Mercy Catholic College, Chatswood School Reviews

Mercy Catholic College, Chatswood

School Reviews

By Student - 21 May 2023, Rate: bad

I have been at this school since the late 2010s and can safely say that the quality has completely degraded over the years. The schools accepting far too many girls then the grounds can handle, (The old principal told my mum in 2014 when my family first started at the school that she would cap the amount of girls per year group at 110 to compensate for the small campus) my year group had nearly 150 girl in it at the start of year 7. There are almost 800 girls and 20 bathrooms total, 35 classrooms, and no more space than 10000 square meters which is far too small. It is evident that the school is focused entirely on maintaining image and relationship with the church, all while there is extreme bullying, poor conditions and academic degeneration. There is mould on the floors and ceiling of many classroom, asbestos in some, the bathrooms are absolutely disgusting with faeces, used hygiene products and toilet paper on the walls and floors (which would not be the case is the school provided more than 20 bathroom stalls for 800 teenage girls to share).
The school continues to loose so many great and educated teachers because of bad pay, terrible conditions and the new principals dictating attitude. And in replacement they have hired university students, creeps and retirees to teach the HSC year 12 students. Last year, a teacher made a girl stand infant of the class while her peer read out thing they don't like about her until the point where she cried - and this is not a one-off thing.
As you get into the senior years the school become increasing disinterested in your experience. In year 7 they are very attentive and put up a facade of a good and clean school by giving year 7s lots of privileges and their own space during recess and lunch. However, as soon as you hit year 10, they do not care at all. The library during my free period will have more than 100 girls in it (the library only has about 70 seats) and the principal refuses to allow student to sit outside in the empty playground. Many rules feel like they are just in place to show the student that the staff can do what ever they want just because they feel like it (for example even if you only have first period classes thy make you stay until after third period just because they can - an extra 2.5 hours of no classes, just sitting in the cramped library with no wifi).
The upper management feel as if the students (particularly year 11 and twelve) have no entitlement to receiving anything from the school besides their education. Which shows that the school have absolutely no regard for your experience there and you are seen as a burden to the teachers as soon ad you hit the senior years.
Do not send your daughter here. Believe me, I am not a trouble student, I do well in my classes and rarely get into trouble; this school is absolute trash but you won't realise it until you have been there for a while and get left behind. This school has completely spoilt my high school experience and I wouldn't recommend it to my worst enemy, the majority of people in my year group feel the exact same - this opinion is pretty standard throughout the whole student body.
Also Id like to give a shout-out to Elizabeth Kayrooz and Brenda Timp for being the absolute worst people to ever grace the earth and making it your single most important goal to harass, bully and humiliate students as often as you can. It is evident that neither of you have any respect for other peoples children and I suggest that if you cannot find it within yourselves to garner a scrap of humility and show an ounce of kindness to a student just once, that you retire or work in a field that does not involve kids as you Cleary hate working with teenagers so much.
I cannot wait to leave this school - going there everyday is hell and is single handedly the reason I am on anti-depressants.
I wouldn't be surprised if the school found this review and held an assembly trying to find out who wrote it- as they would hate to have the truth get out.

By Student - 16 Aug 2021, Rate: good

Can I just say that all teenage girls are going to cause drama at least once in your school life, and there will be bullying at any school you go to. I absolutely love Mercy, they're such a loving community and did so much for year 7 to help us settle in by holding a morning tea and games for us. Quite a few reports have said that the Maths teacher is a perv, fortunately I don't have him this year but some of my friends do, and he has been reported. Apparently. It's horrible that some people have had a bad experience at Mercy, but I personally have very invested and amazing teachers who actually care. Chatswood Chase is just down the road and the girls always go get food and drinks from there before and after school. Plenty of travel options to get to and from Chatswood, not isolated and in a safe community. Yes, some girls are nasty, but you get nasty girls at all schools

By Student - 08 Dec 2020, Rate: good

its good and everyone who trashes the facilities its because the students don't try to keep them clean. also the teachers (even though there IS a pedo teacher, which sadly i have this year) i still learn quite a lot. the school is quite small but I feel like its better because its easier to make friends with and having tighter knit community. probably best not to send your daughter her if they already have trouble fitting in as it can sometimes be a little bit hard to fit in.

By Parent - 27 Sep 2020, Rate: poor

Unfortunately I don’t have any positive feedback about Mercy College. After many years of constant bullying we removed our daughter. This once happy confident child is a shell of her former self. The school talk the talk but unfortunately don’t walk the walk. From my experience the staff are very aware of the bullying but from my experience do not deal with the girls involved and get rewarded from their bad behaviour. The subject choices are limited, sporting opportunities limited and co-curricular are limited. I fear that nothing will change until there is a tragedy at the school. So glad we removed our daughter

By Student - 26 Aug 2020, Rate: bad

It's really not that great. I got bullied heaps in my first year there, and the teachers did little to nothing to help it stop happening. If you see the reviews where they say that they care more about their reputation then their students, it's 100 percent true. The school environment there is so toxic it's made me extremely depressed. Half the school here vapes or smokes, and that's an understatement. The uniform here is utter shit, if I'm being honest. It's plastic-like material, and our poorly made tights are always ripping and laddering. The blasers make all our shoulders look massive, and the kilt is heavy as. Wearing the uniform as is is a punishment of it's own.
To add to that, the classrooms are always smelling of rotting food, and the stairs are so small it takes me so long to get where I need to go.
There's no diet variety in the canteen, either, and no vegetarian/vegan options.
It's all too overpriced as well.
If you send your daughter to this school, you're basically putting her in prison.

