Frensham School, Mittagong School Reviews

Frensham School, Mittagong

School Reviews

By Parent - 22 Apr 2023, Rate: excellent

This school has all but lost its values and I have observed the inappropriate behaviour from the girls in assembly and the classroom resulting in teachers despair. A totally unacceptable environment for "teaching and learning" which impacts the students who are there to learn but getting little education as a result.

By Alumnus - 09 Feb 2023, Rate: bad

I am an ex-student who had a dreadful time. I did very well academically up until year 12. Julie Gillick and Ros Buick were aware that I was beginning to experience mental health issues from mid-year 11 and that my single parent was struggling financially. I withdrew completely socially, stopped all extra-curricular activities, developed a visible eating disorder and begin failing subjects. I was aware that all my classmates knew this and had let staff know yet I was offered no real support, just fleeting remarks from teachers. It seemed the only concern at that point was for me to get decent marks in the HSC. Also, I think the Frensham Fellowship and network of Old Girls is elitist and out of touch and this is an unfortunate part of the school culture. Very snobby. Do students still call local boys from Mittagong bogans I wonder? Bit classist for 2023 so I hope not. As an aside, I always had a suspicion that some of the prefects each year were elected out of Neoptism. A girl in my year who became prefect was a nasty bully, it seemed more than coincidence that her father was on the board of directors! Also, I remember an Iris given to a somewhat mediocre recipient who's mother was retiring from the Fellowship Committee that year.

By Alumnus - 28 Dec 2022, Rate: bad

My time at Frensham was the worst period of my entire life. The bullies here were extreme, and the reason that my parents withdrew me from the school. The bullies were led by girls who felt dumped by their parents, so they were vicious. I still have written evidence which is shocking in it's intensity regarding the bullying which has left me with severe mental health issues. My parents have consulted a barrister in order to take action to prevent what happened to me , from ever happening to anyone else. This is not a one off issue. This school is notorious for bullying. Search on wayback machine to find evidence since deleted from dozens of other victims.

By Employee - 26 Oct 2022, Rate: bad

Don't send children here

By Student - 21 Jul 2022, Rate: good

It's interesting reading the other reviews as I feel mine sort of juxtaposes the others. I graduated from this school a few years ago and whilst I found it a very rigorous and challenging experience (I'm an introvert too so constant socialisation was extremely draining for me tbh), especially in Year 9's Jamison's programme, I found myself in university having experiences my other classmates had not experienced - it really is a all-rounded sort of education where music and sport are taken as seriously as academics. If I wasn't in this school I would have been complacent and wouldn't have tried the various things I did in the school (most of the things were compulsory but it still instilled a sense of confidence when participating in non-compulsory extracurriculars - the fact I initiated enrolling myself in those is surprising in itself). I would say the rules are stifling and extremely rigid here and there are a very narrow range of subjects to do - there were no legal studies class in my year for instance, but overall my experience here was positive as it forced myself to go outside my comfort zone, try out different things, learnt to embrace rules and discipline and developed some confidence and leadership skills which shy Year 7 me was lacking in. They also give you a guaranteed entry to university through teacher recommendation so that's great. I can only give a review of Frensham when Ms Gillick was here and so I have no clue how this new headmistress has handled the school these days but my overall experience was solidly positive.

By Alumnus - 17 Jun 2022, Rate: excellent

I boarded for six years at Frensham and loved every moment of the experience. My daughter is enrolled to attend Frensham and is looking forward to it. Education was amazing, teaching and staff were so supportive and yes while there was some bullying (as per all schools) this was dealt with quickly and effectively.
Never a problem, between the 'rich' and 'working class' everyone was treated as the same and as per current students I know whom attend the school, they have no complaints to speak of. I wold highly recommend Frensham.

By Parent - 20 Oct 2021, Rate: excellent

The new Headmistress is wonderful. Frensham outperformed some of the academically selective high schools in the 2020 HSC, which is a remarkable achievement. The school takes music, art and drama every bit as seriously as maths and science. There is rigour and depth to the academic offer across the board.

By Parent - 13 Sep 2021, Rate: excellent

I would never send my children to single sex schools, nor to private schools. But, then again I lived in Finland.

By Parent - 24 May 2021, Rate: excellent

Sad to hear so much bullying going on in Frensham . NOT acceptable! The over looking by staff of bullying is unacceptable full stop .

By Parent - 24 May 2021, Rate: excellent

After reading comments on the school by parents and students, I would certainly not send my child to this very disorganised school .

By Parent - 15 Jun 2019, Rate: excellent

Very strange environment. Odd head mistress she sees miserable teenage years as right of passage. Bullying allowed but god help us if a child wants to ring their mother each day -y this is a problem that needs looking into. Wish i never never heard of this school. She takes the child away from their family -locks the family out of decision making. If you go here you will never get your child back and you will look at her with horror thinking what has happened. Shame Julie shame

By Student - 02 Jun 2019, Rate: excellent

Terrible. I was bullied and was miserable each day. Headmistress never did a thing and took the attitude that there was nothing she could do. Same girls repeatedly bullied others and made their lives hell but nothing done. The bullied had to prove what had happened. I was tortured daily by the same girls. I was isolated. I was forced to have lunch with girls who were told not to talk to me, who would turn their backs and ignore me at every mea - breakfast lunch and dinner (you had allocated spots so you cant move. I was not alone - this happened to a lot of kids. My stuff was stolen and I was left to feel like nothing. No support from anyone. Teachers wont say a thing - they are fearful. Dont send a girl here - they will be damaged forever

By Parent - 02 Jun 2019, Rate: poor

Where do I start. Limited education. Girls who want to tan on the field all day every day and end up rebelling and making poor decisions due to limited educational options - ie not taught about their positive value so they think that appearance is their only currency. No contact with boys so girls go wild and have very poor attitudes about their place in the world. Poor very limited education. No discipline so kids discipline themselves through strange rituals and terrible bullying. Classrooms not controlled so hard to learn. Head mistress not up to date. Parents who donate buy their kids good references and special awards in the school. Specific rich families can do what they like whereas har working families run out if they complain about poor behaviour. General population dont understand education - new money or landed gentry, Some kids dumped in year 7 and left until year 12. poor kids. Not a healthy environment. Dysfunctional school, headmistress and some very troubling behaviour amongst parents and children attending the school.

By Alumnus - 01 Sep 2018, Rate: poor

I was bullied really really badly there.
Elitist attitudes from many parents & students.
Alot of unhappy girls who feel abandoned by parents.
Also alot of girls with emotional problems who gang together and go on to bully vulnerable teenagers.
I hated my time at Frensham and was an emotional wreck when I left.