diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index e230d2ff90..5bd4e9b8c3 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -13,3 +13,9 @@ present on the main branch, only on the development branches).
 
 Note that we do not accept changes to published specifications.
 -->
+
+Tick one of the following options:
+
+- [ ] schema changes are included in this pull request
+- [ ] schema changes are needed for this pull request but not done yet
+- [ ] no schema changes are needed for this pull request