Parent–Teacher Interview Questions Worth Asking

You can use these questions in any subject, from English and maths to art or PE. You won't need all of them; you can pick from the group that matters most to you for each teacher.

How your child is going

• What is my child doing well in your subject?
• Where are they compared with what you'd expect at this year level?
• How do they take part in class? Do they ask questions, join in discussions and get started on tasks?
• Is there anything about their behaviour in class I should know about?

What they could work on

• If they worked on one thing in your subject this term, what would you choose?
• Could you show me where that shows up in a piece of their work?
• What would it look like in their work once they've got it?
• Is there a task coming up where they could try it?

How you can help at home

• What could we do at home that would help with this?
• Roughly how long should homework take in your subject?
• Where can we see the work you've set and your feedback on it?
• What could I look for in their work over the next few weeks?

What support the school offers

• If this comes up in several subjects, who should I talk to?
• If I'm worried about how they're feeling or getting on with friends, who at school can I contact?
• What's the best way to get in touch with you after tonight?

You can start with the report. Victorian schools report on each student at least twice a year, often at the end of Terms 2 and 4, and the Victorian Government suggests reading it through before the interviews. As you go subject by subject, you can note one or two things you'd like to understand or ask about: a comment you're not sure how to read, a result that surprised you, or something that comes up in more than one subject.

You can also ask your child whether there's anything they'd like you to ask or pass on, and what they think each teacher will say. If their guess turns out different from what you hear on the night, you can talk about the difference together afterwards. You may also have something the teacher would want to know from home, such as a change that has affected your child lately.

A plan like this fits on the back of the report or in a note on your phone, and it's quick to look at between interviews.

If your child sat NAPLAN in Year 7 or Year 9, those results come in a separate report. Our NAPLAN results explained tool shows what each level means and suggests questions to ask, if you'd like to raise them on the night.

If you tell the teacher at the start what you'd like to ask about, they can spend the time on it rather than on an overview you may already have from the report. If they use a term or a rating you don't recognise, you can ask them to explain it. You can jot down their answers too, because several short conversations in one evening can blur together and you'll want to share them with your child.

Before the time is up, you and the teacher can agree on one next step, such as something your child will try, something you'll do at home or a date to check in by email, so you both have something to come back to.

Interviews often run back to back, so the teacher may need to finish on time even when there's more to say. If you're only partway through, you can ask to carry on another day, in a phone call or a longer meeting.

You can go through your notes with your child in the next day or two, starting with what the teachers said is going well. When you reach the next steps you agreed, you can ask which one they'd like to try first, so they have a say in their own plan.

You can follow up with each teacher in a short email on the date you agreed, saying what your child has tried and asking how it looks from class. If you keep in regular contact, you and the teacher can adjust the plan when something isn't working.

If the same thing comes up with several teachers, you can talk to the year level coordinator, who looks after your child's whole year group and can look at it across subjects. If what's on your mind is your child's mood, friendships or attendance, the school's wellbeing staff are the people to talk to, and the school office can tell you who they are. Neither costs anything, and you can contact them at any time of year, not just after an interview.

If one subject is still a struggle after you've tried what you agreed with the teacher, you can ask what free help the school runs, such as a homework club, help sessions with subject teachers or learning support. One-to-one tutoring is another option alongside it. Our tutors work with students in Years 7 to 10, at home or online, in subjects including maths and English.

An interview evening won't cover everything, and it doesn't have to. One question answered and one next step your child has had a say in are enough to start with.

Should my child come to the interview?

That's up to each school. Department guidance for government schools recommends the teacher leads the conversation, not your child, though students can still ask questions when they come. If the booking information doesn't say, the school office can tell you.

Can I have an interpreter?

Yes. The Victorian Government's advice is to ask the school to organise a translator before the interview, so it's worth asking when you book.

What if I can't make the interview night?

You can contact the school to arrange another time. Parents can ask for a meeting at other times of the year, not only on interview dates, and the same questions work then too.

What if a concern isn't resolved?

You can take it further within the school. The advice for Victorian government schools is to start with the teacher, and if the matter isn't resolved, to arrange a time with the principal or another member of the school leadership team.

We checked these official sources on 6 November 2026.