Tempe High School: how selective entry works

Tempe's selective places come only through the Selective test, run by the NSW Department of Education. Tempe is partially selective^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, which means selective classes inside a local high school^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}. You apply to the Department, not to Tempe, and can list it as one of 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 a Tempe place depends on the same test as every other selective school.

1. One Department application

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

2. The test, in NSW

   Expected early May 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}. It's held only in NSW^{4NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}.

3. An outcome for each choice

   Expected August 2027^{3NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Expected}. At first a child gets one offer at first^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, from the highest choice they qualify for.

4. Tempe's reserve list

   If a family turns down a Tempe place, the next child on Tempe's list may be offered it. ^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}

What are Tempe's three learning pathways?

Tempe High School offers three learning pathways: selective, enrichment and mainstream^{6Tempe HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. Only the selective pathway uses the Selective test; the others are school decisions.

Movement between enrichment and mainstream classes is reviewed each semester^{6Tempe HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. The school's pages don't describe a move from enrichment into the selective stream, so ask Tempe directly.

Tempe High School is at Unwins Bridge Road, Tempe^{1NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, in the Sydney - City and Inner South^{10NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published} region. Selective students can come from anywhere, so the daily trip matters.

The school's travel page lists Tempe and Sydenham stations, each an 8 to 10 minute walk away^{11Tempe HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}. It also lists route 700s buses to and from Earlwood via Dulwich Hill Station^{11Tempe HS · 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 Tempe's location in your own map app. ^{10NSW Education data · 13 October 2026 · Published}

Possibly, in Years 8 to 11, if a place comes up. Each school runs its own^{13NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} process for vacancies, assessments and decisions. When we checked, Tempe's own pages pointed to the Department's Years 8 to 11 page rather than setting out their own steps.

Vacancies depend on students leaving, and some schools have none in some years^{13NSW Education · 13 October 2026 · Published}. For Tempe, some schools test, others review reports^{13NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published}, so ask the school how it assesses.

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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  The train or bus trip to Tempe works at school times, both ways.

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  Your child is happy to learn Japanese or Chinese^{14Tempe HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}, the compulsory language choice in Stage 4.

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  Your child would enjoy picking three electives to study in both Year 9 and Year 10^{15Tempe HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

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  A sport pathway matters to you: Tempe runs an elite volleyball pathway, set up in 2018^{16Tempe HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}.

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  A coeducational school suits your child. ^{8Tempe HS · 13 October 2026 · Published}

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  You've visited, or asked the school about a tour.

No. There is no set minimum entry score^{5NSW Education · 12 October 2026 · Published} for Tempe's selective classes. 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}, so it moves from year to year.

HSC tables describe past Year 12 results for the whole school, mainstream classes included, not Year 7 entry. 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}.

Tempe 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, listing Tempe

   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 for each choice

Holding another offer while on Tempe's reserve list for entry in 2027? 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}

These are the three nearest selective schools with Year 7 places, by straight line from the Department's coordinates. Rose Bay is added because it also has targeted places for Aboriginal students.

Search every school by suburb.