Peel High School, Tamworth: how its selective stream works

Through the NSW Selective test. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} The NSW Department of Education takes one application per child, with up to 3^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} schools on it, and Peel can be any of them.

Children sit the test in Year 6^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. The Department makes offers on test performance and the order of your school choices^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

1. List Peel on your application

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

2. Your child sits the test

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

3. The result arrives

   Expected August 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}, with one offer at first^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} from the highest list choice your child qualifies for.

4. Places can open later

   A Peel place that a family turns down goes to the next child on Peel's reserve list. ^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Where will my child sit the test?

At a centre the Department chooses. It looks at your child's primary school address, where the centres are, and how many children each can seat^{5NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}, and most are local public high schools^{5NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Every centre is only in NSW^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

How is Peel organised?

Peel is a local school with a selective stream inside it: in the Department's words, selective classes inside a local high school^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. The school calls itself a Year 7 to Year 12, comprehensive, coed secondary school^{6Peel HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

The Department lists Gunnedah Road, Tamworth^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, and the school's travel page gives 88 Gunnedah Rd, Tamworth NSW 2340^{8Peel HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. It's in the New England and North West^{9NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published} region.

The school asks students to use street parking on Cole Road, then the footpath to the main entrance^{8Peel HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Eligible students may get free or subsidised travel to and from school^{10Transport for NSW · 13 October 2026 · Published}. The Department notes that less travel could reduce harm to schoolwork and wellbeing^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Plan your commute opens Peel in your own map app. ^{9NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published}

If a vacancy comes up. For Years 8 to 11, you apply directly to the school, usually between June and July^{12Peel HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. ^{13NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Vacancies depend on students leaving, and some schools have none in some years^{13NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

The Department asks you to think about 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.

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  Your child would like 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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  A coeducational school suits your child. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

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  Your child plays footy codes or basketball and might try for the sport program. ^{14Peel HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  Your child likes the idea of a show team. ^{15Peel HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  Starting TAFE study while still at school could suit your child later. ^{14Peel HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  You've visited, or asked to. ^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

No. The Department has no set minimum entry score^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} for Peel, or for Farrer. The level changes each year with how many children apply, how they perform, the places available and how many offers are declined^{4NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

League tables built on HSC results look back at Year 12 and say nothing about Year 7 entry. The Department suggests you ask friends, family and your community about their experiences^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Peel follows the statewide Selective 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 Peel listed

   For a child in Year 5 in 2026.

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

   Test

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

   Offers

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. ^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

By straight line from the Department's coordinates, these are the three closest. Farrer is in Tamworth too.

Farrer's boarding places need a direct application to the school. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} All selective schools.