High Performing Students Unit

Information about applying for Year 5

entry to an opportunity class in
(Parents must agree to read this document before submitting an online application)
2019
Key dates
Tuesday 1 May 2018
Application website opens
Thinking of applying for Year Friday 18 May 2018

5 entry to an opportunity Application website closes

Late applications will not be accepted.
class in 2019? Wednesday 18 July 2018
Test authority advice sent to all applicants
You must apply online at
https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/ Wednesday 1 August 2018
selective-high-schools-and-opportunity- Opportunity Class Placement Test
classes/year-5 Mid-October 2018
Placement outcome information

Application information should be read

carefully before applying.
It is on the website at:
https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/
selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/
year-5 .
Note: The information in this document is
available in an accessible format on the website.
Parents* should check this website
regularly for updates all the way
through the application and placement
process. Please check the website and
Facebook for up to date information
before you contact the Unit.

The opportunity class placement process for Year 5 entry is administered by the High Performing Students Unit^.
Contact details
High Performing Students Unit
NSW Department of Education
Email: [email protected] Telephone: 1300 880 367 Fax: 02 9266 8435
Postal address: Locked Bag 53, DARLINGHURST NSW 1300
Website: https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Opportunityclassplacement
^ In this document, the High Performing Students Unit is referred to as the Unit.
*‘Parent’ is defined under the Education Act 1990 as ‘a guardian or other person having custody or care of a child’.
A list of the primary schools with opportunity classes is shown on page 2 of this document.
Public schools with Year 5 opportunity classes in 2019
You may choose up to two opportunity classes in order of preference.
OC code School OC code School OC code School
ACP ARMIDALE CITY ERM ERMINGTON POR PORT MACQUARIE
Faulkner St, Armidale Winbourne St, West Ryde Grant St, Port Macquarie
ALX ALEXANDRIA PARK + GEO GEORGES HALL QUA QUAKERS HILL
Park Rd, Alexandria Pennington Ave, Georges Hall Medlow Dr, Quakers Hill
ALS ALSTONVILLE GOO GOONELLABAH QUE QUEANBEYAN SOUTH
Main St, Alstonville Ballina Rd, Goonellabah Cameron Rd, Queanbeyan
ART ARTARMON GSF GOSFORD RIC RICHMOND
McMillan Rd, Artarmon Faunce St West, West Gosford Windsor St, Richmond
ASH ASHFIELD GOU GOULBURN WEST RUT RUTHERFORD
Liverpool Rd, Ashfield Combermere St, Goulburn Weblands St, Rutherford
BGH BALGOWLAH HEIGHTS GRE GREENACRE RDE RYDE
Lewis St, Balgowlah Heights Waterloo Rd, Greenacre Pope St, Ryde
BLM BALMAIN GRY GREYSTANES SMI SMITHFIELD
Eaton St, Balmain Merrylands Rd, Greystanes O’Connell St, Smithfield
BHW BATHURST WEST HAR HARRINGTON STREET SOL SOLDIERS POINT
Suttor St, Bathurst Harrington St, Cabramatta Cromarty Rd, Soldiers Point
BEE BEECROFT HOL HOLSWORTHY GTS SOUTH GRAFTON
Beecroft Rd, Beecroft Infantry Pde, Holsworthy Vere St, South Grafton
BIR BIRABAN HUR HURSTVILLE STA ST ANDREWS
Beckley St, Toronto Forest Rd, Hurstville Ballantrae Dr, St Andrews
BTS BLACKTOWN SOUTH ILL ILLAROO ROAD STJ ST JOHNS PARK
Flushcombe Rd, Blacktown Illaroo Rd, Nowra Sandringham St, St Johns Park
BCS BLAXCELL STREET IBR IRONBARK RIDGE
STU STURT
Blaxcell St, Granville Ironbark Ridge Rd, Rouse Hill
White Ave, Wagga Wagga
BXE BLAXLAND EAST JEW JEWELLS
SUM SUMMER HILL
Lepton Pde, Jewells
Old Bathurst Rd, East Blaxland Moonbie St, Summer Hill
KIN KINGSWOOD
BRA BRADBURY SUT SUTHERLAND
Second Ave, Kingswood
Jacaranda Ave, Bradbury Eton St, Sutherland
LEU LEUMEAH
CAM CAMDEN SOUTH TAH TAHMOOR
Burrendong Rd, Leumeah
Old Hume Hwy, Camden South Bronzewing St, Tahmoor
LIT LITHGOW
CBN CARINGBAH NORTH TAM TAMWORTH
Mort St, Lithgow
Cawarra Rd, Caringbah Napier St, Tamworth
MAR MARYLAND
CAS CASULA John T Bell Dr, Maryland, TAS TAMWORTH SOUTH
De Meyrick Ave, Casula Newcastle Petra Ave, Tamworth
