All - Blog | BestSchools Australia

Culture & Community

5 min read

Parent Involvement & Communication Playbook

Assess how schools partner with families through governance, feedback loops, and day-to-day communication.

Family reviewing school worship calendar

Culture & Community

5 min read

Religious or Secular? Understanding School Fit

Compare public, Catholic, and independent faith models so your family's beliefs, inclusion needs, and rituals align.

Students leading a multicultural assembly

Culture & Community

5 min read

Community, Inclusivity and the School "Vibe"

Measure how welcoming a school feels by auditing inclusion data, student voice, and daily interactions.

Parents reviewing a school culture checklist

Culture & Community

13 min read

School Culture & Values: The 2026 Fit Guide

Decode school culture, values, community vibe, and parent partnerships so you can enrol where your child will thrive.

School principal speaking with parents about school values

Culture & Community

5 min read

School Values & Ethos in Practice

Turn glossy mission statements into evidence by mapping values to rituals, teaching, and accountability before you enrol.

School Rankings

12 min read

VCE School Rankings: Top 10 Victorian Schools for 2025

Discover Victoria's highest-achieving schools for 2025, with detailed ATAR analysis and VCE performance data to help you make an informed choice.

Parent reviewing a school's bullying policy folder

Wellbeing & Safety

6 min read

Bullying Policies in Schools: Beyond the Brochure

Interrogate every promise in a school's bullying policy—from definitions and reporting pathways to restorative practice and data transparency.

Teacher facilitating a restorative circle

Wellbeing & Safety

5 min read

Discipline, Behaviour & School Climate: Questions for 2025

Evaluate how Australian schools balance high expectations, restorative approaches, and inclusive supports to maintain a calm climate.

School wellbeing coordinator meeting with a student and parent

Wellbeing & Safety

6 min read

Pastoral Care & Student Support in Schools: Assessing the Safety Net

Evaluate how Australian schools staff, coordinate, and communicate pastoral care so your child always has a trusted safety net.

Teacher taking students through a wellbeing reflection activity

Wellbeing & Safety

6 min read

Wellbeing Programmes in Schools: What Good Looks Like in 2025

Use this field guide to interrogate Australian school wellbeing programmes—curriculum, staffing, data, and culture—before you enrol.

Parent reviewing a wellbeing checklist with their child

Wellbeing & Safety

8 min read

Student Wellbeing & Safety in Schools: The 2025 Evidence Guide

Audit wellbeing programmes, bullying prevention, pastoral care, and behaviour systems so your child learns in a safe, supportive environment.

Teacher guiding students through an enrichment activity

School Rankings

5 min read

Academic Support & Enrichment Programs That Actually Deliver

Spot the scaffolds that help every student thrive, from literacy interventions to selective extension pathways across Australian schools.

Parents discussing school culture and wellbeing

School Rankings

4 min read

How to Judge Schools Beyond the Rankings

Evaluate wellbeing, teaching quality, and growth indicators so you can judge Australian schools on more than headline academic rankings.

Parent reviewing Australian school performance data on a laptop

School Rankings

7 min read

School Performance & Results Explained: A 2025 Guide

Translate NAPLAN, senior exam data, and growth metrics so you can judge Australian schools beyond headline rankings and find the best fit for your child.

School Rankings

4 min read

How to Read Australian School Rankings: A 2025 Guide

Learn how Australian school rankings are compiled, what metrics to trust, and how to compare My School numbers without getting misled by league tables.

School Rankings

4 min read

VCE, HSC & ATAR Results Explained for Australian Families

Break down senior secondary results across Australia, understand study scores and bands, and translate ATARs into meaningful pathways for your family.

Australian family reviewing boarding and day school options

Education Guides

5 min read

Boarding vs Day Schools: Making the Right Choice

Compare boarding and day secondary schools in Australia across wellbeing, logistics, and cost so you can choose the best fit for your family.

Australian parents reviewing secondary school options with their teenager

Education Guides

10 min read

Choosing the Right Secondary School in 2025

Compare co-ed, single-sex, selective, and boarding secondary schools in VIC and NSW to build the right shortlist for Year 7 in 2026.

Parents comparing secondary school options on a laptop

Education Guides

7 min read

Secondary School Choice: A Guide for Australian Families

Work through criteria, evidence, and decision frameworks to pick the best secondary school pathway in VIC or NSW for 2026.

Parents examining a secondary school tour brochure

Education Guides

5 min read

The Ultimate Secondary School Open Day Checklist

Plan, attend, and debrief secondary school open days and expos across VIC and NSW so you capture the details that matter.

Teenagers discussing secondary school options

Education Guides

5 min read

Single-Sex vs Co-ed Schools: Secondary Schooling Explained

Weigh culture, wellbeing, and academic outcomes when deciding between single-sex and co-educational secondary schools in Australia.

Australian parents comparing primary schools with their child

Education Guides

9 min read

Choosing the Right Primary School in 2025

Step-by-step guidance for Australian parents comparing local versus private primary schools, planning tours, and preparing for Prep and Kindy in 2025.

Parent weighing local and private primary school options

Education Guides

6 min read

Local vs Private Primary Schools: How to Choose the Best Fit

Compare the pros, costs, and community impact of staying with your local government primary versus opting for private or Catholic schools in Australia.

