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.
41 schools where people talk about “coding” and academic pressure and results.
Also counting related words: programming, robotics, digital technolog, computer science. Schools where “coding” 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
Strong evidence8 separate reviews mention it, out of 22.
Comes up in 36% of 22 reviews · 2.6× the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 36% Brisbane 14%
Of 11 comments: 4 speak well of it · 2 mixed
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 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!).
3 more from Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology
Review What had the biggest impact
The school environment and constantly being surrounded by people that are also so hard-working and motivated definitely had the largest positive impact on me in terms of encouraging me to achieve my best. IB is an extremely academically demanding program, and as a result, my last final 2 years really tested my ability to time manage, balance my extracurriculars and work efficiently. These skills I feel have allowed me to find strengths and weaknesses in studying which was useful in university. Furthermore, as a result of school's emphasis on STEM, students at SMT often get the opportunity to join many university based programs, listen to specialists and attend seminars, all of which I know has inspired many students to pursue a career in STEM> Overall, my interactions with my teachers, and their willingness to always help, as well as their genuine passion for teaching has left a lasting impact on my view on ability to communicate my problems and seek help. I know the teachers at SMT has not only inspired but also challenged the students to always keep learning.
Review Something only students would know
Some things unique to the school is that doing QA/IB is a lot different from ATAR curriculum, in that there is a lot of independent learning that needs to be done. Therefore, I would not recommend the school for students who struggles to understand concepts or work off/ search for their own online resources. Furthermore, diversity is really big in QA, so there is a huge emphasise on sharing cultures and celebrating differences, which I really enjoyed. Extracurricular activities such as robotics are also very popular in QA, and students often spend their lunch times either attending the clubs for these activities, or involving themselves in clubs for service, or even beekeeping. The SMT community is also very small and everyone basically knows eachother. Students are also very willing to help others.
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 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.
7 more review mentions. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for competitive-entry state schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
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Co-ed · State · Aspley
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 1,248
Thin evidenceOnly one mention so far. Treat it as one person’s view.
Comes up in 33% of 3 reviews · 2.4× the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 33% Brisbane 14%
Review Subject range and curiosity
There were a fair few of subjects i think. I know we did not offer all of them, as i know people in uni who did engineering and study of religion and philosophy which were not offered. But yeah it's not like they didn't offer subject electives. Just mainly the basic ones like food studies and coding.
Indooroopilly State High School
Co-ed · State · Indooroopilly
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 2,910
Some evidenceNobody here says “coding” itself; 4 people mention related words.
Comes up in 17% of 23 reviews · about the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 17% Brisbane 14%
Of 8 comments: 7 speak well of it
Review Balancing academics and wellbeing
Indooroopilly State High School effectively balances academic rigor with student well-being and character development. The school offers programs like **Peer Support** and **Respectful Relationships** to foster qualities such as empathy and integrity. For example, annual community service initiatives… Read all
Indooroopilly State High School effectively balances academic rigor with student well-being and character development. The school offers programs like **Peer Support** and **Respectful Relationships** to foster qualities such as empathy and integrity. For example, annual community service initiatives (e.g., fundraising for local charities) encourage generosity. Teachers often integrate "life lessons" into subjects, such as discussing ethical dilemmas in Humanities. However, some students report stress during exam periods, suggesting room for enhanced mental health support
2 more from Indooroopilly State High School
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 What we like and dislike
Likes: Dedicated teachers who go out of their way to support students. Strong academic focus with extension and enrichment options. Diverse cultural environment that teaches respect and global awareness. Good music and sports programs. Modern facilities, especially the science labs and the new performing… Read all
Likes: Dedicated teachers who go out of their way to support students. Strong academic focus with extension and enrichment options. Diverse cultural environment that teaches respect and global awareness. Good music and sports programs. Modern facilities, especially the science labs and the new performing arts centre Dislikes: The school can feel quite large and sometimes a bit impersonal. Parking and drop-off zones are often congested.
5 more review mentions. A free account opens them, and you don't need a card.
Create free accountSign inMansfield State High School
Co-ed · State, competitive entry · Mansfield
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 3,978
Some evidenceNobody here says “coding” itself; 8 people mention related words.
Comes up in 29% of 28 reviews · 2.1× the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 29% Brisbane 14%
Of 9 comments: 5 speak well of it · 2 mixed
9 more review mentions. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for competitive-entry state schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
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Co-ed · State · Chermside West
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 1,241
Some evidenceNobody here says “coding” itself; 3 people mention related words.