CES CESSNOCK WEST MAT MATTHEW PEARCE TIG TIGHES HILL
 Cnr Campbell St and Astoria Park Rd, Baulkham Hills Elizabeth St, Tighes Hill
Wollombi Rd, Cessnock TOO TOORMINA
MON MONA VALE
CHW CHATSWOOD Waratah St, Mona Vale Cavanba Rd, Toormina
Centennial Ave, Chatswood WAI WAITARA
MOR MOREE
COL COLYTON Albert St, Moree  Edgeworth David Ave,
Nelson St, Mount Druitt Wahroonga
NEU NEUTRAL BAY
COO COONABARABRAN Ben Boyd Rd, Neutral Bay WEN WENTWORTH FALLS
Newell Hwy, Coonabarabran Falls Rd, Wentworth Falls
NEW NEWBRIDGE HEIGHTS
CUD CUDGEGONG VALLEY  Cnr Lewin & Magree Cres, WIL WILKINS
Madeira Rd, Mudgee Chipping Norton Park Rd, Marrickville
DUB DUBBO WEST NLS NEW LAMBTON SOUTH WOL WOLLONGONG
East St, Dubbo St James Rd, New Lambton Church St, Wollongong
DUR DURAL NOR NORTH ROCKS WOO WOOLLAHRA
Old Northern Rd, Dural North Rocks Rd, North Rocks Forth St, Woollahra
EAR EARLWOOD PIC PICNIC POINT WYO WYONG
Homer St, Earlwood Prince & Thomas St, Picnic Point Cutler Dr, Wyong
+ Places are reserved for Aboriginal# students.
2 # In this document, ‘Aboriginal’ refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
 What are opportunity classes? Important dates
Opportunity classes cater for highly achieving Year 5 and
Year 6 academically gifted students who may otherwise be You must apply online by Friday 18 May 2018. The
without classmates at their own academic and social level. application site will close at 10pm on 18 May 2018. The
These classes help gifted and talented students to learn by closing date will be strictly observed except where there
grouping them with other gifted and talented students, is a shortage of suitable candidates or where extenuating
teaching them in specialised ways and providing educational circumstances are serious and well documented.
materials at the appropriate level.
Parents normally apply when students are in Year 4. Students
who are placed then attend the opportunity class full time You can change your school choices before Friday
in Years 5 and 6 at the primary school with an opportunity 10 August 2018 by sending the Change of choice form
class. It is a two-year placement program. In the majority of to the Unit. You cannot change choices after 10 August
cases, students who accept a place in an opportunity class 2018 unless something unexpected and outside your
will leave their current school to attend the school with an control changes and you have documentary evidence.
opportunity class. There is no provision to apply for Year 6 A request for a change of choice after 10 August must
placement only. be approved by the Unit. Use the Change of choice
For further information in other languages see: form at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/
https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a- selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5/
public-school/translated-documents/opportunity-class-and- application-process .
selective-high-school-fact-sheet and https://education.nsw.
gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a-public-school/translated-
documents/opportunity-class-placement-test . It is the parent’s responsibility to liaise with the non-
For an Aboriginal perspective of selective high schools and government school to ensure the completed principal’s
opportunity classes refer to: page for provision of school assessment scores is sent
https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high- to the Unit by Friday 8 June 2018.
schools-and-opportunity-classes/general-information/
student-experience .
If you have not received your Test authority advice
For further information and support parents can contact
by Thursday 19 July 2018, you must email the
their local Aboriginal Education and Wellbeing Advisor.
Unit urgently using the Test authority not received
Cut this out and place on your fridge as a reminder. form on the Unit’s website at https://education.nsw.
gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-
What are the stages of the placement opportunity-classes/year-5/the-test .
process?