Child attending Prep orientation with parents

Education Guides

5 min read

Prep & Kindy Orientation Guide: Readiness Tips for Australian Parents

Everything Australian parents need to prepare children for Prep and Kindy orientation, from readiness checkpoints to social stories and routines.

Parent taking notes during a primary school tour

Education Guides

5 min read

The Ultimate Primary School Tour Checklist for Australian Parents

Detailed checklist and question prompts to help Australian parents evaluate primary schools during open days and private tours.

Parent interviewing a primary school principal

Education Guides

5 min min read

Key Questions to Ask a Primary School Principal: A Parent's Guide

A strategic question set for Australian parents meeting primary school principals, covering academics, wellbeing, and enrolment logistics.

Family visiting an Australian Catholic school campus

Education Guides

6 min read

Catholic Schools in Australia: Costs, Culture & Curriculum

Understand Catholic school culture, costs, enrolment priorities and support so you can decide if the sector fits your family.

Parents comparing government, Catholic and independent schools in Australia

Education Guides

10 min read

Government vs Catholic vs Independent Schools: A 2025 Comparison

Compare government, Catholic and independent schools on cost, culture, enrolments and outcomes so you can choose the right sector in 2025.

Parents comparing public and private school options in Australia

Education Guides

6 min read

Public vs Private Schools in Australia: 2025 Comparison

Compare public and private schools on teaching, support, fees and enrolment so you can decide which pathway fits your family.

Infographic showing Australian school funding sources

Education Guides

7 min read

How Australian Schools Are Funded: A 2025 Update

Demystify government, Catholic and independent school funding so you can understand fees, facilities and what resources to expect.

Australian map showing school catchment boundaries

Education Guides

6 min read

School Zones and Catchments in Australia Explained

Learn how school zones work in every Australian state, how to check your address and what to do when applying out of area.

Australian family moving and preparing for the first day at a new school

Education Guides

8 min read

Moving Schools Between Australian States: A Relocation Guide

Relocating with school-aged children? Learn how to align year levels, curricula, enrolments, and wellbeing support when moving anywhere in Australia.

Parent walking a child with a backpack through Australian school gates

Education Guides

9 min read

Primary vs Secondary School in Australia: What You Need to Know

Compare primary and secondary schooling in Australia so you can support your child through every transition with confidence.

Mother walking with two uniformed children toward an Australian school

Education Guides

9 min read

Australian Senior Certificates Explained: VCE, HSC, QCE & More

Understand every Australian state's senior secondary certificate, assessment style, and how results translate into the ATAR so you can guide your teen with confidence.

Education Guides

19 min read

Australian School System Explained: A State-by-State Guide

Understand Foundation to Year 12 across all Australian states and territories, including starting ages, state-specific terms, curricula, and senior certificates.

Education Guides

7 min read

Australian School Levels & Ages: The Complete Parent's Guide

Learn how school year levels align with ages across all Australian states and territories, from Foundation to Year 12.

Education Guides

6 min read

Catholic Schools Are Nothing Like What You Think They Are

And that's exactly why 800,000 Australian families chose them. Discover the truth about Catholic education, costs, and why you don't need to be Catholic to benefit.

Religious schools accepting diverse families

Education Guides

7 min read

Your Kid's Private School Wants You to Think Religion Matters. Here's Why They're Wrong

The truth about religious schools that 67% of non-religious parents already know. Discover why private religious schools in Australia care more about fees than faith.

Education Guides

9 min read

Cracking the Code: Independent School Scholarships in Australia

What parents need to know—and what most miss entirely. Learn the real steps, timelines, and secrets to winning scholarships at top Australian Independent Schools.

Education Guides

6 min read

School Readiness in Australia: The Complete 2025 Parent Guide

Is my child ready for prep? Discover what school readiness really means in Australia, how to help your child, and get a free assessment tool.

Child development milestones through the school years

Education Guides

15 min read

School Milestones Guide: Is Your Child on Track?

Discover key developmental milestones your child should reach throughout their school years and learn how to support their growth at each stage.

Education Guides

8 min read

Australian Child Development Guide: School Milestones

From Kindergarten to Year 12: Learn how to spot key academic, social, physical, and organisational milestones for Australian kids – and when to relax or seek support.

Choosing the best school for your child illustration

Education Guides

8 min read

How to Choose a School: A Comprehensive Guide for Australian Parents

A comprehensive guide helping Australian parents navigate school choices and make confident decisions about their child's education.

Education Guides

5 min read

Public vs Private Education in Australia: The 2025 Comparison Guide

An expert comparison of Australia's public and private education systems, helping parents understand their options and make informed decisions about their child's schooling.

Education Guides

18 min read

Australian School Year Levels by State: A Parent's Complete Guide (2025)

Navigate the different school year level names and requirements across Australian states and territories with our comprehensive guide for parents.

School Rankings

12 min read

VCE School Rankings: Top 10 Victorian Schools for 2024

Discover Victoria's highest-achieving schools for 2024, with detailed ATAR analysis and VCE performance data to help you make an informed choice for your child's education.