Rose Bay Secondary College: how selective entry works

Rose Bay's Year 7 selective places are offered through the Selective test, run by the NSW Department of Education. The college is partially selective^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}: selective classes inside a local high school^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, alongside local classes.

You don't apply to Rose Bay. Your Department application names up to 3^{2NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} schools in order, and your child sits the test in Year 6^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

If a family turns down a Rose Bay offer, the place goes to the next child on Rose Bay's reserve list. ^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Which years does Rose Bay's selective stream cover?

Rose Bay says its selective stream is for high potential and gifted students in Years 7 to 10^{6Rose Bay SC · 13 October 2026 · Published}. The school calls itself a coeducational Year 7 to Year 12 school in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs^{7Rose Bay SC · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

So the separate selective classes run to the end of Year 10, by the school's own description. Its site doesn't say how classes are grouped in Years 11 and 12, so ask at a tour. It does list HSC Extension courses in Mathematics, English, History, Science and Music^{8Rose Bay SC · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Despite its name, the college is at Hardy Street, Dover Heights^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, in the Sydney - Eastern Suburbs^{10NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published} region. Check the trip from your home, not from Rose Bay itself.

The school's travel page says its school bus routes pick up and drop off at Bondi Junction Interchange, Watsons Bay, Randwick, Maroubra and Edgecliff^{11Rose Bay SC · 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 the college's location in your own map app. ^{10NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Possibly, in Years 8 to 10, run by the school itself^{6Rose Bay SC · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Because the stream ends after Year 10, the school describes later selective entry for those years. ^{13NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

Places depend on students leaving, and some schools have none in some years^{13NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Applying for a Year 11 selective place at Rose Bay? Its pages describe Years 8 to 10 only, so ask the school first.

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 applies; nothing is saved or sent.

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  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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  A school bus works from your area. Routes serve Bondi Junction Interchange, Watsons Bay, Randwick, Maroubra and Edgecliff^{11Rose Bay SC · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

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  Your child is happy for selective classes to run in Years 7 to 10^{6Rose Bay SC · 13 October 2026 · Published}, with Years 11 and 12 to ask about.

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  Your child would enjoy a Year 7 Gala Day, a Year 7 Film Club and a Year 7 Surf Lifesaving Week^{7Rose Bay SC · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

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  A coeducational school by the coast suits your child. ^{7Rose Bay SC · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  You've booked one of the college's regular school tours of about an hour^{11Rose Bay SC · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

No. Rose Bay's selective classes, like every selective school, have no set minimum entry score^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. The level shifts each year with how many children apply, how they perform, the places available and how many offers are declined^{5NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

HSC results and rankings describe past Year 12 students, selective and local together. They don't show how Year 7 places are given. To hear from families, the Department suggests you ask friends, family and your community about their experiences^{2NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

Rose Bay uses 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, including Rose Bay

   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}

   Outcomes

On Rose Bay's 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. ^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

The three nearest selective schools with Year 7 places, by straight line from the Department's coordinates, plus Tempe, the other school with targeted places for Aboriginal students.

Search every school by suburb.