Parents read the application information If some problem such as sickness or an accident stops
1 From 1 May 2018
available online your child from taking the test or from doing his/her
Parents register, receive a password, From 1 May to
best either in the test or at the school, you can make
2 an illness/misadventure request using the form on
complete and submit the application online 18 May 2018
the Unit’s website. The form must reach the Unit by
3 Any special test provisions are organised May to July 2018 Wednesday 15 August 2018.
From 22 May to
4 Principals provide school assessment scores
8 June 2018

5 Special test provisions finalised By 11 July 2018 If you have not received the placement outcome
by Wednesday 17 October 2018, email the Unit
6 Parents are sent Test authority advice On 18 July 2018
using the Outcome not received form on the Unit’s
Students sit the Opportunity Class
On 1 August 2018
website at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/
7
Placement Test for Year 5 entry in 2019 selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5/
8 Last day to change school choices By 10 August 2018 outcome .
Any illness/misadventure requests are
9 By 15 August 2018
submitted
If you accept an offer and are also on a reserve list,
10 School selection committees meet In September 2018
you can remain on that reserve list until 5pm on
11 Placement outcome sent to parents In Mid-October 2018 Tuesday 29 January 2019. At that time you must give
up either the reserve place or the offer. After this time
12 Any appeals are submitted to principals By 26 October 2018
students who have accepted an offer will be removed
13 Parents accept or decline offers From Mid-October 2018 automatically from all reserve lists.
Students who have accepted offers are At 5pm Tuesday
14
withdrawn from reserve lists 29 January 2019
Parents of successful students receive
15 Authority to attend letters to take to the Mid-January 2019
school on the first day of Term 1 in 2019

