Barker College, Hornsby School Reviews

Barker College, Hornsby

School Reviews

By Parent - 04 Apr 2023, Rate: bad

So Barker is in the news today for breaching the enrolments cap! All these comments about the school just becoming about bigger, bigger, bigger, they were on point weren't they! Will Philip Heath own up??

By Parent - 27 Mar 2023, Rate: bad

We recently decided to take our kids out of Barker at the end of this year. When we finally made the decision, it was a huge relief.
The Prep school is 90% asian kids and I suspect a high percentage of them go to tutors or coaching college. Why do year 1 kids need to be working at year 3 level?
The school is secretly happy with this as they will see a big improvement in the school Naplan scores.
There are too many issues to list here. We're just looking forward to getting our kids out of here in December.
Terrible school.

By Parent - 17 Feb 2023, Rate: poor

Philip Heath is an excellent salesman. He is selling places in this overhyped sausage machine. Quality of teaching is on the decline but the school has some very fancy facilities, great for school tours and impressing potential new clients (parents).

By Student - 31 Jan 2023, Rate: bad

I went to Barker in the 1970s. The bullying was such that I never recovered. The staff knew about it and did nothing. My parents complained and they were told it would be character building. My character was built to the point where I left school without matriculating (despite being rated as to 2% IQ) and spent years thinking about suicide and generally being a failure in all aspects of life.
My father spent thousands each semester to see his child educated, but instead saw me ruined, and the teachers did nothing to help. Not even on a single occasion.
I don't know if things have improved at Barker since then, but people should at least be aware of the toxic legacy culture of the school.

By Parent - 20 Nov 2022, Rate: poor

If your child is a high achiever, they will be fine at Barker. If they're not, they will most likely struggle along. The school is entirely focused on the high achievers, whether academically, musically or sporting. If your child is not in the top sport team, the coaching is terrible. The top junior year cricket teams are made up of kids who joined barker in the later intake years, not many kids who have been through barker prep make it to the top teams. The population growth in the upper north shore means that there is a shortage of private schools. If we could get a place elsewhere for our son, we would take him out of barker in an instant.

By Parent - 18 Oct 2022, Rate: poor

I see that the school is now applying to increase the number of students. The campus is smaller than Knox, Kings, PLC etc, but will soon have as many classes if not already. Driving / parking around the school in the mornings and afternoons is atrocious. Clearly the school is chasing $$. Where are all these extra kids going to spend their break times?? I could go on. So so disappointed with Barker.

By Parent - 19 Sep 2022, Rate: poor

Very strict on year 12 students. Although they need support throughout their time at school to be correctly disciplined, i found my son has been constantly picked on by a teacher by the name of John Doran. This man watches every security camera around the school every second of the day and screams at students with foul language.

By Student - 01 Sep 2022, Rate: excellent

i love barker sometimes were flooded with assessments and some teachers pick on students but overall its a great school i think it builds foundations that every kid needs to succeed in life
there is no drug problem at barker anymore.

By Parent - 16 Aug 2022, Rate: poor

Not a great school experience since moving from junior to middle school. More money seems to be spent on getting bigger with more buildings, rather than supporting kids who need extra help.
Access to phones during school is a real issue that needs addressing as well as the access to internet during school as most kids know how to circumvent the restrictions. Vapes have been available for children to buy at school from other students, very disappointed.

By Alumnus - 25 May 2022, Rate: excellent

The reviews here are giving you polar opposite sides of the story (who leaves a review if something is good, rather than excellent or terrible? Few people will go out of their way to do that. I went to Barker as a student and now work there. I loved it. I found it a nurturing place where each student’s passion can be found. I was not expected to be good at everything, and that was fine. Effort was rewarded. Yes it is a big school, but this prepares kids for the real world! It is a progressive school that maintains Christian values. Would send my kids there one day.

By Parent - 23 May 2022, Rate: average

honestly, i think hamburgers go well with fries

By Parent - 13 May 2022, Rate: poor

If I could get a place for my kids in another school, I would pull them out of Barker. The school is on the slide. Not happy and it seems a majority of parents are not happy. Barker is now all about the business.

By Parent - 11 Mar 2022, Rate: poor

Don't be fooled by the "sales pitch". The Barker Values, the new facilities - Rosewood Centre, new prep school, new Junior school classrooms. Yes, facilities are important, but quality of teaching and pastoral care is more important.
The focus of the school is on bigger and better facilities but they have taken their eye off the ball and the teaching and pastoral care is on the slide.
Do your research, it's not the school that the sales pitch will have you believe it is.

By Student - 05 Mar 2022, Rate: poor

My parents took my little brother out of Prep school because 90% of his class mates are Chinese and a lot of them even talk Chinese together. He felt isolated so he has moved to another school.

By Parent - 05 Mar 2022, Rate: excellent

I am parent of child in Prep school. There is lot of bad feel to Chinese families in this school. Australian family not very friendly to Chinese family. This is big problem for school community.

By Parent - 26 Feb 2022, Rate: poor

Agree with the last comment. Barker is just becoming a big business. Quality of teaching in prep / junior school has gone down significantly over the last 5 years. I would not recommend. Look elsewhere.

