Family guides
Questions to ask an international school
Most question lists tell you what to ask. The useful part is why the question matters and what a clear answer sounds like.
Prepared by InternationalSchools.orgPublished July 2026Last reviewed July 2026
Ask the questions that fit the stage you are at. A school that answers specifically and in writing is telling you something about how it will communicate later.
At first contact
These questions decide whether the school is worth further time.
Is there availability in this exact year group for our start date?
Why it matters: A school can have space overall and none at all in the year you need.
A clear answer: A direct yes or no for that year group, or a clear position on the waiting list.
Which curriculum and qualifications do you offer in that year?
Why it matters: Provision can differ between year groups within the same school.
A clear answer: Named programmes and qualifications, not a general description of philosophy.
What is the complete fee schedule, including all non-optional extras?
Why it matters: Tuition alone is not the cost of a year.
A clear answer: A published document you can keep, not a verbal figure.
What does your admissions process involve, and how long does it take?
Why it matters: You need to know whether the timeline fits your move.
A clear answer: Named stages with typical durations and any assessment dates.
On a visit
In person or online, ask about the year group your child would actually join.
How many children are in the class, and how many adults?
Why it matters: Class size and staffing shape daily experience more than facilities do.
A clear answer: Specific numbers for that year group, plus how they change as it fills.
How many children joined and left this year group last year?
Why it matters: High turnover is normal in international schools, but the scale matters.
A clear answer: An honest figure with context, rather than deflection.
How do you settle a child who arrives mid-year?
Why it matters: Most international arrivals are out of step with the local calendar.
A clear answer: A described routine (buddy, induction, review point), not just reassurance.
What language support is available, and how is it staffed and charged?
Why it matters: Provision ranges from a specialist team to none, and may be an extra cost.
A clear answer: Who delivers it, how much time a child gets, and any fee.
How is learning support identified and delivered?
Why it matters: Schools differ widely in what they can accommodate.
A clear answer: A clear statement of what the school does and does not support.
At offer stage
Before you pay anything, settle the commitments.
Which year group is my child placed in, and on what basis?
Why it matters: Placement can differ from the year you expected when systems differ.
A clear answer: A written decision with the reason and a route to review it.
What are the deposit terms and refund conditions?
Why it matters: Deposits are often non-refundable, and relocations do collapse.
A clear answer: The conditions in writing, in the offer or the terms.
What notice is required to leave, and what is charged?
Why it matters: Notice periods of a term are common and are easily missed.
A clear answer: A specific notice period and the exact charge for short notice.
What have fee increases been over the last three years?
Why it matters: It is the best available guide to what the next years will cost.
A clear answer: Actual percentages, and an explanation of any regulation that applies.
Is there a re-registration fee to keep the place next year?
Why it matters: It is a recurring cost families rarely budget for.
A clear answer: A clear yes or no with the amount and the deadline.
Further questions by theme
Use these wherever they fit the conversation you are having.
Curriculum and transitions
What happens if we move again? Which systems do your leavers typically go to, and how do you prepare them?
Entry year and placement
What cut-off date do you use, and how do you handle a child between two year groups?
Class size and staffing
What is teacher turnover, and how long has the leadership team been in place?
Languages
Which additional languages are taught, from what age, and are any compulsory?
Fees and total cost
Which charges are compulsory, which are optional, and when is each payable?
Transport
Is a bus place available on our route, what does the journey take at peak time, and how is it charged?
Community and settling in
How do you support new families, and how do parents hear from the school day to day?
For the process these questions sit inside, read how admissions work.
Continue reading
Last reviewed: July 2026
Questions are general and apply across countries. Some will not be relevant to every school or every education system.
Something look wrong? Report a correction.