Choosing a school isn’t just about test results or league tables. It’s about finding a place where your child feels safe, known, and encouraged to grow — academically, socially, emotionally and creatively.
You might be looking for a school that shares your family’s values, builds confidence and kindness, and gives your child chances to shine not only in the classroom, but through music, sport, drama, art and everyday life.
A school Open Day is one of the best ways to work out if a place really feels right. You get to walk the grounds, meet the people, sit in on learning, and picture your child there.
Here are seven things worth paying attention to when you visit.
1. A welcoming community
First impressions matter. Notice how you’re welcomed at the gate and how students speak to teachers and each other. Do people seem relaxed and respectful? Are kids comfortable asking questions or helping one another?
You’re looking for a school where families are known, not just enrolled, and where care and belonging are part of daily life.
2. What does learning actually look like?
Pop into classrooms if you can. Are students actively involved, or just sitting quietly filling out worksheets? Are lessons hands-on and varied?
Good schools nurture more than literacy and numeracy. They help children think deeply, ask questions, solve problems, and build confidence in their own ideas, guided by a strong set of values.
3. Opportunities for all
Is there a broad curriculum? Are there opportunities for extended and gifted learning and extra support for those who need it? Learning is also enriched through participation in music and the creative arts, VET pathways sport and STEM
Sport competitions, choirs, bands, drama productions, coding clubs, debating, and service programs all help children find their strengths, discover hidden talents and build friendships. These experiences often become the memories kids treasure most.
4. Amazing Spaces to Learn and Play
Is the library a place students actually want to spend time in? What about specialist spaces — music rooms, art studios, science labs, sports courts, playgrounds and outdoor learning areas?
Well-maintained environments do more than look good. They support creativity, movement, collaboration and wellbeing, reflecting a school’s commitment to learning and the development of the whole child.
5. Student Energy and Engagement
Watch students closely. Are they engaged in what they’re doing? Do they seem comfortable and confident? Do you notice curiosity, kindness and inclusion in the way they interact?
The way children speak to one another, welcome new faces and resolve small conflicts says a lot about a school’s culture. A playground often reveals whether respect, compassion and care for others are genuinely lived Catholic values — not just words in a prospectus.
6. Is the school practical for your family?
Location, transport, fees, before- and after-school care, and sibling policies all matter more than we like to admit.
A school that fits into everyday life makes mornings calmer and family life easier.
7. Ask Questions – Including Enrolment Pathways
Open Days are your chance to talk openly with principals, teachers and current families. Ask about learning support, wellbeing, pastoral care, faith life, creative programs, and how students are supported as they grow.
And don’t forget the practical side: enrolment steps, timelines, and what happens after you apply. Leaving with clarity makes the whole process far less stressful.
An Open Day lets you see the heart of a school — the learning, the values, the creativity, the community — all in action.
Sydney Catholic Schools host Open Days across 147 primary and secondary schools each February and March.
Click through to explore upcoming Open Day dates and times at schools near you, then register directly via each school’s website.
Find your nearest Open Day and register here.
Take the time to visit a few, trust your instincts, and find a place where your child can grow — in confidence, character, creativity and learning.
With a strong emphasis on excellence across academics, vocational learning, sport, and the arts, Sydney Catholic Schools nurture the potential of every student within our diverse network of primary and secondary schools.
