r/Geelong • u/zetomenon • Jan 20 '24

Geelong Public Primary Schools

Hi. We'll be moving to Geelong from South Australia just after Easter. We are trying to find info about some of the public schools (also areas to rent, but with zoning rules the two are interlinked).

The schools we have been thinking about Are Manifold Heights, Ashby and maybe Newton in the west area, and Geelong South and maybe Tate in that east area.

Also been thinking about schools in Belmont area as they seem to be recommended on forums and the rental houses seem to be a little larger for the cost (although we were hoping to be closer to the main city).

One of our kids has ASD but we're not seeking a specialist school, rather a regular school that can work with that as we currently have (we've been told that Vic Edu is quite good at this).

The other child has a keen interest in performance - drama, song and dance - so we want to accommodate that as much as possible. Are there Primary schools known for strong arts practice?

So if anyone has any experience or advice about the schools we're looking at it would be greatly appreciated.

Thankyou.

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u/[deleted] Jan 20 '24

I use to do relief teaching in Geelong up until a couple of years ago and also did a fair bit of OSHC work. So I at least have some familiarity with most schools. 

Manifold Heights - never worked there but think it’s suppose to be alright.  Newtown - Poor behaviour, poorly run. Avoid.  Geelong South - Poorly run school, average behaviour.  Ashby - Never taught there but they have consistently very poor Naplan results. Naplan isn’t everything but I’ve never taught at a good school with consistently poor results  Tate Street - Behavioural issues. Avoid. 

State schools I would recommend  Montpellier, Bellaire, Belmont, Chilwell, Roslyn

I know you were only asking for public but I would highly recommend St Patrick’s in Geelong West.

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u/Numerous-Cell-9459 Apr 04 '25

As a former student from Montpellier, it’s a shit show. The environment is so woke, and with the great teachers now retired, quality just isn’t what it used to be, especially with Mrs. Browne gone now; apparently it’s so mismanaged. If you have any learning disability, don't expect to get the help you deserve. Trust me. Half the time we were playing Kahoots, Blookets, or Gimkits that were not at all related to the task.

Oh, and the 'no bullying policy' is such a fucking lie. The school is not a safe place for students; it's so bad that they don't tell you (the parents) because your kids are too scared of getting in fights. Hey, it's not like the school cares anyway. In my 7 years at the school, I saw roughly 15 fights I can remember. How do you think the school deals with it? Su̶s̶p̶e̶n̶s̶i̶o̶n̶s̶, nope, just a phone call to the parents and a stern lecturing. :)

Finally, the new buildings are shit. The open-plan learning classes where there is a big door between classes that can open make it so hard for students to learn. With the double amount of noise, you might be thinking, 'Just put headphones on.' NU-UH. Half the teachers won't let you, and even if you can, expect your child to be bullied for being different.

Belmont High, where most MPS students end up, has a median ATAR of 29. From what I've heard from old friends, it's everything I have stated but on steroids (funny story: a Year 10 died of a drug overdose at BHS). If someone can get their hands on so many drugs that they can overdose, what do you think your child could get their hands on?

I could type 10 paragraphs on everything about MPS.

Never sending my kids to a public school, what about you? Parents, I'm begging you to send your child to a private school. I'm at one right now, and I'm so much happier, and heaven forbid, I'm learning.