Opportunities for students to soar in rural and remote NSW

By Contributed

Feb 5, 2025

Opportunities for school aged children in rural and remote NSW are aplenty.

Parents of high potential and gifted students in rural and remote areas of NSW are urged to apply now for placement in online opportunity classes (OC) or selective high school classes starting in 2026, as the application deadline is fast approaching.

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Children currently in Year 4 (for OC applications) or Year 6 (for selective high school applications) can be considered for placement in 2026. The application deadline is February 21, 2025.

The online classes are provided by the NSW Department of Education’s virtual school, Aurora College. The college offers online classes at more than 700 host public schools across rural and regional NSW. Two residential camps are also held throughout the year so students can meet their online classmates, collaborate with hands-on lessons and attend specialist excursions.

Parents can view the location of Aurora College host schools and apply online at the NSW Department of Education’s selective high schools and opportunity classes website.

Students living in rural and remote locations are also eligible for placement under the Equity Placement Model.

The model holds 20 per cent of all OC and selective school places across NSW for high potential and gifted students from currently under-represented groups in selective education. These are students from low socio-educational advantage areas, rural or remote locations, Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders, and children with disability.

These students may be offered a place if their test performance is within 10 per cent of the minimum general applicant first-round offer for the school. Parents can learn more about the Equity Placement Model at the department’s Fair Access webpage.

Once an application has been submitted, the student will be invited to sit the Opportunity Class or Selective High School Placement Test on one day between May 2 to 4, 2025. From this year, the placement tests will move from single version paper-based tests to computer-based tests. For more information and to apply go to the Department of Education website Equity Placement Model: edu.nsw.link/equity.

Dr Paul Wood, Executive Director, Educational Standards, NSW Department of Education, said:

“Regardless of geography or background, we want access for every child in NSW to a learning environment that supports them to reach their potential.

“Aurora College helps us to deliver on our commitment to deliver high potential and gifted education in every NSW public school so parents can be confident that their local public school will bring out the best in their child.

“Aurora College students are effectively enrolled in two schools but remain in their local communities which minimises disruption to their and their parents’ lives so they can fully focus on their studies.”