Which schools suit what your child loves?

Review What had the biggest impact

One of the most impactful aspects of my school experience was the support and encouragement I received from certain teachers who truly believed in me. Their guidance helped me build confidence, especially during challenging times. A specific program that stood out was the science club, where I was able… Read all

One of the most impactful aspects of my school experience was the support and encouragement I received from certain teachers who truly believed in me. Their guidance helped me build confidence, especially during challenging times. A specific program that stood out was the science club, where I was able to explore my curiosity beyond the classroom and work on creative projects with others who shared my interests.

Review Would you recommend it?

I would recommend this school to students more interested in sports and arts rather than academics. There is a lack of attention towards the academic side of teaching, with some teachers teaching in more than one subject, sometimes with the subjects having no correlation to each other (e.g. drama & science).… Read all

I would recommend this school to students more interested in sports and arts rather than academics. There is a lack of attention towards the academic side of teaching, with some teachers teaching in more than one subject, sometimes with the subjects having no correlation to each other (e.g. drama & science). Not saying that the teachers or teaching faculty is bad, it could be better. The school is known for its excellence programs in sports like rugby and netball and in the arts like dance and drama, so go to wavell if that seems more your speed. The overall experience wasn't bad, but myself and my peers did experience bullying, racism, saw violence occur on campus and there was minimal help from administration to resolve these issues, therefore these things remained an issues for years.

Review Expectations versus reality

The school generally meets or exceeds academic expectations, particularly in STEM and arts. For instance, the **Enhanced Learning Program (ELP)** challenges high-achievers with advanced coursework, while vocational education (VET) provides practical pathways. Some students note uneven teaching quality… Read all

The school generally meets or exceeds academic expectations, particularly in STEM and arts. For instance, the **Enhanced Learning Program (ELP)** challenges high-achievers with advanced coursework, while vocational education (VET) provides practical pathways. Some students note uneven teaching quality in elective subjects, but overall, the school’s strong NAPLAN and ATAR results reflect its academic commitment.

Review Why we chose this school

We chose Indooroopilly State High School because of its strong academic reputation, diverse student community, and excellent extracurricular offerings, especially in music, STEM and language programs. We live within the catchment, so no major move was needed, but we did consider private options and decided… Read all

We chose Indooroopilly State High School because of its strong academic reputation, diverse student community, and excellent extracurricular offerings, especially in music, STEM and language programs. We live within the catchment, so no major move was needed, but we did consider private options and decided Indooroopilly SHS provided comparable quality without the high tuition fees. We absolutely feel the school is worth it given the quality of teaching, facilities and the wide range of opportunities available to students. It has met and, in many ways, exceeded our expectations.

Review What we like and dislike

I like the academic programs the school provides and the music and culture programs. I dislike the bullying system and child support the school gives.

Review Would you recommend it?

QASMT is a school where the experience greatly depends on your character. It is fast-paced, competitive and highly academic-focused. If you thrive in these environments and are disciplined and self-motivated, I would highly recommend QA to you. Not only are you surrounded by like-minded students whose… Read all

QASMT is a school where the experience greatly depends on your character. It is fast-paced, competitive and highly academic-focused. If you thrive in these environments and are disciplined and self-motivated, I would highly recommend QA to you. Not only are you surrounded by like-minded students whose focus is all on achieving good grades, which in turn motivates you to work harder, but the school provides an abundance of academic-based opportunities such as clubs and events to increase your knowledge. On the other hand, if you tend to procrastinate or are not very disciplined, QASMT will likely be more harmful than good. It is incredibly easy to fall behind on studies due to the difficult nature of the IB program, and I, along with many others, were burnt out and sleep-deprived, particularly in the senior years. The IB program demands much more than the ATAR system- we have to write an extended essay, do philosophy (TOK) and undergo the CAS (creativity, activity, service) program on top of the six regular subjects. Additionally, the subjects offered at QA are much more restricting than other schools. Ultimately, whether I recommend QASMT depends on the person. If you work well under high pressure and can stay on top of your studies, then I would recommend it as it provides an environment where you can shine. On the other hand, it is incredibly demanding and stressful, so if you struggle with procrastination or do not care much for academics, then QASMT is not for you (and that's okay!).

