Disappointing experience at Hillview Academy

My son was a learner at Hillview Academy during Term 4 of 2024, and sadly, our experience fell far below our expectations.

As a family, we’ve had a long and careful journey in selecting the right school for our son, and we truly believed this would be a great option. We were so committed to this choice that we drove an hour each morning to get to school. Unfortunately, what we hoped would be a supportive and professional environment turned out to be a disappointing experience.

From the start, communication was a significant issue. Information was frequently shared at the last minute, leaving us scrambling to keep up. Even when we gave notice to leave the school, we never received any acknowledgment—not even a goodbye email. Every time I reached out to staff, I often felt as though I was inconveniencing them.

One particularly frustrating example was being asked to purchase textbooks, only for the teacher to later inform me it wasn’t needed. This highlighted poor coordination and a lack of internal communication. To make matters worse, in my son’s end of term report and certificate, his name was spelled incorrectly, something I find unacceptable from a school that charges such high fees.

Bullying was also a concern. My son was targeted on more than one occasion, and while the school’s responses were adequate in addressing each incident, the bullying itself never ceased. I was even told that the children involved were “used to rough housing” because they had siblings, implying that this was acceptable behaviour. My son, as an only child, was left to navigate this dynamic without any meaningful intervention to ensure his safety and well-being.

The school also advertises itself as offering specialized support for neurodivergent children, which was one of the key reasons we enrolled. However, I saw no evidence of this support during our time there. For the exorbitant fees they charge, I expected far more in terms of professionalism, care, and follow-through.

The difference between what the school advertises and what it delivers is significant. While I understand some parents may be satisfied with their experience, ours was deeply disappointing. I would not recommend Hillview Academy, as there are many other schools with better communication, more comprehensive offerings, and an overall higher standard of care.