The Friends' School, North Hobart School Reviews

The Friends' School, North Hobart

School Reviews

By Parent - 25 Aug 2023, Rate: bad

hello, my daughter currently attend the friends school, she has unfortunetly turned emo since startiung at the friends school. I am incredably disabpointed that the school has not spanked the sense into her. thanks, mrs johnston

By Student - 25 Jun 2023, Rate: excellent

I’m currently at this school as a student. Right now, the school is my favourite place to be. I rarely see any bullying around and any I do see gets sorted out straight away. One of the best things about the school is the uniform. There are few rules about wearing the uniform and it use to be that you would have to change into PE for those classes only but now we are allowed to just come to school in that gear. Everything is so chill, and everyone is included and valued. This year especially we have focused on making sure everyone feels good to be whoever they want to be. Having pride days, or pride themed bake sales, or just overall learning about lgbtqia community during gathering has really helped the whole school just chill out. Academically, the co-curricular opportunities seem endless, extension classes and modified classes are also options. It’s really great.

By Employee - 06 Dec 2022, Rate: average

Some good some awful teachers. Educated, fee paying parents should probably scrutinise some of the appointments to leadership in the school. A school like TFS should not be promoting internals to leadership positions - good schools renew and rejuvenate their staff by looking beyond. What's more appointing ex-military personnel to leadership roles makes a mockery of most of what the Quaker Association stands. If you are considering a senior position in this school - do your research.

By Student - 29 Nov 2022, Rate: bad

Maybe Friends has changed,
but my experience at this school was poor during the 90's. I myself was excluded as I didnt live in Sandy Bay (I lived on the eastern shore) and my Parents were not the clique "elite". I actively remember anyone who lived north of north hobart was actively chastised for being a bogan. The "image" of the school that some staff and teachers were so desperately tried to protect turned out to be false. In my years there, a female teacher actively came onto some male students during class, and of course there was a case of Male teacher getting a "bit to close" to one of the female students. Quaker values in assembly, but in the play ground money and status rules. Whole place is complete an utter bollocks.

By Student - 30 Oct 2021, Rate: bad

If you are a girl or if you are part of the lgbtq+ community you never get in any trouble. If you are a straight boy you get in a ridiculous amount of trouble for a tiny offence

By Student - 30 Oct 2021, Rate: bad

The teachers do nothing about bullying and they themselves bully and socially isolate students. The heads of high school complain that I tell them what they want to hear but they do exactly the same when my parents have asked for help when I’ve been bullied by teachers and students alike. If you are bad at maths or English you are disrespected by all the staff and they don’t value you as a person

By Student - 06 Jun 2020, Rate: bad

The most disgusting experience I have ever had in my entire life. I am a former student of this hellhole. Having been at friends from years 7-10 I experienced nothing but deliberate social isolation and bullying from teachers. If you’re not good at math or science forget about being treated with respect. The Friends School is a place that breeds and encourages sociopathic behaviour, in year 10 I was sick for a week and the next week when I got back to school, people looked at me differently. I had found out from another student that somebody had started a disgusting untrue rumour about me and to this day, I still receive messages from these spineless, weak pathetic people who use fake accounts. I have brought my lawyer in to this and have made contact with the police. The people that come from this place are some of the most egotistical, disgustingly vile people you will ever come across. I have travelled and met many different people since last being at this hellhole and I can say all of this with complete confidence. Please for your own sanity and mental wellbeing, DO NOT consider sending your child to this disgusting place.

By Student - 21 Mar 2016, Rate: excellent

The calming nature of the teachers and the quaker values have played a significant role in who I am today. Although having ups and downs with the school, I can not imagine going to a school with different beliefs and values. The school provides it students with wonderful opportunities to get involved both in school and with the wider community.
No school can consider themselves a 'bully free' school, although bullying does occasionally happen I have never witnessed anyone being bullied based on the economic status of their parents, in fact, students rarely discuss their families financial matters - it is often the students who come from less 'wealthy' backgrounds who make a big deal over what peoples parents do/how much money they make.

By Employee - 21 Feb 2016, Rate: bad

Nasty place to work

By Parent - 28 Dec 2015, Rate: poor

My daughter used to go to friends until I had to pull her out, we aren't a wealthy family and she got in by a scholarship, this lead to her being mist treated and left out of groups. I told her to tell a teacher and the teacher did nothing about it.
I was appalled and took her out of there immediately, she didn't do to good academically when she was at friends so they gave her a tutor while she was there, apparently the tutor forced to much pressure on her to do well, overall no amount of money can stop the fact that you have some stuck up pupils and teachers

By Parent - 26 Jun 2015, Rate: excellent

I was a parent of the School until we moved to Perth for work and we miss the School terribly. We had 4 children in the School over 5 years and we did not experience any negative events with our children. The staff were wonderful and the Quaker culture makes it a very warming and accepting place for everyone.

By Alumnus - 07 Nov 2013, Rate: excellent

Hi there above commenter! I am so sorry to hear about your experience at Friends'. I am also 33, so would have been at school with you. Although I was not bullied, I remember noticing that others were, and looking back I wish I had had the guts to stand up for you.
I am so pleased that you have achieved in your life and I hope that you can let go of the painful memories.

By Alumnus - 18 Apr 2013, Rate: average

I attended Friends' school from grade 5 to 12. As the child of a poor family I was excluded socially the entire time. I was also bullied on a regular basis and saw other kids who were a little different treated the same way. Teachers usually looked the other way. Once a teacher teased me in a cruel way about my weight and eating habits in front of the class. They all burst into laughter and I ran to the toilet to have a panic attack and cried my eyes out.

In spite of all this I did we'll academically.

My advise for parents contemplating sending their child to a private school is to think twice about friends, especially if you're not wealthy or if your child is a little different in any way (it's likely to inspire bullying). Although I am pleased with the academic success I had there, the bullying still haunts me and I'm now 33 and I'm sure there are others who feel the same but won't speak out.