25 Questions to Ask on a School Tour—and What Schools Won't Tell You

You're standing in the car park at 9.15am on a Saturday, your kid has mysteriously forgotten their jumper already, and a cheerful staff member is herding you towards the gymnasium. You know you should ask something, but your brain has gone blank. Is "Nice buildings" a valid assessment? What were you supposed to be looking for again?

School open days are chaos dressed up as opportunity. You get twenty minutes to peer into three classrooms, drink weak coffee, and somehow decide if this place is where your kid will spend the next seven years. The trick isn't asking more questions—it's asking the right ones, and listening to what doesn't get said.

Here's what to dig into, organised by what actually matters to your family.

The Academic Side

Before you ask a single question here: ask to see actual results. NAPLAN data, year 12 completion rates, ATAR distributions for secondary schools—these are public and schools should have them handy. Not all questions are equal.

The questions:

• What's your approach to literacy and numeracy in the early years? (Listen for: phonics, guided reading groups, targeted intervention—not just "play-based learning".)
• How do you identify and support students who are behind or ahead?
• What happens if my child isn't coping with the curriculum?
• Do you stream or set students by ability? From what year?
• How much homework, roughly, and what's it actually for?
• What's your gifted and talented program like? (Who runs it, and how do kids get access?)
• What's your approach to NAPLAN / HSC / VCE? (Are you teaching to the test, or teaching solid skills?)

Red flag: "We focus on the whole child, not just academics." Everyone says this. Ask specifically what academic support looks like.

Wellbeing & Pastoral Care

This is where you'll see real differences between schools.

• How do you handle bullying? What's the process, and how do parents stay in the loop?
• Who's my first point of contact if my child is struggling—emotionally, socially, or academically?
• Do you have a counsellor or psychologist on staff? How do kids access them?
• What's your behaviour management approach? How do you handle suspensions or expulsions?
• How many students per class, and does that change across year levels?
• Tell me about duty of care—who's supervising at lunch? How is playground safety managed?
• What's your mental health support like? (Especially important if your kid has diagnosed anxiety or ADHD.)

Red flag: Vague answers about "speaking to the teacher first." Good schools have clear, documented pathways for concerns.

Money & Hidden Costs

This is where schools get creative with what they volunteer.

• What are the total fees? (Primary and secondary; get it in writing.)
• What levies are there, and what are they for? (Building fund, technology, sports, excursions—ask for a breakdown.)
• Are those levies compulsory or voluntary in practice? (The school will say voluntary; ask if families who don't pay face any consequences.)
• What about uniforms, shoes, and sports kit? Roughly how much to kit a kid out?
• Are there additional costs for camps, excursions, or music lessons?
• What's your policy on families struggling to pay?
• Do you offer any scholarships or bursaries?

What schools won't volunteer: The real tech levy (ask to see the actual bill), whether families routinely fork out another $500+ for extras, and whether a "voluntary" contribution is quietly expected.

Getting There & Being There

• Where's the nearest public transport? How reliable is it during school hours?
• What's the car park like for drop-off and pick-up? How chaotic does it get?
• If my child misses the bus, what's the policy?
• What's your before-school and after-school care like? (Cost, hours, actual quality—not just the brochure.)
• What are term dates? (Matters for working parents juggling school holidays.)

What Schools Really Won't Tell You (But You Should Find Out Anyway)

Staff turnover. Ask: "How many classroom teachers have left in the last two years? Why?" High turnover = instability. Ask current parents, not the school.

Out-of-zone odds. If you're not in the designated area, how likely is it your kid actually gets in? Get specifics ("We've taken 15 out-of-zone students in the last three years"), not reassurance.

Class composition. This is delicate but fair game: if diversity or specific programs matter to you, ask to see actual demographics and how inclusive practices are embedded.

Real device costs. Many "1-to-1 device" schools add $200–$400 per year for upgrades, apps, or insurance. Ask for an itemised breakdown.

Your Secret Weapon: Talk to Current Parents

Stay after the tour. Find a parent in the car park. Ask: "Do you like it here? What's surprised you—good and bad?" You'll learn more in five minutes than in any official spiel.

School choice is one of those decisions that feels enormous in the moment and somehow less important once your kid actually starts. Pick a school that feels honest, safe, and like a decent fit. Trust your gut—but do the homework first.

Ready to shortlist? Use our school search tool to compare options in your area, check real parent reviews, and save your top picks.

Photo by Alex Dos Santos on Pexels