Our method
How reviews work
Last updated 28 September 2026
We check that every reviewer has a real connection to the school. We can't check that every memory is accurate or typical: each review is one person's experience. This page explains what we do, what it tells you, and what it doesn't.
In short
- Every published reviewer showed us proof that they went to the school or have a child there.
- You see the name they chose, which can be "Anonymous". We know who they are; you don't need to.
- Reviewers get a $20 gift card for their time. It's the same whatever they say.
- We don't rewrite opinions, and schools can't pay to change or remove reviews.
- Each review shows who wrote it (parent or former student), their year group, and when they wrote it.
Who writes the reviews
Former students and parents of students. Reviewers answer the same set of questions about learning, wellbeing, culture, sport, the arts and getting in, so reviews are easier to compare. Most former students who review with us finished Year 12 in the past three years. Some finished earlier, and their review says so.
We have 509 published reviews of 139 Brisbane high schools so far. Some schools have many; some have only one or two.
How we check the link to the school
Before a review is published, a member of our team checks proof that the reviewer went to the school or has a child there. For example:
- a student ID card, yearbook page, or Year 12 jersey or blazer with the school emblem
- a report card page (with grades blurred), a school letter, certificate or newsletter addressed to them
- part of a fee statement or receipt showing the school's name
- a LinkedIn profile listing the school, or an email sent from a school email account
The proof is only used for this check. It's never shown on the site or shared with anyone, including the school. If we can't confirm the link, the review isn't published.
What this tells you: the reviewer has first-hand experience of the school. What it doesn't: that their experience is typical, or that every detail is right. No check of this kind is perfect, and we may ask for more when something doesn't add up.
Names and privacy
Reviewers choose how they're credited, for example "Sarah, Class of 2024", "Proud parent" or "Anonymous". So "Anonymous" on a review means the name is hidden from readers, not that we don't know who wrote it. We never publish a reviewer's email address or proof.
The $20 gift card
A full review takes about 20 minutes, so we offer every reviewer a $20 e-gift card from a retailer they choose. Some choose not to take one.
- It's sent after the review is checked and published.
- It's the same for a glowing, mixed or critical review. What the reviewer says makes no difference.
- We never ask reviewers to be positive.
- Paid-for and unpaid reviews go through exactly the same checks.
What we publish, and what we don't
We read every review before it goes live. We turn a review down when:
- we can't confirm the reviewer's link to the school
- the answers are too thin to be useful, such as one-word or copied answers
- the same person has already reviewed the same school
We don't rewrite reviewers' opinions, and we don't remove reviews because they're critical. Schools, and anyone else, can't pay us to change, hide or remove a review. If a review names you or a child, or you think it breaks these rules, email us at hello@schoolinsights.com.au and we'll look at it.
Dates
Each review shows when it was written and the reviewer's year group (for example "Finished Year 12 in 2022–24" or "Parent · Year 10"). Schools change: principals move on and programs start and stop. Give more weight to recent reviews, and check anything important with the school.
The limits of any review
- Individual, not representative. Reviews are personal experiences, not a survey of every family. A school with a handful of reviews may not be well represented yet.
- Who chooses to write matters. People with strong feelings, good or bad, may be more likely to share them.
- Different families, different fit. What suited one child may not suit yours. Look for patterns across several reviews rather than relying on one.
- No scores or rankings. We don't average reviews into a star rating or rank schools.
Use reviews alongside school visits, conversations with the school, and official information such as My School.
Questions
If something here isn't clear, or you think we've got something wrong, email hello@schoolinsights.com.au. You can also write a review of your own school.