Comes up in 30% of 10 reviews · 2.2× the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 30% Brisbane 14%
Of 4 comments: 4 speak well of it
4 more review mentions. A free account opens them, and you don't need a card.
Create free accountSign inAll Hallows' School
Girls · Catholic · Fortitude Valley
- Fees $23,485 a year (2026, Year 12)
- Sport CaSSSA
- Median ATAR 93.4 (2025)source
- Students 1,733
Some evidenceNobody here says “coding” itself; 2 people mention related words.
Comes up in 22% of 9 reviews · 1.6× the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 22% Brisbane 14%
Of 3 comments: 2 speak well of it · 1 mixed
3 more review mentions. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
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Co-ed · State · Forest Lake
- Fees No tuition fees (state school)
- Students 1,685
Some evidenceNobody here says “coding” itself; 2 people mention related words.
Comes up in 50% of 4 reviews · 3.6× the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 50% Brisbane 14%
Of 2 comments: 2 speak well of it
Review Expectations versus reality
I had high academic expectations for the school, hoping for strong teaching, a well-rounded curriculum, and opportunities for advanced learning. I’m happy to say it has exceeded my expectations, especially in providing a solid foundation in both core subjects and critical thinking. The school has also… Read all
I had high academic expectations for the school, hoping for strong teaching, a well-rounded curriculum, and opportunities for advanced learning. I’m happy to say it has exceeded my expectations, especially in providing a solid foundation in both core subjects and critical thinking. The school has also offered enrichment programs that I didn’t initially expect, which has been a pleasant surprise and has really challenged my daughter in a positive way.
1 more from Forest Lake State High School
Review Expectations versus reality
My academic expectations were that the school would provide a strong, challenging curriculum while also supporting my child's individual learning needs. The school has definitely met those expectations, offering rigorous programs and a variety of resources to help students succeed. It’s exceeded my expectations… Read all
My academic expectations were that the school would provide a strong, challenging curriculum while also supporting my child's individual learning needs. The school has definitely met those expectations, offering rigorous programs and a variety of resources to help students succeed. It’s exceeded my expectations in terms of personalized attention and the variety of subjects and extracurriculars available to my child.
St Joseph’s College (Gregory Terrace)
Boys · Catholic · Spring Hill
- Fees $26,439 a year (2026, Years 7-12)
- Sport GPS
- Median ATAR 93.35 (2024)source
- Students 1,959
Some evidenceNobody here says “coding” itself; 3 people mention related words.
Comes up in 11% of 18 reviews · about the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 11% Brisbane 14%
Of 3 comments: 2 speak well of it
2 more review mentions and 1 more Open Day Reflection. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
Get Full AccessSign inSt Peters Lutheran College
Co-ed · Independent · Indooroopilly
- Fees $26,786 a year (2026, Years 10-12 day students)
- Sport QGSSSA (girls), AIC (boys)
- Median ATAR 90.5 (2025)source
- Students 2,302
- Boarding
Some evidenceNobody here says “coding” itself; 3 people mention related words.
Comes up in 16% of 19 reviews · about the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 16% Brisbane 14%
Of 3 comments: 2 speak well of it
3 more review mentions. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
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Boys · Independent · East Brisbane
- Fees $36,232 a year (2026, Years 11-12)
- Sport GPS
- Median ATAR 90.85 (2025)source
- Students 1,895
- Boarding (boys only)
Some evidenceNobody here says “coding” itself; 2 people mention related words.
Comes up in 18% of 11 reviews · about the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 18% Brisbane 14%
Of 3 comments: 3 speak well of it
3 more review mentions. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
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Boys · Independent · Spring Hill
- Fees $37,960 a year (2026, Years 7-12)
- Sport GPS
- Median ATAR 95 (2025)source
- Students 2,021
- Boarding (boys only)
Some evidenceNobody here says “coding” itself; 2 people mention related words.
Comes up in 17% of 12 reviews · about the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 17% Brisbane 14%
Of 3 comments: 3 speak well of it
3 more review mentions. Reviews and Open Day Reflections for independent and Catholic schools are part of Full Access: one $289 payment, no subscription.
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Co-ed · Independent · Bray Park
- Fees $11,390 a year (2026, Year 12 first student)
- Students 1,614
Thin evidenceNobody here says “coding” itself; 1 person mentions related words.
Comes up in 14% of 7 reviews · about the Brisbane average (14%)
This school 14% Brisbane 14%
Of 2 comments: 1 mixed
2 more review mentions. 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