Catholic schools form the next largest sector, with just over a fifth of Victorian secondary enrolments.

While most scholarships are open to all students, the most likely recipients are generally students who demonstrate outstanding academic merit or financial need.

Government schools make up the largest sector, with around 65 per cent of enrolments nationally.

One of the best ways of evaluating a school is to look at the ways in which it reports to parents.

Most often, schools award scholarships to students who demonstrate outstanding abilities in a number of nominated areas, ranging from the creative and performing arts through to peer leadership.

Parents of high school children in non-government schools are always asked to pay fees and often to contribute to building or development funds.