In their words
Which schools suit what your child loves?
Search for a sport, instrument, subject or worry to see which Brisbane schools people mention it at, and what they said. Tick up to three schools to compare them.
5 schools where people talk about “tutoring” and honest downsides.
Also counting related words: tutor, homework club, extra help, study support. Schools where “tutoring” itself comes up are listed first.
Order:Best matchMost talked aboutLowest feesA to Z
How we work these numbers out
- Order. “Best match” puts schools where your exact word comes up first. “Most talked about” uses the share of reviews that mention it. Neither is a ranking of how good a school is.
- Comes up in X% of reviews is the share of the school's reviews that mention your search. The Brisbane average is the same share across all Brisbane schools.
- Speak well, mixed or raise concerns is worked out by software, using only the sentences about your search. It's right most of the time but not always, so read what people said.
- What students did comes from the sports and activities former students ticked in their review. We show it when at least 3 answered.
- Evidence is strong when 5 or more of at least 10 reviews mention it, some when 2 or more people do, and thin when only one person does.
- Facts such as fees, ATAR and enrolments come from each school's own documents. Fees cover different year levels at different schools, so compare carefully.
- Open Day Reflections come from our visits to 2026 open days. They're useful, but they reflect the school's own voice.
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology
Co-ed · State, competitive entry · Toowong
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Median ATAR 94.75 (2025)source
- Students 1,370
Thin evidenceOnly one mention so far. Treat it as one person’s view.
Comes up in 5% of 22 reviews · 4.5× the Brisbane average (1%)
This school 5% Brisbane 1%
Review What had the biggest impact
…others like my chemistry teacher were confusing and I ended up having to resort to external tutoring to understand. It was also a shame that the school had a high staff turnover rate. I had three different English teachers in Grade 11 because they kept leaving. This was particularly frustrating as… Read all
Teachers had a massive impact on the students, and it was obvious through the students' grades. For example, in Grade 10, one of the science classes had a much higher fail rate than the rest of the other classes for an exam. The difference? The teacher. I had friends from that class improve substantially the following term when their teacher left and a new one came in. Although my experience wasn't as dramatic, teachers were still incredibly important. While some teachers helped me understand the concept immediately, others like my chemistry teacher were confusing and I ended up having to resort to external tutoring to understand. It was also a shame that the school had a high staff turnover rate. I had three different English teachers in Grade 11 because they kept leaving. This was particularly frustrating as personal feedback (e.g. feedback on progress over different exams) is incredibly important in subjective subjects such as English. When new teachers come in, they know nothing about you or your knowledge as a student, and thus their feedback is limited and may not be as helpful as it could be.
Citipointe Christian College
Co-ed · Independent · Carindale
- Fees $16,164 a year (2026, Years 10-12, all-inclusive)
- Sport ISC
- Median ATAR 88.15 (2025)source
- Students 1,764
Thin evidenceNobody here says “tutoring” itself; 1 person mentions related words.
Comes up in 13% of 8 reviews · 13× the Brisbane average (1%)
This school 13% Brisbane 1%
Of 1 comment: 1 speaks well of it
1 more review mention. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
Get Full AccessSign inForest Lake State High School
Co-ed · State · Forest Lake
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 1,685
Thin evidenceNobody here says “tutoring” itself; 1 person mentions related words.
Comes up in 25% of 4 reviews · 25× the Brisbane average (1%)
This school 25% Brisbane 1%
Of 1 comment: 1 mixed
Review What we like and dislike
I really like the supportive community and how the school offers a lot of opportunities for growth, both academically and personally. The teachers are great, and my child has access to a variety of extracurriculars that help them thrive. The only downside is the extra fees for programs; it would be nice… Read all
I really like the supportive community and how the school offers a lot of opportunities for growth, both academically and personally. The teachers are great, and my child has access to a variety of extracurriculars that help them thrive. The only downside is the extra fees for programs; it would be nice if some were more affordable or included in the regular costs.
Kelvin Grove State College
Co-ed · State · Kelvin Grove
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 3,646
Thin evidenceNobody here says “tutoring” itself; 1 person mentions related words.
Comes up in 5% of 19 reviews · 5.3× the Brisbane average (1%)
This school 5% Brisbane 1%
Of 1 comment: 1 raises concerns
Review Support for students who struggle
I’m not too sure about this one. My children were all pretty quiet and reserved so they didn’t like getting extra help unfortunately.
St Mary's College
Girls · Catholic · Ipswich
- Fees $7,275 a year (2026, Years 11-12, first student)
- Sport CaSSSA
- Students 772
Thin evidenceNobody here says “tutoring” itself; 1 person mentions related words.
Comes up in 20% of 5 reviews · 20× the Brisbane average (1%)
This school 20% Brisbane 1%
1 more review mention. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
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Reviews come from parents and former students whose link to the school we've checked. Open Day Reflections come from our recordings at 2026 open days. Words in [brackets] were unclear, and […] marks a skipped part. They reflect the school's own voice, so read them alongside the reviews. How reviews work