediately.

By Student - 22 Mar 2020, Rate: excellent

This school is incredible! I recieve an amiIng and thorough education. there are amazing, smart, kind and funny kids, and i had no trouble fiding kind and christian friends. there are chpels run every week by our student leaders, with devotions and worship that relate to our agegroup. there is a massive range of clubs ranging from boards game club to creative writing club. also there are christian groups like Empower which i arrend every week and over 20 different music groups. teachers are firm but kind and provide the perfect education for strong and week kids. i would highly recomend this school to anyone and everyone!. Love you Oxley!

By Alumnus - 23 Jan 2020, Rate: excellent

As a past Oxley student, I am forever grateful for my time at the school. The supportive culture created an environment in which I could learn and thrive, not just academically, but holistically. Oxley helped develop within me, a growth mind-set & a solid work ethic, which placed me in good to stead to tackle the challenges of the ‘real world’. The staff at Oxley were extremely dedicated & cared about me as a person as well as a student. I highly recommend this school!

By Parent - 23 Jan 2020, Rate: excellent

Our children have attended Oxley Christian College for a number of years and they are very happy. We love the high standards of behaviour that are expected, as this encourages our children to be the best version of themselves, to be respectful and considerate of others, and to be self disciplined. We find the Christian education they receive to be valuable. Our children are all very different with strengths in different areas, but we find that the staff value each child for their individual gifts and encourage them accordingly. Although we know this school will not be the right fit for everyone, we highly recommend it to families who are wanting a Christian education and high standards of behaviour for their children.

By Parent - 06 Dec 2019, Rate: excellent

Oxley has provided my child with a safe learning environment, and my child has excelled both socially and academically under the school’s care. The school does have high standards though, which may seem a bit over the top if you are the sort of family that does not really care about behaviour, homework or dressing. If you are keen for your child to learn, the structured and safe learning environment will help your child, without the distractions that they may face in other schools where discipline is an issue. The college also has a very strong music program, and students have lots of opportunities to grow musically. The parents who complain are generally those who do not want to follow up with homework completion or behaviour. At the end of it all, a child’s education is a partnership between family and school. If you are the type of family that lets your kids have a free run in behaviour and do what they like at home, this is not the school for you. Most of the parents i know love the school, and their children have excelled under the school’s care.

By Alumnus - 30 Nov 2019, Rate: poor

I find it quite concerning that the feelings and experiences I had at Oxley, some 20 plus years ago, still seem to exist even today among students and parents alike. It's about time the people running the school had a good hard look at themselves and try to undetstand that one size does not fit all. I did however learn a few things from their teachings, namely how not to behave if I want others to respect me, whilst also witnessing a brilliant practical demonstration of the meaning of hypocrisy! I did however manage to escape relatively unscathed, except perhaps for a healthy dose of skepticism, which I'm actually quite ok with.
Take what you will from this review, it's merely an opinion from an ex-student but be warned, the culture appears to have remained unchanged for the past 40 years.

By Alumnus - 31 Jul 2019, Rate: bad

I attended this school for 11 years. I was great at sport so I was popular with the school. My academia at school suffered terribly. I left the school thinking I was not smart and not a good student . It took me 4/5 years after leaving the school to realise that I was a good student and that the school did a very poor job of educating me. I’m hold a masters degree and reasonably successful. Sally Broadley brought the school into terrible disrepute. Sally made sure that students that were not fitting the school image would leave. I was at the school when Mr Oxley was still present. What an incredible man of vision he was. David ODD and Jack DEMPSEY were forced out by Sally. Terrible School, terrible over the top Christian education. Send your kids to MECC or Mt Lilydale. Oxley should be avoided at all costs.

By Parent - 08 Mar 2019, Rate: bad

Removing my kids from this school was the best thing I ever did and since then many of their friends have also left. Do not consider this school, look elsewhere, the current principal and the head of the LMC are cowards who only care about their own reputations. Do not send your children to this school.

