Deciding which high school your Brisbane kid should attend is one of the most important educational decisions a parent will make, and attending a high school open day or high school tour is the best place to start.
Brisbane is blessed with many great schools, so it isn’t always an easy choice. There are state, religious and independent schools, many offering specialist areas and excellence programs. Other things to consider include the location (catchments), cost, performance, sport and other activities, and subjects offered.
Although you can glean a lot of information from a school’s website or via oneschool, nothing beats attending an open day or joining a tour to get a feel for whether a school is the right fit for your child.
Booking a High School Open Day
Most open days and tours require bookings, so the best thing to do is visit the school website or ring the school directly to find out specific details. Some schools conduct regular tours, while others will offer one-on-one tours.
If you can’t attend an open day, contact the school to see if they can accommodate you at another time.
Brisbane High School Open Days for 2024
While every effort has been made to provide correct details we do suggest contacting the individual school you wish to visit to confirm dates and booking requirements. This is mainly just private and independent schools due to the sheer volume of state schools across Brisbane.
All Hallows School – Fortitude Valley
Catholic Girls’ School Yr 5 – 12 www.ahs.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: 4pm – 7pm on Tuesday 5 March 2024. Register here.
Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) – East Brisbane
Anglican Boys’ Prep – Yr 12 www.churchie.com.au
OPEN DAY: Wednesday 1 May 2024. Registration required
Australian Trade College – Scarborough
Co-ed Yr 11 and 12 www.tradecollege.com.au
INFORMATION EVENINGS: 6pm – 8.30pm on 27 February, 1 May, 4 June, 30 July, 3 September, and 22 October 2024. Register here.
Aviation High – Clayfield
Co-ed Yr 7-12 www.aviationhigh.eq.edu.au
OPEN DAY: TBA – contact school
Brigidine College – Indooroopilly
Catholic Secondary Girls’ School. www.brigidine.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: TBA
DISCOVERY TOUR: Thursday 15 February 2024. Register here.
Brisbane Adventist College – Mansfield
Co-ed Christian Prep – Yr 12 www.bac.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: Contact school.
Brisbane Boys’ College – Toowong
Independent Boys’ Prep -12 Boarding and Day School www.bbc.qld.edu.au
MIDDLE SCHOOL AND SENIOR SCHOOL TOURS: 9am – 10am on Friday 23 February 2024. Register here.
Brisbane Christian College – Salisbury
Co-ed Christian Pre-prep – Yr 12 www.brisbanechristiancollege.com.au
TOURS: Regular tours. Book here
Brisbane Girls Grammar School – Spring Hill
Independent Yr 7-12 Girls’ School www.bggs.qld.edu.au
SCHOOL TOURS: Regular tours – book here.
Brisbane Grammar School – Brisbane
Independent Yr 5 -12 Boys’ School www.brisbanegrammar.com
OPEN DAY: Saturday 27 April 2024. Register here.
Calvary Christian College – Carbrook and Springwood
Co-ed, Childcare – Yr 12 www.calvarycc.qld.edu.au
PRINCIPAL’S TOUR: 5.30pm – 6.30pm on Tuesday 27 February (Carbrook) and Wednesday 28 February 2024 (Springwood)
Cannon Hill Anglican College – Cannon Hill
Co-ed Prep -Yr 12 www.chac.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: Limited personal tours in 2024.
Canterbury College – Waterford
Independent Co-ed Kindy – Yr 12 www.canterbury.qld.edu.au
TOURS: 9am – 11am on Monday 18 March 2024. Register here.
Carmel College – Thornlands
Catholic Co-ed Yr 7-12 www.carmelcollege.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: TBA – contact school.
Citipointe Christian College – Carindale
Independent Co-ed Prep – Yr 12. https://citipointe.qld.edu.au/
SECONDARY SHOWCASE TOUR: From 5pm on 5 March 2024. Register here.
Clairvaux MacKillop College – Mount Gravatt
Catholic Co-ed, Yr 7-12 www.cvxmck.edu.au
COLLEGE TOURS: 9am – 10.30am on Friday 8 March and 3 May 2024. Register here.
