Opportunity Classes & Selective High Schools
What are the benefits of opportunity classes and selective high schools?
Students get to learn together with classmates who have similar abilities. This allows their teachers to use special teaching methods to move students through the curriculum at a faster pace and in more depth.
When learning alongside other high potential and gifted classmates, students benefit both academically and socially. Students love learning with other students who also enjoy asking questions, delving deep into topics and being challenged academically.
Selective high schools and opportunity classes also offer a broad range of Co-curriculum activities such as sports, creative and performing arts, music and special interest groups.
What are opportunity classes?
- Opportunity classes are for high potential and intellectually gifted students in year 5 and 6.
- High potential and gifted students learn with like-minded children.
- Opportunity classes are in different Primary schools in NSW. Penrith Public School and Kingswood Public School are two Primary schools who offer opportunity classes.
Parents apply when students are at the end of Year 3 or the beginning of Year 4 for placement in Year 5. It is a 2-year program (year 5 to 6). Parents cannot apply for Year 6 placement only.
Students attend the opportunity classes full-time in Years 5 and 6.
In most cases, students who accept a place in an opportunity class will leave their current school to attend a school with an opportunity class.
You can apply for opportunity classes that are outside your local enrolment area.
What are selective high schools?
- Selective high schools are one of the ways that teachers and other school staff support our high potential and gifted students in Years 7 to 12.
- In a selective high school, children learn in a classroom full of other like-minded students.
- It can be a great option for students who like an academic challenge.
- High potential and gifted students can also choose to go to their local high school to have their learning supported.
- There is one selective high school in the Penrith district which is Penrith High School.
Please see the following helpful links for more information:
Selective high school and opportunity classes - information for students
Selective high schools and opportunity classes.
Primary School with opportunity classes.
Please see the following information sheets for more information:
Guide to selective high schools and opportunity classes
Applying for an opportunity class or selective high school
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