St John Paul II Catholic College (Schofields) Schofields Campus

As a parent whose child attended both The Ponds High School and St John Paul II Catholic College, I can say with complete confidence that St John Paul II is the better choice. If you live in the area and you’re weighing up the options, I strongly encourage you to consider the following based on my own experience.

The Ponds High has over 2,000 students, while St John Paul II sits at around 1,150. That difference in numbers creates two completely different environments. At SJPII, students are genuinely seen and supported by the staff. It feels more like a connected community than just a school.

One of the biggest strengths at SJPII is the structure of the school day. They run three longer periods each day, which gives students the chance to settle into each class and absorb what they’re learning without constantly switching rooms. It also helps build stronger relationships between teachers and students.

By contrast, TPHS runs six shorter periods a day. With the number of students they’ve got, the school can feel hectic and overwhelming. For my son, it felt more like being pushed through a system than actually being part of a school.

But what really made the biggest difference for our family was how each school handles bullying. Sadly, my son was bullied at TPHS over and over again. I raised concerns many times, but nothing was done. In the end, I had to pull him out for his own wellbeing.

At St John Paul II, bullying is taken seriously and dealt with properly. The staff don’t muck around when it comes to student safety. There’s a strong culture of respect, and kids are encouraged to look out for one another. From day one, my son felt safe and supported.

Choosing the right school can have a huge impact on your child’s confidence and happiness. For us, St John Paul II was absolutely the right choice. I’ll always be grateful for the care and support they gave my son.