Girraween High School: how do children get a place?

Only through the NSW Selective test, which most children sit in Year 6^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. Girraween is fully selective, so every student is placed through the selective process^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

The school doesn't run Year 7 entry itself. You send one online application to the NSW Department of Education, naming Girraween as one of up to 3^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} schools. Places then go by test performance and the order of your school choices^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

1. Apply to the Department

   Expected November 2026–February 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected} for entry in 2028, with Girraween in your list. ^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

2. Your child sits one test

   Expected early May 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}. The same test counts for every school you list.

3. Outcomes arrive

   Expected August 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}. A child gets one offer at first^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, from the highest choice they qualify for.

4. Reserve places move

   When a family turns down a Girraween place, it passes down the Girraween reserve list. ^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Girraween High School is on Gilba Road, Girraween^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, in the Sydney - Parramatta^{6NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published} region. Selective students come from far and wide, so check the trip early.

The school's travel page has school bus advice that includes extra morning routes for students from the wider selective school catchment^{7Girraween HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Long trips cost something: the Department notes less travel could reduce harm to schoolwork and wellbeing^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Open Girraween in your map app and time the trip at school hours. ^{6NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Yes, if a place opens. Girraween fills Years 8 to 11 itself, using the Higher Ability Selection Test (HAST) and a portfolio of school achievements^{9Girraween HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. ^{10NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Year 10 is the year with more room. Girraween creates an extra class in Year 10, so more new students can join Year 10 than Years 8, 9 and 11^{9Girraween HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Dates for entry in 2028: Not published^{10NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Not published}, so here is how the last round ran.

What goes into the Girraween portfolio?

The selection committee reads the HAST result beside your application. The portfolio holds recent school reports, the last two NAPLAN reports, outside academic achievements from the past two years, and evidence of extra-curricular activities^{9Girraween HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Some reports may not exist by the closing date, and the school lets you email them later.

Which schools share Girraween's HAST results?

Girraween shares results with Caringbah, Fort Street (Year 11 exam only), Gosford, Hornsby Girls, Hurlstone Agricultural, Macquarie Fields and Northern Beaches Secondary College Manly Campus, among others^{9Girraween HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Your child sits the HAST once, at your first-preference school, and the others work from that result.

Each school still needs its own form, with the same order of preference on all of them. ^{10NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Start with your child's interests and abilities, academic and co-curricular needs, social and emotional needs, and any specialised support^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}, as the Department suggests. Tick what applies; nothing leaves your screen.

• ✓

  Your child wants a fully selective school where every class is selective. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  A co-ed school suits your child. ^{11Girraween HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  The bus trip to Girraween works both ways, at school times. ^{7Girraween HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  Your child is drawn to STEM. The school has an official partnership with the University of Sydney's Women in STEM Khuda Program^{11Girraween HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

• ✓

  Your child wants to go there. The Department calls choosing a school your child wants to go to^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} important.

• ✓

  You've walked through the school, or asked the office about a visit.

No. There is no set minimum entry score^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} for Girraween or any selective school. The level needed depends on how many children apply, how they perform, the places available and how many offers are declined^{4NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

HSC tables describe students who started years ago, not how Year 7 places are given. To hear how the school feels day to day, the Department suggests you ask friends, family and your community about their experiences^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Year 7 entry follows statewide dates. Exact dates for Year 7 entry in 2028: Not published^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Not published}. The months below are expected.

1. November 2026–February 2027 Expected^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Apply, with Girraween in your list

2. early May 2027 Expected^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   The Selective test

3. August 2027 Expected^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Year 7 outcomes

For Years 8 to 11, the last round opened 17 June 2026^{10NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. Dates for entry in 2028: Not published^{10NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Not published}, so check the school's Enrol page.

The first three are the nearest by straight line from the Department's coordinates. Baulkham Hills is added as the nearest school of the same kind: fully selective and co-ed.

Search every school by suburb.