By Parent - 03 Feb 2022, Rate: average

We have two children in Junior school. In my opinion, the school is becoming too big, with far too many students, more new buildings which have reduced the amount of outdoor space for break times. There is a significant inbalance now in the cultural diversity within the prep-school, with approx 90% children of Chinese background. There seems to be a higher turn over of staff now than there was previously. The focus of the school seems to be growth, as in growth in the number of students, and growth in the standard of facilities, but the quality of teaching seems to be going down.
Losing confidence in the school.

By Parent - 08 Dec 2021, Rate: average

Not for everyone - do your research.
Have to say I think the school is getting too big. They are missing the finer details like consistently awarding for performance.
Don't be misled by the spirit that is "portrayed" on Social Media platforms - this has gone.
It is fabulous if you have a student that is an independent learner and wants to please. If you don't, it can be a bumpy ride, particularly in middle school.
Teachers in years 11 and 12 are fabulous.
I asked both my "previous" students whether they would send their children to Barker - they both said "No".

By Parent - 23 Nov 2021, Rate: poor

I have heard that there are lots of drugs circulating around this school, as well as students doing it during lunch breaks and trading drugs with the Barker's door knobs. Students vape are found everywhere even in their pencil cases. Dont send you student

By Parent - 11 Nov 2021, Rate: excellent

I'm rating as excellent because my son absolutely loves it, but I have huge reservations. He is naturally bright, and keen to learn, and sociable, so I think he would've been OK in a lot of schools, but we have seen another side of it during a hard time. I would not even consider sending a child who had any prior issues, if they don't tick the boxes etc.
I have to say, the parents who describe it at neo-marxist truly embarrass themselves, in their display of ignorance. Uneven in treatment of students, run like a business, making an attempt at producing less elitist white middle class adults, all this is true. But if you think Barker is Leftist, or Neomarxist, you have obviously been stuck in your upper north shore bubble your whole life. Try a bit of travel, broadens the mind.

By Student - 03 Nov 2021, Rate: excellent

i love mr bourke

By Alumnus - 09 Sep 2021, Rate: bad

As an ex student I would never send my child to this school at the time I suffered from undiagnosed dyslexia and as a result I found it very difficult to achieve a good Standard therefore I was simply allowed to fall through the cracks labeled a bad boy with no attempt from teachers to get the bottom of my leaning difficulty’s happy to take my parents hard earned money and sit me at the back of the class so that the higher achieving students could receive the attention of course bullying was rife with very little if none consequences for the perpetrators so if your child is not a high achiever and susceptible bullying don’t allow them to be permanently scared by this money making institution
I won’t even go into the actions of some of the sick perverted teachers during my time there in the end they got there just deserts
Spend you money elsewhere

By Student - 11 Jul 2021, Rate: excellent

BECAUSE IT JUST IS A VERY GOOD SCHOOL

By Student - 15 Apr 2021, Rate: excellent

Barker is a great school with good teachers the school environment is great for learning. I highly recommend this school.

By Student - 15 Apr 2021, Rate: excellent

School is great and I highly highly recommend this school the teachers are nice and the is a great environment for leaning Barker is a great school.

By Student - 22 Mar 2021, Rate: excellent

Most of the people there are great and teachers are nice starting high school was easy because of the environment and teachers students. The house program is also good and the sport program is wonderful.

By Student - 02 Mar 2021, Rate: good

Good school, but increasingly leftist, seemingly increasingly forgetting that it is a Christian school. Probably still better than know though.

By Parent - 26 Jan 2021, Rate: bad

The Head of Barker was the former Head at Radford in Canberra. Same issues now at Barker - a business based sausage machine focussing on bright kids for the school’s “glory”. No interest in systemic issues (like high teacher turnover or bullying), kids who need help (ie pastoral care or tailored learning), or those that aren’t smart enough. Please try another school - your child will thank you.

By Parent - 24 Jan 2021, Rate: bad

Bullying is extensive and teachers are either blind to it or have no idea how to manage it. Do NOT send your child to Barker college. Plenty of other good schools around to choose from

By Student - 13 May 2020, Rate: bad

Barker College is considered a great independent school for years to come and explains with no trouble saying to provide the greatest education for your children. However this isn’t the case as a current student at Barker, I’ve had the deal with pain and suffering from teachers and students throughout junior school. The strange factor of donations effects students status whether they are treated with the greatest care or if they have little to donate they are treated below as an average student. Even complaints sent to the Head Of Junior school were denied on fact of saying ridiculous intents. Recently the school as turned into more of a Business instead of teaching education. A place shown for the public but for children I do not recommend. Especially for those who tend to get bullied racially such as asians.