Review School culture

As mentioned previously, QASMT is highly competitive and academics-focused. Students strive for good grades, and this culture is supported by the school itself in the way that award ceremonies are constantly held and students are praised for their achievements. QASMT prides itself in this, additionally… Read all

As mentioned previously, QASMT is highly competitive and academics-focused. Students strive for good grades, and this culture is supported by the school itself in the way that award ceremonies are constantly held and students are praised for their achievements. QASMT prides itself in this, additionally expecting students to maintain a high standard of dress and behaviour both in and out of the school with strict rules. Because of this, most students had the same mindset- do well and graduate with a high score. Although it was competitive, it was more the reason for students to band together and support one another. In a program like IB that's incredibly difficult, it was almost impossible for anyone to get through it alone- at least, that was my experience. I found that people were more than happy to help each other, sharing notes and teaching each other concepts. As the IB does not rely on a bell-curve grading system like the ATAR, this means that one person getting a high score does not make it harder for another person to do well. This is one thing that I appreciated- that we competed with ourselves to be constantly better rather than be in competition with others where people would ultimately be more selfish with resources etc. in order to do good.

Review What had the biggest impact

The arts program was fantastic, and run by extremely passionate teachers. There were some poor teachers there - at one point I was sexually harassed by a teacher who the school knew was creepy to students and it ended up becoming a legal matter. He was let go after it escalated legally, though. Other… Read all

The arts program was fantastic, and run by extremely passionate teachers. There were some poor teachers there - at one point I was sexually harassed by a teacher who the school knew was creepy to students and it ended up becoming a legal matter. He was let go after it escalated legally, though. Other teachers were openly racist or homophobic. Generally, a culture of permissiveness towards whatever teachers did, even if it was objectively harmful.

Review What had the biggest impact

personally there was no programs or teachers who are currently at the school now that stood out to me. There was one teacher that I did have for chemistry who was very supportive and understanding although not being the class with the most well-behaved students she would always put her best interest… Read all

personally there was no programs or teachers who are currently at the school now that stood out to me. There was one teacher that I did have for chemistry who was very supportive and understanding although not being the class with the most well-behaved students she would always put her best interest towards the students first and would do her best to help. However, this teacher has now moved to a different school and is no longer a staff member at the school hence there are no specific teachers who stood out and there weren’t too many opportunities that the other teachers and council were able to offer to the students. To find opportunities the students had to go out of their way and research and bring these topics and possible opportunities up to the guidance officer in order to get their attention and to gain support over specific opportunities that they wanted to take on.

Review Chances to take part in the arts

The performance plus programs was the avenue for students to foster their talents, and was open to students for auditions and rehearsals. Musicians THRIVE at the school. Filmmakers and backstage crew get great creative opportunities. The dance program is gradually growing. Visual arts are also slowly… Read all

The performance plus programs was the avenue for students to foster their talents, and was open to students for auditions and rehearsals. Musicians THRIVE at the school. Filmmakers and backstage crew get great creative opportunities. The dance program is gradually growing. Visual arts are also slowly getting the centenary name out to the community. There is an even split of resources to each program, and students and staff work together to build up talents and repertoire.

Review Would you recommend it?

