Gosford High School: how does a child get a selective place?

Only by sitting the NSW Selective test. Gosford is fully selective, which means every student is placed through the selective process^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Gosford's enrolment page says the same: places are offered by the Department's Selective Education Team, based on the test. You apply online, naming Gosford among up to 3^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} schools, and your child sits the test in Year 6^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

The school is on Racecourse Road, Gosford^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, in the Central Coast^{7NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published} region. Its travel page links Busways and Coastal Liner bus timetables^{8Gosford HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

A selective school draws from a wide area, and on the Coast that can mean long trips. The Department notes less travel could reduce harm to schoolwork and wellbeing^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Open Gosford in your map app and time the trip from home at school hours. ^{7NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Yes, if a place comes up, through Gosford's own Years 8 to 11 round. ^{10NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} It coordinates the test with Caringbah, Fort Street (Year 11 only), Girraween and Hornsby Girls, among others^{11Gosford HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}, and the test is the HAST.

Gosford takes hard copies only, handed in at the school office or posted^{12Gosford HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Online forms are not accepted, and late applications are refused.

Dates for entry in 2028: Not published^{10NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Not published}. Your child must bring photo ID to the test.

Why is Gosford's HAST fee higher?

Gosford set its own fee: A$140^{11Gosford HS · 13 October 2026 · Published} to sit the test there, against A$130^{13Girraween HS · 13 October 2026 · Published} at Girraween for the same round. If Gosford is not your first choice, you pay it A$50^{11Gosford HS · 13 October 2026 · Published} instead.

Each school wants its own form, in the same order of preference. ^{10NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Weigh 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 advises. Tick what's true; your ticks stay on this screen.

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  Your child would like to start some senior work early: Gosford offers an acceleration program in which Year 10 students can start HSC courses early^{12Gosford HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

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  Music or the stage matters to your child: the school has a well-established band, regular school musicals and creative and performing arts events through the year^{12Gosford HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

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  Your child wants to lead: Gosford has Student Representative Council membership from Year 7, and an Elite Leadership Force program for Year 10 leaders^{12Gosford HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

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  Your child likes outdoor challenges: there are two pathways into the Duke of Edinburgh's Award for students in Years 9 to 12^{14Gosford HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

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  The bus trip works on school days. ^{8Gosford HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  You've booked a tour. ^{12Gosford HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

No. There is no set minimum entry score^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} for Gosford, and the level needed depends on how many children apply, how they perform, the places available and how many offers are declined^{5NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Gosford's own pages praise its HSC results. Those results belong to past Year 12 students and don't show what a Year 7 applicant needs.

Gosford uses the statewide Year 7 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 Gosford on your list

   For a child in Year 5 in 2026.

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

   The Selective test

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

   Outcomes

To visit first, Gosford runs school tours, booked by emailing the school^{12Gosford HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

These are the three nearest by straight line from the Department's coordinates. Only Gorokan is on the Central Coast.

Search every school by suburb.