Questions to ask a school

Every school says it offers a caring community, high expectations and a well-rounded education. The difference is in the detail, and the way to get the detail is to ask good questions. This guide groups the questions that matter by topic. You won't need all of them, so pick the ones that fit your child and your concerns, and ask them of every school on your shortlist so you can compare fairly.

Learning and teaching

• How are classes formed, and how big are they in my child's year?
• Do you stream or group students by ability? From what year, and in which subjects?
• How do you identify and support students who are behind?
• How do you extend students who are ahead?
• What subjects and pathways are available in the senior years, including vocational options?
• How do you report progress to parents, and how often?
• How do you measure whether students are improving?

When a school talks about results, ask how they compare with similar students. ACARA's My School shows each school's NAPLAN results alongside students from a similar background, which is a fairer benchmark than raw averages.

Wellbeing and culture

• How do you handle bullying, including online bullying? Can I see the policy?
• Who does a student go to if they're struggling? Is there a counsellor or psychologist on staff?
• How do you support students' mental health?
• How do you help new students settle in and make friends?
• What are the school's expectations around behaviour, and how are they enforced?
• How do you work with parents when there's a problem?

Learning support and inclusion

• What learning support is available, and who provides it?
• How do you support students with disability or additional needs? What adjustments do you make?
• Are there extra costs for learning support or assessments?
• How do you plan and review support with families?

If your child has specific needs, ask to meet the person who would coordinate their support, not just the enrolments team.

Communication

• How do teachers communicate with parents: email, app, portal, meetings?
• How quickly can I expect a reply?
• How are parents involved in the school community?
• What's the process for raising a concern or making a complaint?

Co-curricular life

• What sport, music, arts, debating and clubs are offered?
• Which are included in the fees, and which cost extra?
• Are any activities compulsory, such as sport on weekends?
• How much time do they take, and how is that balanced with study?

Fees and extras

Ask for the full fee schedule, and then ask what isn't on it.

• What are the tuition fees for each year level?
• What compulsory levies, charges and deposits apply?
• What do uniforms, devices, books, camps and excursions typically add?
• Are there sibling discounts, payment plans or early-payment arrangements?
• How are fee increases decided and communicated?
• Are scholarships or bursaries available, and how do they work?
• What hardship support is available if our circumstances change?

Moneysmart lists excursions, camps, sport and music among the costs that add up over a school year and suggests talking to the school early about payment plans and hardship support. Our guide to budgeting for school covers this in detail.

Enrolment terms

• Can I read the enrolment agreement or terms and conditions before applying?
• Is the application fee refundable? Is the deposit or bond refundable, and when?
• What notice is required to withdraw, and what is charged if notice isn't given?
• Can the school change fees or terms during enrolment, and how much notice is given?
• In what circumstances can the school end the enrolment?

These questions are about a contract. The ACCC explains that standard form consumer contracts can't contain unfair terms, and that since 9 November 2023 using unfair terms has been prohibited, with penalties. Our guide to enrolment contracts and notice explains what that means for families.

Leadership and direction

• What are the school's priorities for the next few years?
• How long has the principal been in the role? How stable is the staff?
• Are there building projects or changes planned that could affect students or fees?
• How is the school governed, and who makes decisions about fees and policy?

Questions to ask yourself

After each visit, ask:

• Could I see my child being happy and challenged here?
• Did the answers match what I saw?
• Did the school seem interested in my child, or mostly in selling itself?
• Can we afford the full cost, including extras and likely increases, for every year we plan to stay?

Our cost planner helps with the last question.

How to ask

Be polite and specific. Ask for examples: "Can you tell me about a time you supported a student who was struggling with friendships?" tells you more than "Do you have good pastoral care?" Note who answers confidently and who deflects. Ask for key information, especially about fees and terms, in writing.

Questions about technology and devices

• Is there a device program? Do we buy, lease or bring our own?
• What specification is required, and who supports it?
• How does the school manage screen time, social media and phones?
• How is online safety taught, and how are incidents handled?
• Which learning platforms will my child use, and what can parents see?

Questions about transport and the school day

• What are the start and finish times, and is supervision provided before and after?
• Are there school buses or public transport options from our area?
• Is before and after school care available, and what does it cost?
• How are sport and co-curricular activities scheduled outside school hours?

Questions for the senior years

If your child is heading into secondary school, look ahead:

• Which senior certificate does the school offer, and is the International Baccalaureate available?
• How wide is the subject choice in Years 11 and 12, and what happens if few students choose a subject?
• What vocational education and training options are available?
• How does the school support careers advice and university applications?
• How does the school report senior results, and how do they compare with similar schools?

Recording the answers

After each conversation, write down the answers while they're fresh. Note who answered, how specific they were and whether they offered to follow up. Compare schools side by side using the same questions. Patterns emerge quickly: one school might answer every question about support with concrete examples, while another relies on general reassurance. That difference often tells you more than any individual answer.

Questions about staffing

• How long do teachers typically stay at the school?
• How are teachers supported with professional learning?
• Who teaches specialist subjects such as languages, music and science in the junior years?
• How are relief teachers arranged when staff are away?

Stable, well-supported staff are often a sign of a healthy school culture.

Key points

• Ask the same questions of every school so you can compare fairly.
• Cover learning, wellbeing, support, communication and co-curricular life.
• Get the full fee schedule plus extras, increases and hardship options.
• Read the enrolment contract, especially withdrawal notice, before paying a deposit.
• Ask for examples and get important answers in writing.