REVIEW OF Durham Elementary, Durham Academy and G.B.M.S. BY parent, Juliette Hunter

(5) Student Experience

Small class sizes and genuinely caring teachers make a real difference at Durham Elementary Private School. Each year, the school puts on beautiful Christmas and Spring concerts, complete with choirs and skits by the kids that are dynamic, thoughtful and well-rehearsed. The auditorium is lovely, and the main hall at the King Street location is both grand and welcoming. It’s a place you feel proud to walk through — especially when attending a concert with your family. The principal truly takes the time to know both students and parents by name — not just when there’s a concern, but because she genuinely cares about building relationships. She is open to new ideas and listens thoughtfully to parent feedback. We are proud to call Durham Elementary Private School our school, and we have complete confidence that our daughter is well cared for each and every day.

Why Durham Elementary, Durham Academy and G.B.M.S.?

We loved that the attention to detail was evident for every student. The teachers really do care that the kids understand the work and want your child to succeed.

Expectations vs. Reality

Coming from a private school education, I had high expectations. These expectations were beyond fulfilled by Durham Elementary Private School, and then surpassed. I didn’t have any expectations that were not addressed by the school.

Your Advice

The teachers here truly care, and the principal is equally dedicated and involved. Students benefit from personalized attention tailored to their individual social and academic needs. Because of this supportive environment, your child will grow in confidence and stand out positively among their peers.

(5) School Leadership

The leadership at this school is truly outstanding, and we are blessed to be a part of it. School trips are thoughtfully planned, well-organized, and run smoothly, giving students meaningful and enjoyable experiences outside the classroom. The teachers clearly understand their responsibilities and approach their roles with professionalism and care. What stands out most is their consistency — they all share and reinforce the same positive messaging to students, creating a supportive, unified environment where children feel encouraged, guided, and confident every single day.

(5) Teaching

The teachers at Durham Elementary Private School are truly exceptional. They are dedicated, attentive, and genuinely invested in each child’s success — both academically and personally. With small class sizes, they can provide individualized support and encouragement, helping students build confidence and reach their full potential. Their consistent communication, positive reinforcement, and commitment to creating a nurturing classroom environment make a lasting impact. It’s clear they care deeply about their students and take pride in helping them grow and thrive. Teachers really, really make the difference between your child hating or loving school. My child is excited to go to school every day and absolutely adores her teachers. The last day of school is usually full of tears, because she knows she will miss her teachers over the summer.

(5) Academics

This school thrives on their academics, and I’ve seen some pretty incredible students here. They follow the Ontario curriculum, so you don’t have to worry about them learning things they shouldn’t, but really focus on math, literature and science. The science fair the kids pilot on is incredible and very well done. The speeches the kids do every year are thoughtful and well-delivered by the majority of their students. I believe there is also a math club after school. Students are given homework, but it’s never been where the homework is disruptive to home life as long as your kid does not procrastinate and does not complete their homework regularly, but I believe that this would ring true for any school, private school or not. I believe kids from the school have won the Oshawa Mayor for a Day contest several times, where the kids must write in and letters chosen by the mayor.

(4.5) Extracurriculars

The kids get to participate in track and field events, and there are other sports teams that they can choose to join. Additionally, there is a band, and my daughter particularly enjoys participating in the school's choir, which practices once a week and performs in school concerts and assemblies. Overall, I’ve been happy with the extracurricular opportunities provided by Durham Elementary Private School.

(5) Students

The students at Durham Elementary Private School are taught to respect one another. Bullying or any hint thereof is dealt with very promptly and swiftly. My child has never had an issue with feeling bullied, and tells me she doesn’t see other kids being bullied either, so I don’t think that’s a vibe with the students. The general atmosphere with the students as a whole is to respect their peers and teachers, and I’ve noted that they’re all very polite and down to earth, and all very curious. They also all have great social skills, and I’ve always felt comfortable talking to any one of them. The standout for me is when you meet a young student, and they give you a good handshake and look you in the eye — that doesn’t come from nowhere! My child has made great, likely lifelong friends at Durham Elementary Private School, which is very important to us.

(5) School Life

The campuses are absolutely beautiful and create a welcoming, inspiring environment for students to learn and grow. The teachers are truly great — they are supportive, knowledgeable, and clearly invested in the success and well-being of every child. The students themselves are social, kind, and respectful, which speaks volumes about the positive culture the school fosters. Our child genuinely loves everything about the school experience and never wants to leave at the end of the day, which gives us so much confidence in our choice. The homework has been thoughtfully balanced; it is neither overbearing nor disruptive to our family life or extracurricular activities. Instead, it provides just the right amount of challenge to keep students engaged, reinforce what they are learning, and help them develop responsibility and strong study habits.

(4.5) Community

Parents are always welcome to attend and enjoy school events such as track and field days and school concerts, which create a strong sense of community and connection between families and the school. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to support our children and celebrate their achievements in person. At the same time, there is absolutely no pressure placed on parents to volunteer or participate in school activities if their schedules do not allow it. That responsibility is not forced upon families, which is greatly appreciated and shows respect for the many commitments parents juggle outside of school. Communication is also handled very effectively through a dedicated school app, which has proven to be extremely useful. The app keeps parents informed with timely updates, reminders, and important announcements, making it easy to stay connected and engaged in our child’s education without feeling overwhelmed.

(5) School Location

The schools are conveniently located at Adelaide and Ritson and King and Harmony in Oshawa, and are easy to get to. My child is too young to be leaving the school on her own, so I’m not sure how this is handled for the older students. The schools are locked down during the day, and pick-ups are handled very well.

(5) Admissions

We enrolled at Durham Elementary Private School during the COVID period, so I am not completely certain how the admissions process is structured at this time. That said, our personal experience was very positive. We did not find the admissions process stressful or overwhelming. The staff were supportive, responsive, and understanding throughout each step. Most importantly, the school was extremely accommodating in meeting our daughter’s individual needs, taking the time to ensure she felt comfortable and supported as she transitioned into her new learning environment.