Hurlstone Agricultural High School: how selective entry works

Every Year 7 place at Hurlstone, day or boarding, comes through the Selective test. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} You apply once to the NSW Department of Education and can list Hurlstone among up to 3^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} schools.

Your child sits the test in Year 6^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. Offers go by test performance and the order of your school choices^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, so the same result counts for Hurlstone and every other school on your list.

1. One application to the Department

   Expected November 2026–February 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected} for entry in 2028. Hurlstone says boarding applicants come through this same application. ^{4Hurlstone Agricultural High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}

2. The Selective test

   Expected early May 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}, held only in NSW^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

3. The outcome

   Expected August 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}. You get at most one offer at first. ^{6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

4. Boarding extras

   A boarding place may involve extra steps, such as an interview at the school^{3NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

What does agriculture look like at Hurlstone?

Farm work is part of every week in the junior years. At Hurlstone, agriculture is compulsory in Years 7 to 10^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, taught across a 90-hectare campus with a purpose-built Farm Hub^{7Hurlstone Agricultural High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Later, the school offers Preliminary and HSC Agriculture as options in the senior years^{7Hurlstone Agricultural High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

For languages, Hurlstone teaches japanese, with Korean added in Years 11 and 12^{8Hurlstone Agricultural High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}. That gives a child a sense of the weekly mix beyond the farm.

Who boards at Hurlstone?

Hurlstone offers boarding for regional, rural or remote students^{4Hurlstone Agricultural High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Across NSW, extra consideration for isolated students^{1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Choose day or boarding with care. A boarder at Farrer or Hurlstone can't move to a day place automatically^{1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}, the Department says.

Hurlstone is at Roy Watts Road, Glenfield^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, in the Sydney - Outer South West^{10NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published} region. For day students, the Department notes less travel could reduce harm to schoolwork and wellbeing^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

The school's travel page suggests drop-off and pick-up along Station Road or Railway Parade, with a walk in through the Station Pedestrian Gate^{11Hurlstone Agricultural High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Eligible students can get free or subsidised travel to and from school^{12Transport for NSW · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Plan your commute opens the school in your own map app. ^{10NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Yes, if a place opens, through the school's own process for Years 8 to 11. ^{14NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} Applicants sit the Higher Ability Selection Test (HAST)^{15Hurlstone Agricultural High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}, and a panel reviews the results with school documents.

Vacancies depend on students leaving, and some schools have none in some years^{14NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Check the school's Years 8 to 11 page before you apply.

The Department asks you to 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}. Tick what's true; nothing is saved or sent.

• ✓

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

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  Your child enjoys hands-on work with plants and animals, every week. ^{7Hurlstone Agricultural High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  You've settled day or boarding, knowing a boarder can't switch automatically. ^{1NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  For a day place, the trip to Glenfield works at school times.

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  For boarding, the yearly fee fits your budget. ^{16Hurlstone Agricultural High School · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  You've visited, or contacted the school. ^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

No. There is no set minimum entry score^{6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} for day or boarding places. The result needed each year depends on how many children apply, how they perform, the places available and how many offers are declined^{6NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

A "cut-off" quoted online is not a Department figure, and HSC tables describe past Year 12 students. For a feel of the school, the Department suggests you ask friends, family and your community about their experiences^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Hurlstone follows the statewide Selective timetable. 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 Hurlstone on your list

   For a child in Year 5 in 2026, day or boarding.

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

On the Hurlstone reserve list for entry in 2027 while holding another offer? If this school is a higher choice than an offer you've accepted, you can stay on its reserve list after 3 December 2026, 3 pm (Sydney time)^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} only by declining that accepted offer by then. ^{6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

These three are the nearest, by straight line from the Department's coordinates. All three are partially selective, so their selective places sit inside local schools.

The other agricultural schools are James Ruse, Farrer Memorial and Yanco. Search every school by suburb.