Is OC right for my child?
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An opportunity class can suit a child who loves learning and would enjoy moving faster with classmates of similar ability, and who is ready for a new class in Years 5 and 6, which often also means a new school. It is one option among several: every NSW public school supports high potential and gifted students, and a child does not need an OC place to apply for a selective high school later.
Facts checked Last updated Sources
Practice: the Department publishes free OC practice tests. SelectiveReady's practice tests are for the selective test.
Who are opportunity classes for?
The Department says opportunity classes are for high potential and gifted students. Selective high schools and opportunity classes are one of the ways the Department supports high potential and gifted students: students whose intellectual potential exceeds that of students of the same age. That is about how a child thinks and learns, not only how they score.
The Department says your child may have high academic potential if they show some of these: enjoy learning, intense curiosity, a good memory, asking complex questions, enjoying new and often complex ideas or skills, needing fewer repetitions to learn new things, creativity, and intense focus on an area of interest or passion. Not all high potential and gifted learners show all of these signs, for example because of lack of opportunity, disability or disadvantage. Some children's high potential may be hidden, and the Department says being in an opportunity class or selective high school could help. So a checklist is a starting point for a conversation, not a verdict on your child.
What changes for a child who moves to an opportunity class?
Most of all, your child changes class for the last two years of primary school, and changes school too unless they already attend the host school. An opportunity class is a two-year program in Years 5 and 6. Parents cannot apply for Year 6 only. There are 89 opportunity classes in NSW: primary schools with full-time opportunity classes, and Aurora College online classes. You can apply for opportunity classes outside your local enrolment area. Aurora College's online classes for rural and remote students work differently: To be considered for the Aurora College opportunity class, a student must attend, or plan to enrol in, a rural or remote NSW public school that hosts Aurora College. The table sets out both sides. Where the Department has said something, it comes from its pages; the rest is ours, as things to think about rather than facts about any school.
| What to weigh | What may suit your child | What to think about |
|---|---|---|
| Learning | Students learn with classmates of similar ability, so teachers can use special teaching methods to move through the curriculum faster and in more depth. | A faster pace suits a child who wants more. A child who is happy and stretched in their current class may not need the change. |
| Activities | Selective high schools and opportunity classes also offer co-curricular activities such as sport, creative and performing arts, music and special interest clubs. | Ask each school what it offers. If your child would change school, the current one may offer activities they would miss. |
| Friends and changing school | Some students feel anxious about going to a school where they might not know anyone. The Department says the schools plan activities to help students get to know each other. | A child who changes school leaves their Year 4 friends, then moves again to high school after Year 6: two changes in three years. A child who already attends the host school changes class, not school. Some children enjoy a fresh start; others find it hard. |
| Travel | A class close to home, or a short trip, keeps time for play, sport and rest. | A long trip to school can limit before- and after-school activities, and the Department says research shows excessive travel can affect academic performance and wellbeing. |
| Cost | There are no fees to apply or to sit the placement test, and no extra fees to enrol in a selective high school or opportunity class. | Travel and everyday school costs still apply. Ask the school about them. |
| Classmates | Some students and parents worry a selective school will be overly competitive. The Department says its selective schools and classes encourage students to focus on learning and wellbeing, not competing. | Being one of many capable children is a change. A child used to being top of the class may feel it. |
| Workload and pressure | Many children enjoy work that finally feels hard enough. | We know of no Department figures on homework in opportunity classes. Ask the school, and watch how your child handles pressure now. |
Which children may find an opportunity class hard?
The Department says children who worry a lot about being at the top, or who often compare themselves with others, may not find an opportunity class the right choice. In its own words:
“Students who worry too much about not being the 'best' or are regularly comparing themselves to other students and their achievements, may not find an opportunity class or selective high school is the right choice for them.”
Other things worth thinking about are your own observations, not the Department's: a child who is settled and stretched where they are, a child who finds change of any kind very hard, or a long daily trip. None of these rules a child out. They are reasons to talk it through before you apply. A child who is not in an opportunity class has lost nothing for later: A place in an opportunity class does not give automatic entry to a selective high school. You apply again, separately, in Year 5 for Year 7.
What if we decide OC is not for us?
Your child still gets support at their own school. High potential and gifted students are supported in every NSW public school. The Department's guide says schools' support may include lessons that challenge and inspire, enrichment activities and extra-curricular programs, grouping with students of similar ability, acceleration when appropriate, and support for wellbeing and social skills. Every public school in NSW offers high potential and gifted education (HPGE) activities. Your child's school website has the details.
High potential and gifted education is part of every school, and specialist public schools in sport, music and performing arts may also be good options. Some families also look at non-government schools. We hold no checked facts about them, so ask each school directly about its programs and costs.
The Department's parent guide to high potential and gifted education (HPGE) explains what every public school offers: Inspire: a guide for parents and carers (PDF).
How do we decide, and who can help?
Start with your child's teacher, then talk it over with your child. If you think your child may have high potential or be gifted, the Department asks you to discuss it with your child's teacher. The Department suggests asking your child's teacher, or other staff who know them well, whether they think selective education will suit your child. The Department recommends discussing the option with your child and looking through its information, or the Student Resource Hub, together.
