The Newcastle Herald reported last week that advisers Dr Dan White and Terry O'Brien were conducting a review into the Maitland school, which comprises the year 11 and 12 St Mary's Campus and the year seven to 10 St Peter's Campus.

The advisers told staff last week they intended to recommend an end to St Mary's four-day week model.

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The school has longer days than other schools apart from Wednesdays, which it uses for exams, excursions, planning, one-on-one support and off-campus vocational education and training.

Former St Mary's student Riley Hungerford, 20, graduated from the school in 2019 and said he and peers had been "disappointed" to read about the changes and that there didn't appear to be options to alter the model, such as making it a half-day.

"If anyone could say Wednesday is not being used as it should, they need to have a reality check," said Mr Hungerford, who is studying city planning at UNSW.

"The Wednesday was one of the most important things to get the grade I did... and paramount in my decision making [to attend the school]."

Mr Hungerford said he would spend most Wednesdays studying, doing assignments or working uninterrupted on his Design and Technology major work.

"When I went to school on Thursday and Friday it felt like the start of the week again, it didn't feel like you were burning yourself out."

He said his parents had chosen not to send his younger sister to St Mary's because of the proposed change.

The advisers have floated four options for the long term structure of the college.

These are creating a year seven to 12 school on St Peter's Campus and "repurposing" St Mary's, maintaining the status quo but with a common timetable; moving year 10 students to St Mary's; and having only years seven and eight at St Mary's.

Mr Hungerford said he had left St Catherine's Catholic College at Singleton, drawn to St Mary's improved resources and wider range of electives.

He said his estimated ATAR rose from the 50s to the 90s.

"It's a senior school so all the facilities I found were catered towards you getting your HSC," he said.

"The teachers would respect you and treat you like adults, I had a stronger connection to them.

"It matured me and it matured my other peers as well, you wouldn't get that at a year seven to 12 school. It motivates you to be more serious about your studies. It felt like I was at university... the atmosphere felt more mature."

He said all students - regardless of what they wanted to do afterwards - focused on their studies, which limited distractions.

"If I had this opportunity, what it's done for me and so many other people, I don't want it to be taken away in the future," he said.

"I know it works, the rest of my family and friends are proof as well.

"I don't know who is making these decisions but they're obviously not having a look at the bigger picture, which is disappointing... with all these changes [others are] not going to get as quality an education as we did, so some of us are a bit worried about that."

A second former student told the Herald they were "very upset" to hear "such an important institution to our community might be closed and replaced".

"St Mary's played the most important role and was a turning point in my education, allowing me to get into university," they said.

The student said St Mary's strength was that it catered for senior students only.

"It enabled the staff to give their entire focus to the year 11 and 12 curriculum, which resulted in better academic success during the HSC and for non-ATAR students."

A third former student said they were "concerned and saddened at the plans", saying the St Mary's environment "was that of opportunity and calmer than that of the junior school", which helped students feel "comforted and supported".

The student said being treated like an adult was the "most beneficial experience of the separate senior campus".

They used Wednesdays to study and meet with teachers, who "went above and beyond".

"I do not believe that I would have had the opportunity to excel and consolidate my knowledge if I was not provided that time."

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