By Parent - 27 Feb 2020, Rate: excellent

I have six children attending barker currently, wonderful environment. Great sense of fun without to much pressure, great sporting system and of course education in general. My eldest child charlotte graduated two years ago and is still thriving in her swimming which she began at barker in year 10, a late start and now she is getting into national swimming. She still swims at barker and is doing a degree in medicine as well. We are so happy with all Charlotte has achieved and i thank barker on behalf of her achievements. My second eldest Lizzie is graduating this year, third Anastasia is in year 10, Nicholas in year 8 and Madeline and Henry our twins in year five in the junior school. We love barker and hope to finish all the children there :)

By Parent - 17 Dec 2019, Rate: excellent

My youngest loves it at Barker, great relationships with teachers from the Head, House master and including his class teachers. Positive and constructive relationships within friendship groups. Would recommend unreservedly.

By Parent - 05 Sep 2019, Rate: poor

Junior school has some extensive problems with bullying and aggressive behaviour that is entrenched. Playground spaces all gone for year 3 to 6. Boys have no handball courts even. Playground behaviours are horrendous and leaders have no clue on how to fix it clearly. So bad.

By Parent - 12 Jun 2019, Rate: excellent

I collected my young man a few weeks ago on a Thursday afternoon. Its a 15 minute drive home. He said nothing until about half way home.. and he just looked at me across the car and said " I love school "

By Student - 07 Mar 2019, Rate: bad

Do not let your child suffer here. From the outside the school looks benign and almost the perfect place to send your kid. Great facilities without a doubt but the environment is absolutely atrocious. Very clique based and bullying is rife. Current principle also carries this “progressive” neo-Marxist political drive which is quite insulting considering he had no interest in the real, visible problems Me and many other students had to deal with.

By Student - 02 Oct 2018, Rate: poor

Pros
- good facilities
- some nice teachers
Cons
- extensve bullying
- overcontrolling environment
I personally only begun to learn and enjoy life after leaving Barker

By Parent - 17 Jun 2018, Rate: poor

It is the first year for my eldest daughter Matilda attending barker. She moved from Monte and got severely bullied there but barker isnt any different. paying money for your education isnt always the answer thinking of moving matilda to willoughby girls high school next yeaar where her little sister in year 7 currently goes to as i a single parent can not afford two kids at private schools

By Parent - 01 Feb 2018, Rate: poor

I’m a parent of 3 children and my kids can hardly make to school on mondays because of the sport.My kids all do 2 out side sport trainings and 2 barker sport trainings. If barker want their students to succeed in life they need to cancel sport for those who already do outside sports. That way the kids will have a lot more energy to learn.

By Parent - 08 Oct 2017, Rate: bad

My son got verbally, pychologically & physically bullied in the middle school & nothing was done despite providing evidence. We pulled him out. I wouldn't send my worst enemy to barker. There is no pastoral care,they are only interested in churning out the students for money.

By Parent - 24 Jun 2016, Rate: poor

Facilities are excellent with some wonderful staff & teachers.
My youngest completes school in 2017, and I'm glad her time is nearly over. Devout political brainwashing programmes by the College's leadership is destroying the one strong community spirit which made Barker such an prestigious establishment. Children being forced to recognise National Sorry Day is typical of the new Marxist tone.

By Parent - 18 Jun 2016, Rate: average

Barker was ONCE a fantastic school, friendly, not snobby, and provided a very well rounded balance of academic, sporting and social attributes. It was once a Christian based centre-conservative school, however a new school head in 2014 has school standards decline sharply.
It's become from our view (and that of many other parents) some latent leftist progressive school driven by far left political agendas.
As a parent of 3 children at the school, I would no longer recommend Barker.

By Parent - 17 Jun 2016, Rate: excellent

By Parent - 15 Jun 2015, Rate: excellent

lovely school

By Parent - 14 Jun 2015, Rate: excellent

ma and my husband had to pick between knox grammar school or barker. and we chose barker and i will never regret it from this day. all five of my sons went and my youngest boy has started at barker in year seven this year. barker is amazing and is one of the reasons why all of my boys are so intelligent and independent. my two oldest boys left and have both enjoyed their time there. three to go! THANKYOU BARKER!

By Parent - 14 Jun 2015, Rate: excellent

we love barker. i sent my son there from the beginning he started kindergarten and now he has left and we are planning to send his little sister there when she is in year ten.even though she is only in year eight at the moment. i've never regretted sending him there and my daughter will move from pymble ladies college to barker. and it will be a new start for our little darling. really recommend barker. AWESOME SCHOOL!!!

By Parent - 03 Mar 2015, Rate: excellent

We LOVE Barker - we moved our daughter from an all girls private school to Barker and never looked back - the facilities are out of this world. The range of subjects are staggering and the teachers are just so kind and caring. My daughter is the happiest she has ever been. I realise everyone is different, but at least book a tour and have a look. xx

By Parent - 01 Oct 2014, Rate: bad

Very unhappy, can't say much more but barker is very poor in years 11 & 12! We as family are disappointed in the final years our son attended the school and can only suggest to shop around!

By Student - 26 Sep 2014, Rate: excellent

Parking is super difficult but the school is A+ 10/10 would recommend

By Student - 25 May 2014, Rate: excellent

amazing school

By Parent - 28 Mar 2014, Rate: excellent

Seeing how well our sons lives have progressed since their time at Barker, it was without doubt the best investment my husband and I ever made for our boys.

By Student - 31 Mar 2013, Rate: excellent

Parking is terrible.