Clayfield College – Clayfield
Independent Pre-Prep – Yr 12 Day and Boarding School. Transitioning to fully co-educational in 2023. www.clayfield.qld.edu.au
PRINCIPAL-LED TOURS: 9am on Wednesday 6 March, 8 May, 23 July, 16 October 2024. Register here
Faith Lutheran College – Victoria Point
Independent Prep – Yr 12 Co-ed. www.faithlutheran.qld.edu.au
PRINCIPAL TOURS: 4pm – 5.30pm on Thursday 29 February 2024. Register here.
Genesis Christian College – Bray Park
Independent Co-ed Prep-Yr 12 www.genesis.qld.edu.au
OPEN MORNING: TBA – contact the College.
Grace Lutheran College – Rothwell and Caboolture
Co-ed Secondary College. https://www.glc.qld.edu.au/
OPEN DAYS: TBA (usually in May)
Hillbrook Anglican School – Enoggera
Co-ed Yr 7-12 School www.hillbrook.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: TBA – contact school.
Iona College – Wynnum West
Catholic Boys’ College www.iona.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: 1.30pm – 4pm on Friday 24 May 2024.
Ipswich Girls’ Grammar School – East Ipswich
Independent Girls’ Prep – Yr 12 www.girlsgrammar.com.au
DISCOVERY TOURS: 14 March, 5 June, 11 July, 22 August and 22 October 2024. Register online.
Ipswich Grammar School – East Brisbane
Independent Boys’ School Prep – Yr 12. www.ipswichgrammar.com
OPEN DAY: TBA – contact school.
Islamic College of Brisbane – Karawatha
Independent Co-ed Prep – Yr 12 www.icb.qld.edu.au
TOURS: Contact school.
John Paul College – Daisy Hill
Co-ed, Early Years – Yr 12 www.johnpaulcollege.com.au
SECONDARY OPEN HOUSE: 2pm – 5.30pm on 18 April 2024. Book here
OPEN DAY: 9am – Noon on Wednesday 14 August 2024. Book here
Loreto College – Coorparoo
Catholic Girls’ Yr 7-12 www.loreto.qld.edu.au
TOURS: Regular tours. Register here
Lourdes Hill College – Hawthorne
Independent Catholic Girls’ Yr 7-12 www.lhc.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: 4pm – 6.30pm on Friday 10 May 2024. Register here.
Marist College – Ashgrove
Catholic Boys’ Boarding and Day Yr 5 -12 www.marash.qld.edu.au
TOURS: 8 March, 19 May, 19 July and 17 October 2024. Register online.
Mary MacKillop College – Nundah
Catholic Girls’ Yr 7-12 www.mmc.qld.edu.au
ENROLMENT INFORMATION EVENING: 5pm – 6.30pm on Tuesday 27 February 2024. Book online.
McAuley College – Beaudesert
Catholic Co-ed Yr 7-12 www.mcauley.qld.edu.au
TOURS: Contact College.
Moreton Bay College – Manly West
Independent Girls’ Prep – Yr 12 www.mbc.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: From 8.45am – 11am on Thursday 22 February 2024. Register online.
Moreton Bay Boy’s College – Manly West
Boys’ Prep – Yr 12 www.mbbc.qld.edu.au
PRINCIPAL’S TOUR: 9am – 11am on Wednesday 6 March 2024. Register online.
Mount Alvernia College – Kedron
Independent Catholic Girls’ Yr 7-12 School www.mta.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: Sunday 19 May 2024, 10am – 1pm. Register online.
Mount St. Michael’s College – Ashgrove
Catholic Girls’ Yr 7-12 www.msm.qld.edu.au
OPEN EVENING: 3.30pm – 6pm on 1 March 2024. Register online.
Mt. Maria College – Mitchelton
Catholic Co-ed Yr 7-12 www.mmcp.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: Contact College.
Mueller College – Rothwell
Co-ed Childcare – Yr 12 www.mueller.qld.edu.au
TOURS: Contact school.
Music Industry College – Fortitude Valley
Independent Co-ed Music Yr 11-12 www.mic.org.au/
TOURS: Contact school.
North Lakes State College – North Lakes
Co-ed State Government education facility for Prep – Yr 12 www.northlakescollege.eq.edu.au
OPEN DAY: Contact school.
Northpine Christian College – Dakabin
Independent Co-ed Kindy -Yr 12 www.northpine.qld.edu.au
OPEN MORNINGS: 9.30am – 11am on 6 March, 1 May, 6 June, 31 July, 28 August and 10 October 2024. Register online.
