Starting an opportunity class: enrolment, first weeks and beyond
Independent. Not affiliated with the NSW Department of Education.
What happens after we accept the OC offer?
The school takes over. Once you accept in the dashboard, the school contacts you1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published about its enrolment steps and orientation days.
Waiting on a higher choice? Check this cycle's OC reserve bands, updates and decision rule.
Accept by the due date
Do it in the application dashboard. A lapsed offer is lost. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Wait for the school to contact you
For OC, the Department says the school contacts you about its own enrolment steps. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Go to orientation
Bring your child, and bring your questions. It's the best chance to see the room, the class and the trip.
In most cases a child who accepts moves to the school with the class2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, and stays there for Years 5 and 6. Let your current school know once you've decided.
What if we're still on a higher-choice OC list?
You can hold this offer and wait until 3 December 2026, 3 pm (Sydney time)3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. After that, a child holding an accepted offer leaves every higher-choice list. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
If a higher offer comes and you accept it, the offer you hold is declined for you. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published You'd then start the enrolment steps again with the new school. Work through your reserve decision.
What should we ask at orientation?
Ask about the things that shape a normal week. The class itself you'll learn about in time; the logistics matter on day one.
Is the class composite, or one class per year? The Department says to check the school's website or contact the school to confirm2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
How do new OC students meet each other before the first day?
What is the best way to travel to school, and is there a drop-off point?
What clubs, sport and activities can OC students join?
Who do we contact if our child is finding the change hard?
How is an opportunity class different day to day?
Opportunity classes are full-time classes for high potential and gifted students in Years 5 and 62NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. It follows the same curriculum as every NSW public school 4NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published, often at a quicker pace.
An OC teacher in the Department's video series says classes move through concepts a little quicker (curriculum compacting)2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. The same teacher describes a classroom culture where it's okay to make mistakes2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
| How the school runs its OC | What it means for your child |
|---|---|
| Smaller intake | 15 places = one composite Year 5–6 class2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published: Year 5 and Year 6 learn together. |
| Larger intake | two classes: one per year, or two mixed Year 5 and 6 classes2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. |
| Outside class | OC students take part in things like chess and debating, as well as school sport teams2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. |
Who will our child's classmates be?
Children from many schools, chosen by test performance and the order of their families' choices. 4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published Up to 20%5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published of places are held for children from under-represented groups, still offered on test performance.
Nobody in the class is told who came through those places: families aren't told5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. Classes also have equal places for girls and boys from the 2027 intake5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
How does the class change from Year 5 to Year 6?
Your child stays in the same OC program: Years 5 and 6; no Year 6-only entry2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published.
In a composite class, the two years learn side by side. An OC teacher in the Department's videos says that Year 5 students almost have the Year 6s as little role models2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. In Year 6, your child becomes one of those older students.
The class can still grow early in Year 6. Reserve offers can be made until the end of Term 1 in Year 66NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published, so a new classmate may arrive then.
What if the place is at Aurora College?
Then your child doesn't move schools. Aurora College offers science, technology and mathematics, online, while your child stays at a local host school2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
There are two residential camps each year2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published, where classmates meet face to face. There are about 6002NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published host schools across NSW.
How do we help our child settle in?
Expect a few unsettled weeks, then let friendships do their work. An OC teacher says many new students arrive from lots of different schools2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published, so your child won't stand out as new.
Practise the trip
Do the journey together before Term 1, at the real time of day. The Department notes that less travel leaves more time for other things. 4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Keep old friends close
Weekend catch-ups with friends from the old school help while new friendships form.
Give it time
The same teacher says children find friends among like-minded classmates once the first weeks pass2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
A new school asks a lot of a ten-year-old. Notice the small wins, and let them tell you about the hard days without fixing everything.
What if our child doesn't want to leave their friends?
That worry is common before a move like this. An OC teacher in the Department's videos says some children are very hesitant before they come, then meet like-minded classmates once they arrive2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Take the worry seriously rather than talking them out of it. Old friendships can last with a little planning, such as a regular weekend catch-up or a shared sport. Most new OC students have left a school of their own, so your child is not alone in this. 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
How will our child get to the new school?
Plan the route before Term 1 and try it together at school time. The Department says less travel could reduce harm to schoolwork and wellbeing4NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Students may be eligible for free or subsidised travel to and from school7Transport for NSW · 13 October 2026 · Published. Transport for NSW handles school travel passes, so check its school student travel page for the new school.
