Most parents I know choose between a public school and a private school. Catholic schools are a third option, and hardly anyone writes about them, so I’ll share what my daughter’s Prep year has been like. These notes are from Term 2, so it’s still early days. This is one family at one school, and other Catholic schools will be different.
Who’s in the Class
My daughter’s class has 23 kids. There’s one main teacher and two classroom assistants, who help the Prep kids settle in. I think that’s a good set-up for children who are just starting school.
Most of the kids at her school are white. My own guess is around 95%, with about 5% Asian kids here and there. That’s my estimate from what I see, not an official number. If you want a proper figure, each school’s profile on the My School website shows the percentage of students from a language background other than English.
The School Day and the Religion Part
School runs from 8:55 to 3:30. Every day starts with 5 to 10 minutes of meditation, so the kids begin the day calm. One or two times a week the class walks to the church near the school to sing and listen to stories, mostly Bible stories. My daughter once explained where Easter comes from in a lot of detail, and it helped me understand more about local holidays and culture. Catholic schools also teach the Australian Curriculum alongside a Religious Education curriculum. Brisbane Catholic Education, for example, delivers both from Prep to Year 10.
Our family has no religion, so all of this was new to us. My daughter has picked up a small habit. When she has a little wish, she quietly prays about it, and she prays for me too. Once she hoped that mum would find a parking spot later. I thought that was funny.
What She Learns in Prep
The school has the usual subjects. There’s maths, English, behaviour and good habits, performing arts, STEM, PE, digital technology, visual art and Chinese. Piano, sport and swimming programs only start in the higher grades, so we pay for those outside school ourselves. A lot of parents say not to choose a private school in the early years for the same reason. It saves money, and the kids can’t use many of the school’s resources yet.
As for the learning, honestly there isn’t much yet. Every day she brings home one reading book and a record book. Once a week there’s a small task where she reads the story and draws a matching picture. That’s a lot less than the weekly Chinese class I enrolled her in, which has more homework.
Events and Activities
Every one to two weeks there’s some kind of small activity at the school. We’re only in Term 2, and so far she’s had a STEM night, a zoo excursion, a sports carnival and a Mother’s Day activity. There was also a lesson on how to behave around dogs, and a trampolining session. I found the mix interesting, and there’s always something coming up.
Rules and Uniform
The school takes behaviour and dress seriously. Kids aren’t allowed to wear nail polish or makeup, and they can’t chew gum. I’m happy with that. The school runs its own uniform shop, and the prices are fair. A thick winter jacket costs about $50, so I don’t feel ripped off.
What It Costs
Tuition is about $3,800 a year. With the other fees added, the total comes to under $5,000. For a rough comparison, two Melbourne Catholic primary schools list 2026 fees for one Prep child that come to about $2,800 and $3,900 once the family fee and student levy are added together. Fees depend on the school and the state, so check the fee page of the school you’re looking at.
Getting Into a Catholic School When You Have No Religion
One question I was asked is how a family with no religion can get into a Catholic school. The answer for us was a waiting list. If the school isn’t full, you get in. Baptised Catholic children get priority, and Brisbane Catholic Education says so on its FAQ page. Melbourne’s Catholic school system also lists Catholic children first in its order of priority. Some schools are more relaxed than others, though. One Brisbane Catholic primary says it welcomes any family looking for a faith-based education, and it puts families on a waitlist when there are more applications than places.
We joined the waiting lists for two Catholic schools. One was very strict, and we didn’t get in. The other was more relaxed, and we did. If you’re thinking about a Catholic school, I’d put your name down at more than one.
Would I Recommend It?
For Prep, yes, so far. The class has a teacher and two assistants, the rules are clear, and the cost is reasonable. If your family has no religion, be ready for the church visits and the Bible stories, because they’re part of the week. Catholic schools can also have slightly different term dates from government schools, so check with the school as well as our school holidays and term dates for 2026 page.