By Alumnus - 13 Aug 2020, Rate: bad

This is not a good school. It makes your children feel absolutely horrible about themself and the girls are mean little spoiled children. They think smoking and vaping is a personality trait and honestly only rude little girls go here. I hate this school and don't even get me started on the staff. Some teachers have favourites that are obvious and if your not one then good luck because they will make your life a living hell. I do not recommend to go to this school because it is HORRIBLE RUN WHILE YOU CAN!!

By Student - 11 Mar 2020, Rate: poor

Okayish school. Half of the people are decent but half aren't. Some teachers favourite students. Most of the teachers are terrible, only few are good. Facilities are terrible. Tables in M block are tiny. School cares more about their advertising and appearance rather than the actual education.if you're not popular you get made fun of. If you come here and you don't get put with one of the few decent teachers you are doomed.vibe is not great. Also they only offer French and Italian.

By Student - 06 Dec 2019, Rate: average

I am a year 5 student at NRPS.Some students are really kind and helpful but however some students bully someone else and be rude.The principle is good but when it is summer or a very hot day the teachers will always say,"Jackets off"but some students are cold and they don't care if we are cold and if we disobeys them they will just ask you to go and sit outside the office. So I won't recommend you guys to go to North Ryde Public School if you are always cold.

By Alumnus - 28 Nov 2019, Rate: excellent

It's disappointing that when people have a hard time with life in general that the school gets blamed. Mercy College is a fantastic school. I'm an ex-student who loved coming to school every day due to the care the teachers showed. It's stronger academically now then when I was at school and that's because the teachers have put in the time to help students. A previous post about no dance or music are so wrong. There's dance, drama, choir and bands plus a lot of sport and other things as well. Fantastic school when I went and even better from what I hear from old girls who now have their girls there.

By Student - 28 Nov 2019, Rate: poor

School puts more emphasis on their own reputation than the education and well being of students. For example, I would more likely get a detention for wearing a purple hair tie than not completing my homework on time. Another example, they would much rather build a 19 century designed water fountain than to help a student who has to deal with bullying

By Student - 03 Sep 2019, Rate: bad

Mercy overall is a bad school. I am only in year seven and I already know how bad this school is. They take your money and don't even use it toward school. The classroom rooms have mould and holes. The teachers have favourites and they give you bad marks even if you know you got a great mark. One of the math teachers can't even teach and hes a pedo. Most of the people at that school think they're really cool and they call you bad names, but then when you say something not even offensive, they get angry and they walk away from you not wanting to be friends. That actually happened to me except the word was offensive but I didn't even say it. My friend told them that when I was at BBSSSA athletics so I couldn't defend myself. That night I got a text saying I said I said that even though I didn't, they didn't believe me ad they have been ignoring me and whispering rude things even though I did nothing. The person who told my best friend that was actually the person who called them rude names, all I said was they seem to be ignoring and then when I'm gone she goes and tells them so everyone can hate me. But some people are actually nice and I made new friends straight away. In some ways Mercy is good but in a lot of ways, it's bad. I advise you to not go there. And the school is tiny so yeah. And! The teachers won't let year 7-10 sit indoors when it's raining, only year 11 and 12s are allowed.

By Student - 26 Jul 2019, Rate: bad

I agree with the comment below I guess things haven’t changed in mercy from when I left many years ago. I got bullied also and teachers did nothing!!! Why because I wasn’t a favourite student and I wasn’t a white student. Teachers need to stop with favouritism and treat everyone equally I’m still traumistied from how I got treated in that school!!!

By Student - 24 Jun 2019, Rate: bad

This school is terrible. Most teachers are rude, one of the math teachers are a pedo, my tec teacher looks high ever lesson. I've been bullied and all the teachers did was move the girl out of my class bu didn't even punish her or contact her parents. I'VE LEARNT NOTHING DURING ALL THE YEARS I'VE BEEN HERE and trust me I pay attention in class. I spend all of my time sucking up to the teachers because if you aren't their favourite you will fail. Don't sen your daughter there and if she is there already GET HER OUT AS SOON AS YOU CAN

By Student - 20 May 2019, Rate: good

The teachers can be very helpfully some give me a small scare but most are always there to help. I also enjoy the activities and things that we can do to make a difference such as helping out

By Student - 25 Feb 2019, Rate: excellent

Really nice school. Lots of activities and clubs and easy to find friends. Great teachers amazing school.

