Samuel Marsden Collegiate School

the school is small which makes room for more attention from teachers which did help my grades as the school very much values excellence and good results. however i don't believe it is worth it as the environment they create is very intense and even suffocating at times because of how much they value academic perfection above all else. they had a few very lovely teachers but overall it was not worth it to be paying over twenty thousand for a place that prioritises its results and reputation over its students

It’s not bad but I don’t think it’s worth the money you will have to spend on it. Try to get a scholarship because they like to hand those out. School focuses a lot on excellence and creates a competitive environment which can negatively affect and impact some students. Does not deal well with students that require different learning styles. The girls are for the most part very supportive of each other and it creates a comfortable and safe environment but this unfortunately isolates them from the very diverse real world that they live in.

Felt more focused on excellence and producing successful graceful girls, than it did on students wellbeing, which suffered greatly for it, which even in saying that is a vast understatement. Mental health was talked about but often as a ‘hurdle’ to overcome so that one can achieve good grades for school.

Amazing culture of excellence at the school, whether in academics, sports, or culture. I came in Year 9 after being at a public intermediate school and this excellence culture really helped cultivate the study habits that I had ignored for so long. My sister came in Y11 and her friendships almost immediately improved; the Visible Wellbeing programme they use at school, while many students think cuts into study time, has really helped me and most students manage stress and time, and the skills they teach have helped me in exams, as well as in everyday activities.

In terms of sports and other activities, most students are involved in at least one group. Marsden has a really good extracurricular culture in that there are a mix of groups that strive to do well and groups that are social and for fun. The outdoor sports facilities (1 football field, 1 quarter hockey turf/turf netball court, 3 concrete netball courts/tennis courts, 2 extra tennis courts) aren’t super high quality, and it’s rare to see students playing outside during breaks. The indoor sports facilities aren’t huge, but they’re quite high quality, and can handle most sports.

The cultural groups are great, there is pretty much every music group under the sun, and even the students who have never learnt music before are invited to and enjoy these groups. The cultural coordinator is happy to help you find something to do, whether it’s debating, dance, music, or drama, and is really good about keeping students informed about upcoming events in school, for schools, and in the community that they may be interested in.

Overall, great support and care for both students and staff (teaching and other), from both students and staff.