See all schools in Mermaid Waters QLD 4218
Merrimac State High School
Secondary · Government · Mermaid Waters
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I recommend not enrolling (i used to go here)
the school is nice and all but how the teachers deal with students bullying other students is outrageous. I was harassed (sexually) by a boy and none of the teachers did anything about it. I told the teacher that one of the boys was stalking me and my friends and touching us without our consent and we didn't feel comfortable, so we told a teacher and they just said he has special needs and expected us to forgive him (note this kid was in grade 11 and me and my friends were in grade 8 this was in 2023). this wasn't the first time he has done this, he did this to multiple girls in my class. I moved away at the end of 2023 and I was asking one of my friends "how is everyone?" etc. and she told me that he was still at the school. like what the heck. I don't understand. that really annoys me because I feel bad for the students having to put up with him and are making the school look bad. another scenario was when a boy in the grade above me was getting way to close to me (giving me no personal space) so much so I could barely put my arms out without knocking him. I kept telling him to leave me alone and I don't want to be friends with him but he persisted, so I told the teacher and again they did nothing about it. he even found my Instagram and constantly harassed me, I was at work trying to do my job and my phone kept going off (even though it was on silent as well). I told him I was at work he would stop messaging me for about 2 minutes and he would try and call me. I eventually blocked him but he still continued to harass me even though I told him to go away. the teachers even stalk the students TikTok accounts (only if they are public) just to make sure we are "being appropriate" online. I don't know if that's even legal but even if it is legal no teacher should be looking at student's social media accounts.
guidance councillors are amazing
this school is horrible all together but this review is about the guidance councillors. Elly and Amber are the most beautiful people ever, the best guidance councillors!! I was really struggling when I was at this school and was going through a lot at home but these guidance councillors did absolutely everything they could to help me and i couldn’t have made it out alive if it weren’t for them!
Just dont
Im an Aboriginal student who was at Merrimac State High School for 2 years. Whilst there I experienced racism, discrimination (aimed towards race, mental health and friends). Some teachers were amazing like Miss Pilling, Mrs Simpson and Miss Kelly but majority of the teachers were horrible. I experienced severe bullying and bad mental health issues whilst at Merrimac but there was little to no support. I was called names like half-cast, “n word”, bitzah, etc by both students and teachers.
Bad school
Worst school ever they don’t teach you anything they don’t care about your metal health non of the teachers care. They take everything so seriously. They say they care but they couldn’t care less it’s just there job to go there “teach” and get payed.
Horrible school
This is such a shit and horrible school the teacher don’t care about u or anything else they only care about the rules also this is a mostly white peole school. And my son had racist teacher who only picked on him no one else
Merrimac Disgusts me!
If Students are found “suspicious” they are forced to hand their bags over to be checked for vapes, they get no say in if the teachers can touch their own belongings! Girls are forced to tug and pull on their bras and hold their bra out and jump up and down to ensure they don’t have a vape hiding, they are also forced to pull up their shirts to see if a vape is hiding in the waistband. I think this is absolutely disgusting, they should NOT be touching the students own property nor should they be making them basically strip. This is absolutely and utterly ridiculous. I get that vaping is bad and that these students shouldn’t be doing it but this level of “precaution” is disgusting! This school also 100% tolerates bullying, the deans don’t care about you at all, the principal is horrible, the chappy can’t do their job properly, honestly the only good people left in this school are the beautiful guidance councillors. The guidance councillors at merrimac are lovely girls and really helped. Some of the maths and science teachers can’t teach for the life of them. There’s a lot of bad things I can say about merrimac, that’s for sure!
Terrible school
Principal is more interested in the appearance of a good school than the students (safety, well-being or education).
There are only 3 toilets that work and offer privacy (the rest have missing door and seats). The school have no interest is rectifying this (it’s been this way since mid 2022).
Strict punishments for vaping (rightly so), wearing the wrong black shoes, and using your phone (after teacher told you that you could). But physically assault another kids, and that’s okay “cause you are trying to make friends”.
No care or follow through for students mental health, but when parents call the school out on that, a false report goes to child safety calling the parent dismissive (when the parent asked why the class pass hadn’t been followed up, why the teacher bullying the child still has access to them, and why the school hadn’t followed up on their referral pathways).
A number of teachers sprout anti vax agenda to the students (when they turn up to class). Most kids see substitute teachers more than their own.
And during the increased cost of living the school demands parents by formal uniforms, that are polyester and don’t breathe (not at all useful for Gold Coast weather).
And the school often cancel programs like Chinese language and Academic excellence, to try and keep kids in the mismanaged STEAM program (to boost the school profile).
What is good about the school is there are still some amazing teachers there who actually do their jobs well. They are just becoming less and less.
There are only 3 toilets that work and offer privacy (the rest have missing door and seats). The school have no interest is rectifying this (it’s been this way since mid 2022).
Strict punishments for vaping (rightly so), wearing the wrong black shoes, and using your phone (after teacher told you that you could). But physically assault another kids, and that’s okay “cause you are trying to make friends”.
No care or follow through for students mental health, but when parents call the school out on that, a false report goes to child safety calling the parent dismissive (when the parent asked why the class pass hadn’t been followed up, why the teacher bullying the child still has access to them, and why the school hadn’t followed up on their referral pathways).
A number of teachers sprout anti vax agenda to the students (when they turn up to class). Most kids see substitute teachers more than their own.
And during the increased cost of living the school demands parents by formal uniforms, that are polyester and don’t breathe (not at all useful for Gold Coast weather).
And the school often cancel programs like Chinese language and Academic excellence, to try and keep kids in the mismanaged STEAM program (to boost the school profile).
What is good about the school is there are still some amazing teachers there who actually do their jobs well. They are just becoming less and less.
Unnecessary rules
only black shoes, no fake nails, no fake lashes, no makeup, school socks only (which are disgusting), only one stud of jewellery in each ear, no bracelets, no necklaces and so many other rules, these are all so ridiculous!!! Please tell me how these are affecting the kids learning? ITS NOT! stop making students follow by all these unnecessary rules. Honestly if I see any of these myself I let it slide because it’s not affecting their learning whatsoever!
Merrimac is not a good school
When the new principal came in 2022 in ruined the entire school for me, she changed so many rules that have been in place for years with unnecessary reasoning. Most the teachers at this school do not care about about your mental health. Some of the Deans shouldn’t be deans, one of them made me cry my eyes out and just walk out of the school. This school feels like it tolerates bullying, they do NOT care about the students :/. I left this school and not long after a bunch of people followed me, i do not recommend this school at all.
Socks issue
Recently released socks that students are forced to wear or suffer expelsion. The socks are not long and the only identifiable mark is the coloured stripe just below the elastic.
The socks are a useless expense for every student.
I know I won't be reporting any wrong socks I see!
White socks are enough!
The socks are a useless expense for every student.
I know I won't be reporting any wrong socks I see!
White socks are enough!
Dunlop Court, 4218, Mermaid Waters
Rachel Cutajar
07 5595 8666
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