The Lakes College - North Lakes, Queensland

Chris Dyson

My daughter started at the Lakes yesterday, after we relocated from Melbourne. The staff are excellent, friendly and very experienced. My daughter was a little scared to begin with, but they handled it with expertise. Great place.

Delia Strange

Read this review to find out how a parent went from thinking this is a 5 star school, all the way to this terrible, but deserved, rating.

When I brought my kid to this school, I considered this a five-star school. Then year after year, incident after incident, I became less enthused. I used to volunteer at the cafe, that's how much I loved this school. It was a very long fall from grace.

Most of the one star reviews talk about bullying being rife. It's 100% true. If your kid reports the bullying - as they are repeatedly told to by staff - they are paid lip-service, then all follow-ups are gaslit. Not an exaggeration. Read on.

There were two serious physical incidents, and one proven incident of online bullying, while my kid was at this school.

A broken wrist (that needed a cast) - the PE teacher denied seeing it during her class, yet my kid recalls 'get over it' being said to them.
A concussion (hospital recommended 8 week hiatus from sports to not risk another concussion) - the school didn't notify me about it.
TikTok bullying video about my kid by a teacher's kid, who 'just wanted it to be over' when they were caught.

Don't bother meeting with the administration staff. They'll protect their own, stand their ground, deny the truth, talk about evidence then will actively ignore any evidence put in front of them. Incredibly hostile people.

So. When DID I finally decide to pull my kid out? You'd think I was mad for keeping my kid in there so long after all these examples, and all laid out like this, I'm still angry at myself (this all came to a head in late 2023), but you have to understand that for a reasonable human being, it's hard to believe that adults would really be that antagonising to children.

The final straw came during a meeting where the admin staff actively lied to my face, then gaslit and bullied me and my husband for expecting better of them. They literally threatened to shut down the meeting because they didn't like the questions I was asking and the points I was making. Legit. I had two of the 'well-being' staff in that meeting with me, and I've never met colder people.

Send your kids here with extreme caution. This is a small school. I thought it would heighten comaraderie, but all it does is limit escape options for your child. Admin staff have a "snitches get stitches" mentality, whilst also encouraging students not to be bystanders.

Final note: The receptionists here are absolutely wonderful, and genuinely caring human beings. When I say admin staff, I mean the ones in charge of 'well being' (ironic!) and those who are managerial, from the very top and down.

I have since found an amazing school, not too far away, in Rothwell, who recognised the trauma my child went through while at this one. They said all the right things, and they immediately felt different - warmer, more sincere, decent humans - but I reserved judgment until they proved themselves. They have, and they continue to. No school is perfect, but in this one, the staff do what they say, and say what they do, and as long as the people are kind and want to support your child as best they can, then that's all you need right there.

Stefano Bizzarri

Best choice ever for our three children! Great environment, amazing teachers and also great connections with many of the families. The Lakes College will be our choice again should we ever come back to Australia and North Lakes. We miss them all already!

Larni Mailer

Moving from a smaller coastal town with much smaller size schools I was incredibly nervous school hunting for our Daughter to start Prep this year, The Lakes College set my heart at ease from the very first contact. The tour of the school cemented our decision as we met & heard from some of their amazing team, they were so passionate about their environment & had our Daughter counting down the days until she could start. I am incredibly grateful we found TLC & am excited about the opportunities the college offers to it's students as it makes me feel confident our Daughter will have every opportunity to grow, learn & develop in her own individual way.

Jerome Blevins

Several weeks ago, I was mugged and left in an alley to die, my attackers had taken everything I owned. I thought I was a goner.

The current school captain, Isaac Carter, found me and picked me up with ease (very muscular), and carried me for 8.6km to the nearest hospital without so much as a drop of sweat or sign of discomfort. I managed to survive and doctors tell me I may be able to walk again in a few years. I credit my survival solely to him and have gained an immense level of respect for this college and for my saviour. Isaac, I thank you from the bottom of my heart and TLC, I thank you for the part you played in instilling the wholesome and Christian morals you imparted on him.

Bobby Zhang

The Lakes College school is great. The kids love it here, as there are countless opportunities and activities available for them. All of their facilities are clean and well-managed. Additionally, most of the students are lovely and the kids have made wonderful friends here! Will definitely stay here. 🙂

Jane & Darren Sharry

We love The Lakes College. We have 2 children and have been at the school since prep and that’s over 7 years. We have had beautiful teachers who have been kind and nurturing to our kids. They have blossomed and are both doing very well academically. We have found the community to be very warm and welcoming. It’s a great school and we couldn’t recommended it enough.

Gas Station Idiots

The Lakes College is a sick place, they only care about reputation. Because of this they decided that when i joined that i would be locked in a dungeon because i got 1 B- in the first semester of Grade 2. Something should be done about this stuff, it took me over 81 years to escape, and i'm being chased down by Mr Cartwright, I have had to flee to North Korea because it has less strict policy, and the army of the college can't reach me there. Due to this unique experience, i recommend my 11 children to attend. (they were already taken, GIVE THEM BACK PLEASE!!!!) Anyway 5 stars.