Richmond Agricultural College: how the selective stream works

Richmond is partially selective: it has selective classes inside a local high school^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} A Year 7 place in its selective stream comes only through the Selective test, applied for through the NSW Department of Education.

The school calls that stream the Academically Selective AgSTEM stream^{2Richmond Agricultural College · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Your child sits the test in Year 6^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, and places go by test performance and the order of your school choices^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

1. Apply to the Department

   Expected November 2026–February 2027^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected} for entry in 2028, with Richmond as one of up to 3^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} choices.

2. Sit the Selective test

   Expected early May 2027^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}, held only in NSW^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

3. Hear the outcome

   Expected August 2027^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}: one offer at most, at first. ^{6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

4. Start across two campuses

   The college runs two campuses; the selective stream studies agriculture^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

What is the AgSTEM selective stream?

It's a selective class whose timetable is split between two sites. In Years 7 to 10, students spend 60% of the timetable at the Centre on the Western Sydney University/TAFE campus, and 40% at Richmond High School^{2Richmond Agricultural College · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

The Centre sits on the university's Hawkesbury campus, and its programs focus on Agriculture, STEM, Sustainability, Aboriginal Knowledges and Transition Pathways^{7Richmond Agricultural College · 13 October 2026 · Published}. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

How is the Specialty stream different?

Richmond also runs an AgSTEM Specialty stream that doesn't use the test. Entry to it is by interview and folio, applied for directly with the Centre^{2Richmond Agricultural College · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

For entry in 2027 the Specialty intake is a Year 7 class of up to 30 students^{2Richmond Agricultural College · 13 October 2026 · Published}. If your child loves agriculture but you're unsure about the test, ask the college about this route.

The college has two addresses: Vines Drive, Western Sydney University Hawkesbury Campus and 140 Lennox Street, Richmond^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. It's in the Sydney - Outer West and Blue Mountains^{9NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published} region.

Your child's week includes both sites, so check how they travel between them and from home. The Department notes less travel could reduce harm to schoolwork and wellbeing^{3NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}, and eligible students can get free or subsidised travel to and from school^{10Transport for NSW · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Plan your commute opens the Department's point for the college in your own map app. ^{9NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Possibly, in Years 8 to 10, if a place opens. You complete the Department's form and the college's own AgSTEM application, which asks for a portfolio with answers to four questions and one personal narrative^{2Richmond Agricultural College · 13 October 2026 · Published}. ^{12NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

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^{3NSW 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^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} an important consideration.

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  Studying agriculture is a plus, not a cost. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

• ✓

  Splitting the week between the Centre and Richmond High suits your child. ^{2Richmond Agricultural College · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  A small selective class suits your child. ^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

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  The trips to Richmond and the Hawkesbury campus work at school times.

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  You've visited, or asked about an information session. ^{3NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}

No. There is no set minimum entry score^{6NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} for Richmond's selective stream. The level 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. The Department suggests you ask friends, family and your community about their experiences^{3NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

The selective stream follows the statewide timetable. Exact dates for Year 7 entry in 2028: Not published^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Not published}. The months below are expected.

1. November 2026–February 2027 Expected^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Apply, with Richmond on your list

   For a child in Year 5 in 2026.

2. early May 2027 Expected^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   The Selective test

3. August 2027 Expected^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}

   Outcomes

The Specialty stream runs to the college's own dates. For entry in 2027, Year 7 Specialty applications opened on 21 February 2026^{2Richmond Agricultural College · 14 October 2026 · Published} and Round 1 closed on 21 July 2026, 3 pm (Sydney time)^{2Richmond Agricultural College · 14 October 2026 · Published}. After Round 1, applications went on a waitlist, considered only if a vacancy arose^{2Richmond Agricultural College · 14 October 2026 · Published}.

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)^{4NSW 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. Two of them are single-sex schools.

For a fully agricultural school, see Hurlstone or James Ruse. Search every school by suburb.