Opportunity classes - Years 5 and 6
What are opportunity classes?
Opportunity classes located in government primary schools cater for academically gifted Year 5 and Year 6 students with high potential. These classes help students to learn by grouping them with students of similar ability, using specialised teaching methods and educational materials at the appropriate level.
The High Performing Students Team administers the opportunity class placement process.
Parents normally apply when students are in Year 4. Students who are placed then attend the opportunity class full time in Years 5 and 6 at the primary school with an opportunity class. It is a two-year placement program. In the majority of cases, students who accept a place in an opportunity class will leave their current school to attend the school with an opportunity class.
There is no provision to apply for Year 6 placement only.
There are 77 primary schools with opportunity classes across NSW. The links below can assist you in setting your opportunity class school preferences.
See a list of NSW primary schools with opportunity classes.
Go to the map of opportunity classes to find a school nearby.
Parents of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students are encouraged to consider applying for selective and opportunity class placement For further information and support parents can speak with their principal or contact their local Aboriginal Education and Wellbeing Advisor.
Application Process
Applications for Opportunity Classes for Year 5, 2023 have closed.
Late applications cannot be accepted except where some very stringent conditions are met.
The Opportunity Class Placement Test will be conducted on Thursday 28 July 2022.
Further information about opportunity classes for 2023 can be found in this document: Applying for Year 5 entry to an opportunity class in 2023
Please refer to Oppurtunity classes - Application process for current information.
Selective High Schools
What are selective high schools?
Selective high schools cater for academically gifted students with high potential who may otherwise be without sufficient classmates of their own academic standard. Selective high schools help these students to learn by grouping them with students of similar ability, using specialised teaching methods and materials. Selective high schools are unzoned so parents can apply regardless of where they live.
The High Performing Students Team administers Year 7 placement in a selective high school. This is a separate process from that for entry to specialist high schools such as performing arts or sports high schools. It is also separate from the opportunity class application process and begins when the applying student is in Year 5.
Types of selective high schools
There are fully selective, partially selective and agricultural high schools offering Year 7 placement throughout NSW.
View the map of selective high schools
View a list of selective high schools.
Application Process
Applications for entry to a selective high school in Year 7 in 2023 are closed. The application process for selective high school in 2024 will open in October 2022.
For further information download the printable information for applicants about placement in selective high schools for Year 7 entry (PDF 518KB)
Please refer to Selective high schools - Application process for current information.