By Parent - 28 Feb 2019, Rate: excellent

Excellent school, teachers really care about students and help them to learn and achieve their best

By Student - 27 Nov 2018, Rate: bad

Suffered relentless teasing and bullying from students and teachers, the worst being Mrs Joyce Simpson who routinely assaulted 5 to 6-year-old children, including me, with the strap. And this was 1991, when corporal punishment was well and truly outlawed in public schools!
I had some learning difficulties which I can now attribute as a direct result of my treatment at the school, but the acknowledgement of these difficulties only caused them to treat me worse and worse.
I can also say the way they aim to force their toxic religious beliefs on students, including homophobia, is truly chilling. They call themselves a Christian school, yet they operate more like a cult.

By Parent - 19 Nov 2018, Rate: excellent

I am a parent but I could not adjust the excellent to child abuse.
I had four beautiful boys attend. One was abused by Authority for being popular. Once students realised, they too contributed. He is on the flip side now but at 2 weeks 14, he received NO support from Head of School board, Head of School Council, Head of Elders, Head of LMC, Head is Early Learning centre, Head of the Tail.
Ha, I look back and cringe how I sent my sons of to be slaughtered. This is not a Christian environment as they teach under Law. They rely on their own Judgement and that was cruelly inflicted- proof I have in documents and emails. Oxley College has an unhealthy balance of success with past students (some inscestuously related as was worded by teachers themselves) and torturous failings inflicted at the hands and mouths of Authority at this school.

By Parent - 26 Oct 2018, Rate: bad

Be warned that Oxley Christian College since Mr David Odd left the school has tuned into a hard lined business and not the Christian ethics that it should have. My Daughter ended her school year at Oxley and went on to Mount Evelyn CC due to the program at Oxley not suitable for her in year 11. We gave the proper notice period. Only to be told we did not provide sufficient notice and as such the whole term for 2018 was due and payable. We advised that we had provided sufficient notice period and that the 1st term subjects did not suit her vision for the future. Oxley insisted that we pay the 1st term full payment and now we are going to court to resolve. I am absolutely certain that Hal Oxley had a different vision for the Schools ethics. Further more for more than 6 years I was the cricket coach for the school as a volunteer, I did not expect to obtain any discounts from school fees not did I expect to be paid, however I feel the schools new management may be lacking in good christian ethos and standards. Be warned please future parents!! You may contact me for additional information on 0498 000 804

By Parent - 18 May 2017, Rate: poor

This school is run by the LMC ( church) and the directors do not care about the students at all. Unless you agree with their warped version of Christianity you will never feel accepted at this school. The teaching staff are generally good but are controlled by the directors and staff are too scared to speak out against them. They do not follow correct procedure or acknowledge complaints as they think they are above everybody else. I have had 2 children attend this school and I would not recommend it.

By Parent - 01 Nov 2016, Rate: bad

Terrible primary school. Too much pressure placed on young kids. Chanting and rote learning used rather than encouraging problem solving and learning through experience. Spoon feeding information. School is aimed at supporting kids showing leadership. Other children who may be quiet achievers are never given the Chance to spread there wings or given opportunities to enrich there confidence. Instead they just float through while the selected few confident leaders are put on a pedestal.

By Student - 05 Sep 2016, Rate: bad

This School is absolute joke. One teacher called me 'dyslexic,' which I found insulting and damaging to my self-esteem.
The idea of Christianity is crammed into our heads to an extent where it turns people away from school work.
Not only was my virtues and character values violated but my privacy was also invaded by teachers. My phone was looked through thoroughly, I was very stressed.

By Student - 09 Jun 2016, Rate: excellent

The bullying is mostly done by teachers, the students are just as horrible though. Deprive kids of childhood and break their spirits, don't send your child here they will have mental issues when their older

By Parent - 18 Feb 2016, Rate: bad

Huge bullying culture with very little done to prevent/correct it. Poor management and leadership. Had an exceptionally bad experience and would not recommend it to anyone.

