Birchgrove Public School

Leadership ran this school into the ground for 10+ years. Enrolment nearly halved since 2019. Barely viable numbers now. As at Oct 25, Principal has been on unexplained, indefinite leave since Dec 24. Acting Principal trying hard, but has no real authority, as Principal could return any day. Most remaining staff are shellshocked, afraid and mediocre, at best. Some real predators remain. Toxic legacy lingers. Spin, blame-shifting, neglect, gaslighting. Missing money. No aircon for a decade. Lingering stink of corruption. They've spent a decade trying to diddle NAPLAN numbers by kicking out disabled and neurodiverse kids. All the public schools in area have same structural issue- principals have complete authority in the school and are protected by regional bureaucracy (ex-principals) who won't act on complaints by teachers or parents. Principals can almost do what they want, as long as they keep NAPLAN results up. Manipulative, sociopath principals thrive. They maintain constant underlying crisis, chaos and conflict, to exploit for their own advantage. They do nothing, take the credit from those who step up, and isolate and remove people who complain. They minimise their own paper trail and make false ones as needed. They abuse parent's trust, who can't believe such things happen, even when they and their kids get targeted. If you or your kids don't need anything from the school, you'll never know. If you do get on their radar, expect to be gaslit til you complain, then they will accuse you of harassment first, report you to DOCs, ban you from school grounds etc. DoE making minor changes, but won't confront or admit problem. Nor will new P+C leadership. Recommend Fth John Terry instead. Sad when your kids are safer with Catholic priests than public school principals. If your kids need even the smallest adjustment, even home-schooling is a better alternative.

Speaking as a parent…… The school has an amazing energy under the new leadership of Acting principal Ms Mitchell. The teachers go above and beyond to support our kids and their contribution is valued. Thank you everyone

Unsafe for students and parents. Lazy. Not serious. Leadership lies and spins. "Visionary". Lol! If your child needs help they will get harmed, blamed and pushed out. If you complain, you will be blamed and harmed first. Never sit in same room as leadership w/o a witness. Culture of blame and dishonesty permeates the school and impacts the students. Good teachers don't stay. Dregs never go. Parents did a whole school survey mar 24. 80% answered. 45% did not agree their kids were safe there. 90% had no confidence in leadership. But complaints go nowhere. Stay away. Not worth the risk.

At Birchgrove there is a lot of special need student with depression, anxiety and anger issues and all that isn’t really a problem but What is a problem is going into lockdown because of a student and having to evacuate your class . The staff there only car about the special needs kids and not that much the students without. Wouldn’t recommend sending your kids their try father John terry or Balmain public school much better. The teachers scream at the stage three kids and get mad at them for joking around with the younger students.