Brighton Secondary College

As a parent, I feel a responsibility to warn others about our experience with Brighton Secondary College. What was supposed to be a positive step in our daughter’s education turned into one of the most stressful and upsetting periods for our entire family. The school presents itself as committed to student wellbeing and academic support, but our experience showed otherwise.
From early on, our daughter faced persistent bullying. Despite multiple reports to staff and leadership, nothing meaningful was done. The school has anti-bullying policies, but they seem to exist only on paper. Our concerns were either ignored or brushed off with vague promises that led nowhere. It became clear that the administration lacked the willingness—or capacity—to protect its students.
The behavior of certain teachers only made things worse. Our daughter often came home upset about how staff treated her and other students. Many teachers were rude, dismissive, and quick to punish. One was sent to the principal for “not trying hard enough” in a creative subject. There’s no room for individuality or support—it’s about control and compliance, no matter how unreasonable.
The enforcement of rules, especially the dress code, is hypocritical and inconsistent. Our daughter had clothing taken away on a cold day, leaving her shivering in class. Meanwhile, other students were allowed to break the same rules without consequence. The message is clear: fairness is not a priority here.
Facilities are another major issue. The school grounds are filthy. Bathrooms are often unhygienic and poorly maintained. Classrooms are rundown and in need of repair. We raised this with the school on more than one occasion and received no follow-up. The overall lack of care reflects an administration that is overwhelmed, disorganized, and largely unresponsive to parent concerns.
What affected us most, though, was seeing the emotional impact this environment had on our daughter. She went from being a confident and engaged student to someone who dreaded going to school each day. Eventually, we made the decision to withdraw her. Since moving her to another school, we’ve seen a major improvement in her mental health and motivation.
To any parent considering Brighton Secondary College: please think twice. The school is not safe, not supportive, and not accountable. The leadership lacks the transparency and compassion needed to create a healthy learning environment. We wish we had chosen differently from the start.
We’ve since moved our daughter to McKinnon Secondary College, where the difference in care, structure, and respect is night and day.
Brighton might look good on paper, but in our experience, it is failing its students in the ways that matter most.

Take your child out IMMEDIATELY!!

Brighton Secondary College has been a deeply disappointing experience. Bullying is widespread and rarely taken seriously. Staff and leadership fail to enforce their own policies, rules seem to exist only on paper. Teachers are often rude and dismissive, and the administration is disorganized and unresponsive. The school grounds are filthy, with bathrooms and classrooms in unacceptable condition. We withdrew our daughter after seeing no action taken despite multiple complaints. This school is not safe, not clean, and not accountable. Strongly advise against it.

This school is absolutely terrible. don't go there if you want to live. the teachers don't follow their own rules, they take clothes away from students in 10 degree weather and most teachers make unrealistic expectations of students. In fact, the school doesn't even follow their own dress code! They give punishments that aren't in the policy and the teachers will send you to the principal's office for anything, even for minimal effort in art (a very subjective subject). GO TO MCKINNON IF YOU WANT A LIFE!!! also pls save us we hate it here.

this school has discriminated not only against jewish people for their religion, but also mixed race people for their skin colour. if you don’t look like a tall skinny white girl, or a sporty white boy, teachers constantly pick you out for any flaw they kind find (“unnatural hair colour”, wrong socks, tie not tied properly). how many times does the school need to go to court before some change happens?

Much better place now mr pollard is gone for good, good riddance