By Parent - 11 Feb 2016, Rate: poor

The primary school does not care about "the whole child" only about academics. If you have a shy or reserved child they will not act to encourage positive friendships. The child is left to struggle

By Parent - 05 Feb 2016, Rate: bad

This school is the most unchristian school that claims to be Christian. I pulled my son out of primary school at the end of grade one. We are Christian but not regular church goers and as a result he was ostracised by the majority of the year level. He developed social anxiety because of it and when approaching the teacher to help buddy him up to find friends nothing was done. He is a well behaved smart child and they used him by sitting him next to naughty kids all year causing him to not work well. They refused to sit him next to someone he could possibly form a friendship with. We have changed schools now and my son is a changed little boy with heaps of friends and is happy. They need to incorporate Christian values in how they act not just how often they go to church. Unless you are super Christian or super smart they will over look you. Any child who has family involved in the school or church is favoured. Do not go there and put your child through it, much better Christian schools in the area.

By Student - 29 Nov 2015, Rate: good

This school helps to achieve high levels of academic results, over my time at this school I have recognised complaints of the amount of homework or the standards but these complaints come from people who do not even attempt to achieve at highschool, many of these students are lazy and don't want to do well and take attempts of teachers to help improve their results as personal attacks. I will admit to witnessing levels of rudeness from teachers toward students with overseas backgrounds. The school and teaching staff are very committed to seeing students do well and achieve to the highest standard that the student is capable of achieving. The christianity of the school can begin to feel forced at times, also I have been offended at some expectations of myself as a person rather than a student, these comments are coming from a student who is a committed christian. Over my time I have noticed that certain types of teachers show much favoritism towards a certain type of student who could be recognised as a "perfect Oxley Student," fitting to their morals and life guide lines. Although this school can at times attempt to force a certain lifestyle upon students, which can become frustrating and distracting at times, this school has many brilliant programs that I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in, music programs are fun, beneficial and a good community to be apart of whilst many school activities help students to discover who they are and how they will live their life even if it contrasts to the morals of the school. Many of the teachers at this school are very encouraging and caring and have helped me achieve a high level of academic results and have also affected the way that I live my life. Good school for students who are committed to academic studies and want a community that they can operate in to their greatest capacity without being suppressed in many cases but not all, lets not forget that this is a high school full of teenagers who will be teenagers no matter what you do or force upon them.

By Parent - 29 Oct 2015, Rate: bad

I hate the school and what it represents. My child and their friends have also been verbally abused by the teachers. The teachers are bullies!! Plus the school does nothing to investigate complaints and thus protects these nasty individuals who abuse their privileged position of trust and authority. I agree with all of the negative comments and can't put it any better the the mother who said "what you see on the outside isn't what you get on the inside". It's true that any personality is quickly suppressed and that you aren't "oxley material" unless you are "super academic" or super "Christian". Oxley was a terrible decision for us as well. Let's continue to expose them for what they really are!

By Parent - 26 Oct 2015, Rate: bad

Teachers constantly verbally abuse children ,this is not a school any parent who values their child should send it to,they want to crush any personality out of them

By Student - 04 Aug 2015, Rate: excellent

Very good feeling of community among very body

By Parent - 23 Jul 2015, Rate: poor

Some teachers bullying students who has overseas background made us feel sick.

By Parent - 23 Jul 2015, Rate: excellent

Some teachers bullying students who has overseas background made us feel sick.

By Student - 31 Dec 2014, Rate: excellent

I love oxley and have been there for nine years and am so sad to be leaving. ~ ~Chatoya Stivactas 2014

By Parent - 15 Feb 2014, Rate: poor

We removed our children from oxley at year end 2013 after five years as we could not put our children through the pain any longer. This school is obsessed with acedemia and your children are not 'oxley material' unless they are excelling. Rather than receiving extra assistance, I believe students unlikely to reach the highest achievement levels are 'encouraged out' at the year 10 level to protect the schools student success rate.
Students with any personality are quickly surpressed, and all students must fall in line with the at times ridiculously strict and outdated school rules and overly religious rituals. Oxley was a terrible decision for our children that we hope won't effect them longterm. Be very careful, what you see from the outside is very different to what you get on the inside.

By Parent - 02 Aug 2013, Rate: poor

Bullying policy inconsistent and insufficient. Kid's homework is excessive.