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Parent
May 1, 2025

The Ponds High School - Don't be fooled because it is new!

An Honest Review of The Ponds High School

As a parent who’s had direct experience with The Ponds High School, I think it’s only fair to share a balanced but honest opinion for any families currently weighing up their options.

The Positives:

Modern Facilities: The school is fairly new and well-equipped, with clean buildings and good infrastructure. There’s a decent range of learning spaces and resources that support a wide variety of subjects and extracurricular activities.

Plenty of Subject Choices: The size of the school does allow for a broad curriculum. Students have access to many elective options and extension programs, which is a big plus if your child has specific interests or goals.

The Concerns:

Way Too Big: With over 2,000 students, the school is incredibly overcrowded. Class sizes are large, the playgrounds and common areas are packed, and the daily routine can feel chaotic. It’s hard for kids to feel seen or supported in such a big system. The NSW government has ruled out expanding the school, so it’s unlikely to improve anytime soon.

High Staff Turnover: There’s been a noticeable pattern of teachers leaving, often mid-term. This sort of churn can be really disruptive to students, especially when consistency is key to learning. A revolving door of staff makes it hard to build trust and momentum.

Bullying Issues: This was the tipping point for us. My child experienced repeated bullying, and despite numerous complaints and meetings, it was never taken seriously. There seemed to be a culture of brushing things under the rug instead of dealing with them properly. No student should be left feeling unsafe at school.

Don’t Be Fooled by the HSC Numbers: Yes, the school reports a high number of Band 6 results in the HSC, but this needs context. With such a massive student base, of course there’ll be lots of top marks. But when you actually look at it as a percentage of total students, the results fall well below the state average. The raw numbers sound good but they don’t tell the full story.

Final Thoughts:

The Ponds High School has a few strengths, particularly its facilities and course offerings. But it’s struggling under the weight of its size. Overcrowding, teacher burnout, inconsistent staffing, bullying concerns and misleading academic stats are real issues that affect everyday school life.

If you’re thinking about sending your child here, do your homework. Visit the school, talk to current families, and don’t just rely on glossy brochures or high-level data. For us, the reality didn’t match the image.
Student
Mar 18, 2023

tphs should b destroyed

teachers r inconsistent with they’re teaching, don’t do anything about bullying, don’t really care about their students , teachers r rude asf
180 Riverbank Drive, 2769, The Ponds
Jenny Weal
02 9626 3562

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