I would definitely recommend the school. I was the kind of student to do all kinds of extra curricular activities and the school had provided plenty of opportunities for all kinds of students. Their performance plus program and participation into CGEN competitions is a great creative outlet for arts… Read all

I would definitely recommend the school. I was the kind of student to do all kinds of extra curricular activities and the school had provided plenty of opportunities for all kinds of students. Their performance plus program and participation into CGEN competitions is a great creative outlet for arts students to develop their talents and gain exposure to industry and community. The school is also a regular sporting competitor at the state level, and has a competitive spirit that cannot be ignored across all sports programs. I was part of the basketball team, and have seen students excel in athletics, swimming, rugby, touch football and many more. The school has also welcomed a serious chess program, with mentors, a FIDE master, and chess teachers paving the way for students to get better at the game. Students have also regularly placed in district competitions and are fighting their way through higher level comps. The school has an outstanding debating and public speaking endeavour. I have adjudicated and competed at the national level, and have placed in competitions by the english speaking union and U.N youth.

Review Experience of arts activities

My child does not participate in any creative art/performing activities at school. Although they have not participated, the programs provided seem quite good and inclusive.

Review Camps and excursions

QACI only had one camp for everyone at the start of year 10 which I did not love. But we also went to Dreamworld for a science excursion which was fun. The dance students also did trips to see performances which was really great. I liked when we went to QUT and joined in with the uni program.

Review What had the biggest impact

The biggest impact on me was probably the connections you make. I made a lot of close friends at QACI and there is a lot of events surrounding “school spirit” that make your time fun. I also am grateful for opportunities that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere, such as recording in a music studio, helping… Read all

The biggest impact on me was probably the connections you make. I made a lot of close friends at QACI and there is a lot of events surrounding “school spirit” that make your time fun. I also am grateful for opportunities that I wouldn’t have had elsewhere, such as recording in a music studio, helping my visual art friends paint, and learning the IB program.

Review Chances to take part in the arts

The school offered a wide variety of arts programs that were accessible to all students. There were numerous opportunities to participate in music, drama, and visual arts, with regular classes, after-school clubs, and special workshops. The music program included choir, band, and individual instrument… Read all

The school offered a wide variety of arts programs that were accessible to all students. There were numerous opportunities to participate in music, drama, and visual arts, with regular classes, after-school clubs, and special workshops. The music program included choir, band, and individual instrument lessons, while the drama program put on several productions each year, allowing students to get involved in acting, set design, and stage management. The visual arts program provided access to a well-equipped studio and organized exhibitions of student work. These activities were frequent and well-supported, fostering a vibrant creative environment. The image that best reflects this environment would be one showing students actively engaged in diverse artistic activities, such as a group painting in the studio or performing in a school play.

Review Subject range and curiosity

…paths. In addition to core subjects, there were numerous electives such as Drama, Music, Computer Science, and Environmental Studies, which allowed students to explore their passions. The school also encouraged curiosity and engagement through various initiatives. For example, we had a "Curiosity Week"… Read all

Yes, my school offered a wide range of subject choices that catered to various interests and career paths. In addition to core subjects, there were numerous electives such as Drama, Music, Computer Science, and Environmental Studies, which allowed students to explore their passions. The school also encouraged curiosity and engagement through various initiatives. For example, we had a "Curiosity Week" where students could attend workshops on topics not covered in the regular curriculum, such as robotics, creative writing, and sustainable living. Additionally, the school promoted character values and creativity through community service projects, like organizing charity events and participating in local environmental clean-ups. These activities helped students develop a well-rounded perspective and fostered a sense of responsibility and teamwork beyond academic achievements.

Review Chances to take part in the arts

The opportunities to participate in arts programs is vast at Brisbane Bayside State College. The school is equipped with its own art gallery, to showcase past students arts. The school commonly hosts musicals, so drama students can see what performing on the big stage feels like. The reception for these… Read all

The opportunities to participate in arts programs is vast at Brisbane Bayside State College. The school is equipped with its own art gallery, to showcase past students arts. The school commonly hosts musicals, so drama students can see what performing on the big stage feels like. The reception for these musicals has been especially positive.

Review Chances to take part in the arts

lots of opportunities if you participated in arts programs (music camps, plays, talent shows)