By Parent - 23 Jun 2017, Rate: excellent

Apsolutly fantastic school and teacher.Girls are so polite and well behaved.

By Student - 14 Nov 2016, Rate: poor

Yay just graduated from there. Best feeling ever. So much drama happened there!! Some good times but mostly bad. I'm sure all high schools are just as bad but other schools have better facilities!!

By Alumnus - 08 Nov 2016, Rate: bad

If your not a popular student the teachers don't care about you!!cant go to Chatswood anymore because going past mercy college gives me a nightmares.

By Student - 28 Sep 2016, Rate: average

Surprise to find now the school is so hard to get in and my old school teachers still teaching there! (After 22 yrs) same science and maths teachers .. It is not a bad school but not a good one either. I would send my daughter here only if she can't get into selective or I can't pay the private school fee. However it is not a bad choice for a girl school (consider what if your daughter becomes if she goes to a co-ed high school) Anyway, I finished uni and did a master degree so it isn't too bad.

By Parent - 16 Sep 2016, Rate: excellent

dont listen to bad reviews awesome schools. Different religions but still everyone is nice and there are alot of great opportunites. staff very friendly and school has a high rank. waaay better than all those fancy schools like Loreto very honest and community loving school. once again this is a woderful school i would definately send my children here.

By Student - 16 Sep 2016, Rate: good

oh come on give the school a break and its good its small small communities are better and everyone has time for each other.
GREAT SCHOOL WOULD RECOMMEND IT

By Student - 26 Mar 2016, Rate: bad

When I was in year 11 and 12 my grade my friendship group became bitchy and I ended up having no friends!! I spent every break sitting by myself hiding in the classrooms or sit in bathrooms because I had no friends. Not once did any student from my grade offer for me to sit in there group or care about me!! Students make there own groups there and not include others!! And not once did any teacher wonder why I'm not with my usual group where I am on breaks!! Still from this day I'm depressed from that school last two years of school supposed to be fun not for me!! It was to late to change schools by then!! If your not a cool pretty student, teachers and other students won't give a crap about you !!

By Parent - 19 Mar 2016, Rate: average

Visited school for open day looked OK average looking school, most likely won't send my daughter there.Not much good facilities, school small, not enough resources for exchange student.

By Parent - 18 Mar 2016, Rate: poor

My experience at the school was poor!! Teacher wouldn't let my child go to the bathroom!! Principle was horrible to deal with!!! They don't offer much dancing, drama and music classes which is disappointing !! I ended up sending my child to riverside won't many issues at the school!!

By Parent - 10 Mar 2016, Rate: excellent

I am considering between Mercy College, Brigidine St Ives and Loretto normanhurst for my daughter. She loves music and dancing and probably above average in school.I was considering Mercy because of the less in fees.
Any recommendation.The recent reviews have just gone pretty bad for Mercy college. Is that true?

By Parent - 18 Feb 2016, Rate: poor

I unfortunately had to pull out two of my daughters from that mercy college . They where so miserable there, they would come home crying! Changed there schools to Marist sisters they are soo happy now and come home with a big smile. I also don't understand why it's called mercy "catholic"college when more then half the student are not catholic!!

By Student - 13 Feb 2016, Rate: bad

Oh and also a lot of people In that school are sucidals, Emos, got pregnant, become drop outs when leave school and end up hating there own religion because they teach you the most pathetic things

By Student - 13 Feb 2016, Rate: bad

Do not recommend this school, I got bullied teachers did nothing!! Teachers had there favourite students favoured them gave them top marks!!! Students had there own friendship groups. worst memory's at that school!!!

By Parent - 28 Oct 2015, Rate: excellent

This school is so amazing

By Parent - 22 Oct 2015, Rate: poor

It must be a place for bullies as it has only 8 percent non-English student!

By Alumnus - 20 Mar 2015, Rate: bad

Nothing like it used to be. The school does not welcome nor care about ex students at all. Would not recommend this school to anyone.

By Alumnus - 26 Nov 2014, Rate: good

I consider myself lucky to have such positive, pleasant memories of high school, as I have since met many people (from other high schools) who have not been as fortunate. Most of the girls in my grade were quite nice, and the ones that had a bit of a nasty streak, for the most part, left me alone. Bullying was not an issue in my grade, although I cannot speak on behalf of other grades. About 9 out of 10 teachers there are passionate, enthusiastic and want to help their students out as much as possible. There are always ones that are just there for the pay check, but luckily I was not under the tutelage many of them. Like anything, it is up to the student at the end of the day to put in the effort to gain the results they are after, but many of these teachers will go above and beyond to try and motivate the student to get there.
The facilities were not fantastic while I was there, rather dated, but I have heard that they have upgraded all areas of the school now, so I imagine it is very modern and accommodating for many more subjects now.
I can still meet up with girls I have known since high school and we often share a laugh and a trip down memory lane reminiscing about all the funny, interesting and memorable things that happened to us while at Mercy, and for that, I feel very fortunate.

By Student - 15 Apr 2014, Rate: excellent

This looks like a happy place!