Northside Christian College – Everton Park
Co-ed Kindy – Yr 12 www.northside.qld.edu.au
CAMPUS TOURS: 9.15am – Noon on 8 March, 7 June and 9 August 2024. Register online.
Ormiston College – Ormiston
Co-ed Prep – Yr 12 www.ormiston.qld.edu.au
HEADMASTER’S TOURS: 14 March, 2 May, 6 June, 24 July, 28 August, 16 October and 12 November 2024. Book here.
Our Lady’s College – Annerley
Catholic Girls’ Yr 7-12 www.ourladyscollege.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY & TOURS: TBA – contact school.
Padua College – Kedron
Catholic Boys’ Yr 5- 12 www.padua.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: 10am – 1pm on Sunday 19 May 2024. Register here
Prince of Peace – Everton Park
Co-ed Kindy – Yr 12 www.princeofpeace.qld.edu.au
MIDDLE & SENIOR CAMPUS TOURS: 8.45am – 10.15am on 23 February, 17 May, 23 August and 4 October 2024. Register online.
Queensland Academies Creative Industries Campus – Kelvin Grove
Independent Co-Ed Yr 10 -12 https://qa.eq.edu.au
OPEN DAY: Contact school.
Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology – Toowong
Independent Co-Ed Yr 10-12 https://qa.eq.edu.au
OPEN DAY: Contact school.
Redeemer Lutheran College – Rochedale
Co-ed Prep – Yr 12 www.redeemer.com.au
OPEN DAY & TOURS: Contact school.
Redlands College – Wellington Point
Co-ed Christian College Prep-Yr 12. www.redlands.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: 9.30am – 11am on Friday 23 February 2023. Register here.
San Sisto College – Carina
Girls Yr 7-12 www.sansisto.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: 4pm – 7.30pm on Thursday 16 May 2024. Register online.
Sheldon College – Sheldon
Independent Co-ed Prep – Yr 12 www.sheldoncollege.com.au
OPEN DAY: 8.45am – 11am on Saturday 9 March 2024.
Somerville House – South Brisbane
Girls’ Prep – Yr 12 www.somerville.qld.edu.au
TOURS: 5 March, 30 April, 20 August, and 12 November 2024. Book online.
Springfield Anglican College – Springfield
Co-ed Kindy – Yr 12 www.tsac.qld.edu.au
OPEN EVENING: 4pm – 6pm on 15 March 2024. Book online.
St. Aidan’s Anglican Girl’s School – Corinda
Anglican Girls’ Kindy – Yr 12 www.staidans.qld.edu.au
OPEN MORNING: 8.45am – 11am on 29 February 2024. Register online.
St Eugene Catholic College – Burpengary
Co-ed Prep – Yr 12 www.steugene.qld.edu.au
TOURS: 2nd Monday of the month in 2024 (school terms). Book online.
St James College – Brisbane
Catholic Co-ed Yr 7-12 http://www.stjamescollege.qld.edu.au/
TOURS: Contact school.
St John’s Anglican College – Forest Lake
Co-ed Kindy – Yr 12 www.stjohnsanglicancollege.com.au
OPEN DAY (MIDDLE/SENIOR SCHOOL): 9am – 11am on 29 February and 5 September 2024. Register online.
St. John Fisher College – Bracken Ridge
Catholic Girls’ Yr 7-12 www.sjfc.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: TBA (usually in May)
PRINCIPAL-LED TOUR: 9am on 8 March 2024.
St Joseph’s College – Gregory Terrace (Spring Hill)
Boys’ Catholic Yr 5-12 www.terrace.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: Tuesday 14 May 2024. Register online.
St Joseph’s Nudgee College – Boondall
Catholic Boys’ Boarding and Day Yr 5 – 12 www.nudgee.com
OPEN DAY/TOURS: Contact College.
St Joseph’s – Nundah
Co-ed Prep – Yr 12 www.stjosnundah.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: Contact school.
St Laurence’s College – South Brisbane
Catholic Boys’ Yr 5 -12 www.slc.qld.edu.au
PRINCIPALS TOUR: 4pm – 5.30pm on 8 February, 21 February, 8 May, 21 August 2024. Register here.
St Margaret’s Anglican Girl’s School – Ascot
Anglican Girls’ Prep – Yr 12 www.margarets.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: 9.30am – 12.30pm on Saturday 9 March 2024. Register online.
