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Planning ahead: High School considerations for your child

When should I start thinking about a High School for my child?

If you have an academically inclined child in primary school, it's never too early to start thinking about their secondary school options. In fact, it’s wise to begin considering high schools as early as Year 3 or Year 4.


Why start so early? Well, some independent schools in Victoria such as Haileybury, Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar School, have scholarship and entrance exams for Year 7 entry that take place as early as Year 5—sometimes as soon as July! Preparing for these exams often starts in Year 4 to give your child the best chance of success. Besides, deciding on a preferred high school requires research, which takes time. So, starting to think about high school options in Year 3 or Year 4 makes perfect sense.


Process for Choosing a High School

We've put together some suggested steps for starting you on your journey to research, choose and prepare for High School applications below:

Questions to consider when selecting a school

Of course, there are many things to consider when looking at High Schools for your child. We've compiled a list of some key questions that might help guide some of your thinking.


School Type & Environment
  • Do you prefer a public, private, religious, or select-entry school?

  • Do you prefer co-educational or single-sex schools?

  • What is the travel distance from home? How will this impact my child’s social life, family and study time?

  • Do you prefer a school that offers an International Baccalaureate (IB) program?

  • Does your child have particular talents or interests (e.g., sports, art or music) that you would like to see included as part of the school’s programs?

  • What are the class sizes at your preferred school?

  • What kinds of facilities are there? (e.g., sports, library, science laboratories)

  • What kinds of extra-curricular activities are offered?


Scholarship Considerations
  • How many scholarships/schools will your child apply for?

  • Will the school still be suitable if the scholarship is only a partial one?

  • What happens if my child is given multiple scholarships? Will I pay the deposit and forfeit it later? How many deposits am I prepared to pay?

  • What happens if my child is offered a scholarship (usually at Year 7), and then receives an offer for SEHS (usually at Year 9)? Am I prepared to repay scholarship fees?

  • Am I prepared to pay back the scholarship fees should my child leave the school, for any reason, earlier than expected?

  • Is my child prepared for the academic expectations that come from winning a scholarship?


Early Considerations for Select Entry High Schools

If your child plans to apply to one of Victoria’s Select Entry High Schools (usually for Year 9 entry), you’ll still need to consider options for Year 7 and Year 8. Keep in mind that competition for these places is fierce, so it's important to do your research and understand acceptance rates for Select Entry High Schools, and in particular the 4% rule.


Preparing for applications

Beyond exams, some schools also require an application or interview to discuss a student’s achievements, academic results, extracurricular involvement, and leadership roles. Well-rounded candidates can be looked on favourably by schools. So part of your early planning might involve encouraging your child to participate in activities like music, sports, and school leadership roles (e.g., House Captain, SRC member) even in primary school.


How can Hendersons help?

Choosing the best high school for your child is a big decision, and Hendersons has been guiding families through the Victorian school system for over 30 years. To start, check out our Information Booklet on our website. This includes more information on the difference between Private and Public schools in Victoria, as well as information about the different types of exams. You can also schedule a free one-on-one consultation with one of our Education Consultants to get answers to your specific questions.

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