If you go ahead, keep preparation light and the test in proportion. The Department says coaching or tutoring for the placement test is not necessary, and that extra paid coaching will not give a child an advantage. Some families still choose a tutor; that is their call, and the Department's view is worth knowing first.
If you are weighing both tests, see OC and selective compared and is a selective school right for my child?. Everything else about opportunity classes is in the OC guide.
Sources
Each fact on this page, the page we checked it against and the source's own words. An “Expected” date is our estimate from past years, not the Department's.
- What are selective high schools and opportunity classes?
- Who selective education is forChecked
The source's words
“Selective high schools and opportunity classes are one of the ways that the department supports high potential and gifted students. These are students whose intellectual potential exceeds that of students of the same age.”
- Signs of high academic potentialChecked
The source's words
“Your child may have high academic potential if they demonstrate some of the following: enjoy learning have intense curiosity display a good memory ask complex questions enjoy learning new and often complex ideas or skills”
- Not every gifted child shows every signChecked
The source's words
“Not all high potential and gifted learners will display all of these characteristics, for example, due to lack of opportunity, disability or disadvantage.”
- Classes outside your local areaChecked
The source's words
“You can apply for opportunity classes and selective high schools that are outside your local enrolment area.”
- Classmates of similar ability, faster and deeperChecked
The source's words
“Students get to learn together with classmates who have similar abilities. This allows their teachers to use special teaching methods to move students through the curriculum at a faster pace and in more depth.”
- Co-curricular activitiesChecked
The source's words
“Selective high schools and opportunity classes also offer a broad range of co-curricular activities such as sports, creative and performing arts, music and special interest clubs.”
- Starting where they know no oneChecked
The source's words
“Some students may feel anxious about going to a school where they might not know anyone. Don't worry, the schools know this and they plan activities to help students get to know each other.”
- CompetitionChecked
The source's words
“Some students and parents are worried that the school will be overly competitive. Like all New South Wales public schools, our academically selective schools and classes encourage students to focus on learning and wellbeing, not competing.”
- Children who worry about being the bestChecked
The source's words
“Students who worry too much about not being the 'best' or are regularly comparing themselves to other students and their achievements, may not find an opportunity class or selective high school is the right choice for them.”
- Gifted support in every public schoolChecked
The source's words
“High potential and gifted students are supported in every NSW public school.”
- Specialist public schoolsChecked
The source's words
“High potential and gifted education is part of every school, and there are many specialist New South Wales public schools, in the areas of sport, music and performing arts, that may also be good options for your child”
- Discuss it with your childChecked
The source's words
“We recommend discussing the option with your child and looking through the information here together or on the relevant Student Resource Hub.”
- Applying for my child to attend an opportunity class or selective high school (PDF)
- Potential may be hiddenChecked
The source's words
“Keep in mind, some children's high potential may be hidden. Being in an opportunity class or selective high school could help.”
- No fees to apply, sit the test or enrolChecked
The source's words
“Please note there are no fees to apply and sit for the placement test, and there are no extra fees to enrol in a selective high school or opportunity class.”
- Ask the teacher whether it will suitChecked
The source's words
“Ask your child's teacher (or other staff who know them well) whether they think selective education will suit your child.”
- Opportunity classes (list of schools)
- OC is a two-year programChecked
The source's words
“It is a 2-year program (Year 5 to 6). Parents cannot apply for Year 6 placement only.”
- Opportunity classes in NSWChecked
The source's words
“There are 89 opportunity classes in NSW. The types of opportunity classes are: - primary schools with full-time opportunity classes - Aurora College - providing online opportunity classes for rural and remote students.”
- Who can apply for Aurora College OCChecked
The source's words
“Students must be currently attending or intending to enrol in a rural or remote NSW public school (their Aurora College host school) to be considered for entry.”
- OC does not lead to a selective placeChecked
The source's words
“No. You will need to apply separately for selective high school placement when your child is in Year 5 for placement in Year 7.”
- Choosing a school
- Travel timeChecked
The source's words
“A lengthy travel time can affect your child's ability to take part in before and after school classes and extracurricular activities. Research tells us that excessive travel can impact on academic performance and student wellbeing.”
- Inspire - High Potential and Gifted Education in NSW public schools: a guide for parents and carers (PDF)
- How schools support gifted studentsChecked
The source's words
“These may include: • lessons that challenge and inspire students • enrichment activities and extra-curricular programs • grouping students with others of similar ability • advanced learning pathways such as acceleration (moving through the curriculum faster) when appropriate”
- Check the school website for HPGE activitiesChecked
The source's words
“Every public school in NSW offers HPGE activities. Please refer to your child's school website for more details.”
- Think your child may be gifted? Talk to the teacherChecked
The source's words
“If you think that your child may have high potential or may be gifted, please discuss this with your child's teacher.”
- Selective high school practice tests
- The Department says coaching is not necessaryChecked
The source's words
“It is important to know that coaching or tutoring for the placement test is not necessary.”