St Mary’s College – Woodend (Ipswich)
Catholic Girls’ School Yr 7 – 12 www.stmarys.qld.edu.au
OPEN EVENING: 4pm on 11 March 2024. Register online.
St Patrick’s College – Shorncliffe
Catholic Boys’ Yr 5 -12 www.stpatricks.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY: TBA – Contact College.
St Paul’s School – Bald Hills
Co-ed Pre-Prep-Yr 12 www.stpauls.qld.edu.au
TOURS: Contact school.
St Peters Lutheran College – Indooroopilly & Springfield
Independent Co-ed Prep – Yr 12 www.stpeters.qld.edu.au
OPEN DAY/TOURS: Contact College.
St Rita’s College – Clayfield
Catholic Girls’ Yr 7-12 www.stritas.qld.edu.au
TOURS: 26 February, 6 March, .29 April and 15 May 2024. Register online.
St Thomas More College – Sunnybank
Catholic Co-ed Yr 7-12 www.stmc.qld.edu.au
TOURS: Contact school.
Stuartholme School – Toowong
Girls’ Catholic Yr 7-12 www.stuartholme.com
OPEN DAY: 10am. – 1pm on Saturday 9 March 2024. Register online.
Mancel College (formerly The Glenleighden School) – Fig Tree Pocket
Independent Co-Ed Prep – Yr 12 School for Children with Speech and Language Disorders https://mancelcollege.qld.edu.au/
OPEN DAY: 21 February 2024. Register online.
The Lakes College – North Lakes
Independent Co-ed College Prep – Yr 12 www.thelakescollege.com.au
OPEN MORNING: 9am – 11am on Saturday 2 March 2024. Register here.
Villanova College – Coorparoo
Catholic Boys’ Yr 5-12 www.vnc.qld.edu.au
PRINCIPALS TOUR: 9am – 10.15am on 22 February, 14 March and 30 May 2024. Register online.
West Moreton Anglican College – Karrabin
Independent Co-ed Prep – Yr 12 School www.wmac.com.au
OPEN DAY: TBA – contact school.
Westside Christian College – Goodna
Co-ed Pre-prep – Yr 12 www.wcc.qld.edu.au
OPEN NIGHT: 5pm – 8pm on Friday 3 May 2024.
If your school is not listed here then please email us at info@brisbanekids.com.au
For a complete directory of all schools in Queensland, visit https://schoolsdirectory.eq.edu.au/
What to expect at a high school open day
Having attended several different high school open days, I know they have all been very different. Some are conducted in small group and some are simply tours of the school conducted by either members of staff or possibly even current students.
Things to discover at a high school open day
Here are some key things prospective parents may want to know about a high school before enrolling.
A lot of this information can be found on the school’s website, so be sure to check that out first. But if you didn’t have a chance to do that, here is a lost of questions you may like to ask on a school tour.
We always recommend being mindful of the tour guide’s time. Also, remember many of these questions will be addressed in your admissions process and we have only listed a large number here in case any specific features are important to you.
- The school’s curriculum, specific academic programs and excellence programs
- The extracurricular programs offered at the school. Is there an athletic program? Is there an opportunity for students to participate in community service or internships?
- How does the school support children with additional learning needs, special needs, accessibility challenges and gender identity (depending on which might apply to your young person)
- How is students’ well-being prioritised? Are their programs or school counsellors?
- What are the values or the mission statement of the school?
- What is the disciplinary process at the school?
- How will you, as a parent, receive communication?
- How often will a report card be issued or are parent teacher interviews conducted?
- Can you expect to receive emails from your child’s teacher, know when assessments will be held, and possibly request revision exams to assist your young person?
- Is the school connected to any universities?
- What does a positive test result for covid mean? Does the school have any specific requirements?
- What is the enrolment process?
- What is the uniform policy?
- Will prospective students get a chance to visit the school before the first day?
- Does the school have a social media page.
- Is there a group for the parents? (these tend to be “unofficial” and aren’t always advertised by the school) These groups (for better or worse) often offer insight into the school’s community engagement. They can provide inside information about the upcoming school year and details you won’t find in an enrolment booklet such as the best places to park, social events, and second-hand uniforms.
Handy Tip: Take a notepad or jot notes and questions down on your phone during the tour or open day. These can then be addressed at a later date with the school.
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