What about a younger brother or sister?
They don't get a place at the OC school because your child has one. There is no promised place for a sibling unless you live in the school's intake area2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Outside that area, you can apply to the school for out-of-area enrolment, subject to eligibility and the school's capacity2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. If it isn't offered, plan now for separate school runs.
What will the new school cost?
There are no school fees to enrol in an OC. 8NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published Like any NSW public primary school, the school can ask for some contributions, and there is help if money is tight.
| Cost | The rule |
|---|---|
| Voluntary school contribution | Paying is at the discretion of parents and carers9NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. It's capped at A$519NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published for primary schools. That cap applies in 2026. |
| Camps, carnivals and programs | Schools can ask for help with mandatory excursions such as camps and carnivals, and specialist programs such as sport or performing arts9NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. |
| If money is tight | Schools must help with part or all of these costs in financial hardship9NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. No student can be kept out of lessons or school activities for not paying9NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. |
A new school usually means a new uniform. Ask for the uniform and stationery list at orientation, so the costs are spread over the summer.
What dates still matter this year?
Only one OC date is left in the 2027 round, and it applies only if you're still on a higher-choice list. The next dates after it belong to Selective. If you hold no higher-choice reserve place, no OC date below affects you.
3 December 2026, 3 pm (Sydney time)3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
OC reserve decision date
Only for families holding an offer and waiting on a higher choice. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
until the end of Term 1 20286NSW Education · 18 October 2026 · Published
OC reserve offers end
Higher-choice offers can still come until then.
November to February3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Selective applications, usually
Your child applies at the end of Year 5 or the start of Year 6. 3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Early May3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
The Selective test, usually
The calendar feed adds each date once the Department publishes it, with reminders. It needs no account and sends nothing about your child.
What comes after Year 6?
Year 7, and the Selective test comes first. An OC place gives no automatic Selective entry, so you apply separately in Year 5. 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
| OC, now | Selective, next | |
|---|---|---|
| Sat | in Year 42NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | in Year 610NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Sections | 311NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, no Writing | 412NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, including Writing |
| School choices | Up to 44NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | Up to 34NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
| Outcomes, usually | September3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published | August3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published |
Every child, OC or not, sits the same Selective test on the same terms. 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published Read about the Selective test.
How do the rules apply to real families?
Each case shows the rules for one family starting OC. The choices stay with the family.
A composite class, and a worried parent
The school has the smaller intake, so Year 5 and Year 6 share one class.
That's how a smaller-intake OC runs: 15 places = one composite Year 5–6 class2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. The Department asks families to check the school's website or contact the school to confirm2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published how the class is arranged.
A long trip each way
The OC school is a long bus ride from home.
The Department says less travel could reduce harm to schoolwork and wellbeing4NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. Practising the trip before Term 1 shows what the daily cost really is.
Overseas at the start of the year
The family will be overseas for the first week of Term 1.
The place cannot be deferred1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published, but a late start can be discussed: talk with the school's principal1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
A higher-choice offer after the year starts
The child has started at the OC school; a reserve offer then comes from the family's first choice.
If they accept it, the current offer is declined automatically. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published If they decline the new offer, they keep the current place. 1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published
What can't be known yet?
You know the school, the class type and the start date. You can't know how quickly your child will settle, or which friendships will form.
Nor does an OC place say anything about Year 7. The Selective test is separate, and there is no set minimum score for any school. 1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Where do we check, officially?
The school and the Department hold the details. These pages cover starting OC.
- Outcomes and enrolment: accepting, enrolment and delayed starts.
- Opportunity classes: class types, places and the Department's videos.
Questions parents ask about starting OC
Can we defer the OC place to next year?
No. The place cannot be deferred1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published. It's this year's Year 5 or not at all.
A late start is different. You talk with the school's principal1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published, or message the Selective Education Team if it has to be arranged in the school holidays1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published.
Does an OC follow the normal NSW curriculum?
Yes. All NSW public schools follow the same curriculum 4NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published; an OC tends to move through it more quickly. 2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published
Can OC students join sport and other activities?
Yes. An OC teacher in the Department's videos says OC students take part in things like chess and debating, as well as school sport teams2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published. Ask at orientation what this school offers.
Will a younger sibling get an OC place too?
Not automatically. Siblings get no priority; each child needs the test performance on their own. 10NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published
Does an OC place help with the Selective test?
Not directly. An OC place gives no automatic entry to a selective high school, and your child applies separately in Year 5. 2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published