3
How do I apply? choices and placement made by the parent with whom the
student is living most of the time, unless there are specific
Parents must apply online from the Unit’s website at the
court orders stating otherwise.
following link: https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/
selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5 Where parents cannot reach agreement, the matter will
and should read the instructions carefully. Applications be dealt with according to the Department’s guidelines for
are available between 1 May and 18 May 2018. No late dealing with family law related issues. For more information
applications will be accepted. You will: please refer to https://education.nsw.gov.au/media/legal/
familylawguidelines.pdf .
1. register to receive a password using your own email
address, not one belonging to your child Changes to the application
2. log in to complete the application using the password Check that all details in the application confirmation email
provided are correct. Parents are responsible for telling the Unit about
changes to the application. Changes must be requested
3. submit your application by email using the Change of personal details form on
4. receive an email confirming that you have successfully the Unit’s website at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-
submitted schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/
year-5/application-process .
5. check the attachment to the email to confirm all details
are accurate. Applying without internet access
The attachment will contain an application number in the If you have no internet access at home you may need to go
format C18 123 456. You must quote your application to a public library and complete the following steps:
number whenever you enquire about your application. • set up a web-based email to use for the application, such
If you find you have made a mistake or need to change as Yahoo, Hotmail or similar
details after you submitted your application, email the Unit • use that email account to register at:
using the Change of personal details form on the Unit’s https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-
website at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/ high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5
selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5/
application-process . Do not apply twice for the same • wait to receive an email with a password and a link
student, as the selection committee can consider only one
• copy and paste the password to log in
application for each student.
• complete the application and, in the Contact details
Some email providers will not accept emails with section, click on ‘Mail only’ for all future correspondence
attachments sent from the Unit. If this happens we have
to send all information by mail. To avoid this problem add • submit the application
[email protected] to your email contacts list and check • check your new email account for the confirmation email
your spam or junk folders regularly. and print the file showing all your application details.
Parent details Check the email spam/junk folder as well as the inbox.
Where parents live together at the same address as The Unit will then send all communication to your postal
the student address. If you have a disability that prevents you from using
Wherever possible, parents should provide two email a computer, contact the Unit for assistance.
addresses and contact the Unit to update their child’s record Note: Where parents request contact by mail, as the Unit
every time there is a change to any of their contact details. mails letters at the same time as emails are sent, posted mail
It is the parent’s responsibility to use email addresses that will take longer for delivery.
do not belong to a child. The Unit will not correspond with
students. Any email suspected of belonging to a child will Attachments
be disabled and then all correspondence might have to be You must send copies of the following supporting
sent by mail. The names of both parents should be recorded documents to the Unit if any of these apply to your child:
on the application if the second parent is likely to contact • information about a disability or a medical or
the Unit or to make independent placement decisions on behavioural condition such as serious vision impairment,
behalf of the child. diabetes, anaphylaxis, autism or serious illness. If you
Where parents live apart at different addresses believe your child needs special test provisions, you will
need to provide diagnostic evidence. Further information
Duplicate applications for the same student will not be
about this can be found at:
processed. The parent who makes the application should
https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-
live at the address where the student lives most of the time.
high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5/
If the other parent is entitled to educational information
application-process/special-test-provisions
about the student the parent may contact the Unit and
request duplicate system generated correspondence, if • copy of court orders if they relate to this child’s education
required. Where students live with both parents for equal or communication about the child
time the parent with whom the student is living at the time • explanation of why the child is older or younger than the
should make the application. The Unit will not participate usual age range for Year 4, or not in Year 4 in 2018
in parental disputes and will accept decisions about school

4
• For interstate/overseas students not able to sit the Offers and enrolments will be taken away if the placement
Opportunity Class Placement Test, a full WISC V IQ was based on false or misleading information.
report with a reliable Full Scale IQ Score and standardised Interstate and overseas applicants
reading and mathematics test results are required as part
of a Report of academic merit. You can apply while you are temporarily interstate or
overseas. If possible, your child should return to NSW to sit
Use the cover sheet you were emailed with your application the test.
confirmation when sending attachments to the Unit.
If your child cannot sit the test you will need to follow the
Do not send school reports or certificates or other test results
interstate or overseas applicant procedure.
unless asked to do so.
Who can apply? Refer to the website for updates to this procedure at
https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-
Parents of students enrolled in government and non- high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5/information-
government primary schools can apply. for-applicants/interstate-and-overseas-applicants .
School year and age Applicants using the interstate or overseas applicant process
Students are normally in Year 4 at the time of application and can be considered only if they provide a reliable WISC V Full
were born after 31 December 2007 and before 31 July 2009. Scale IQ Score along with the other required information.
These students are aged between 9 years and 5 months and
Note: No other IQ score such as the general ability index can
11 years at the time they start Year 5.
be considered as only Full Scale IQ Scores have been used to
If you apply when your child is out of the age range or in derive the most likely equivalent placement score.
another school year, selection committees will examine the
reasons for this. They may ask for more information or for an You must apply online by the due date but if the IQ test
interview with your child. results are not available at the time you can send the
Report of academic merit to the Unit before the test date of
Selection committees can decide not to accept students who Wednesday 1 August 2018.
are older and may consider that students doing the test for
the second time have gained an unfair advantage from their If you are living outside NSW temporarily and your child was
previous experience with the test. in Year 4 in NSW, the illness/misadventure process could
apply to you. Find out more at https://education.nsw.gov.
Selection committees look carefully at younger students in au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-
Year 4 to determine whether there are special requirements classes/year-5/the-test#Illness5 .
that the school can provide. The school principal may need
to interview much younger students in Year 4. How should I choose an opportunity class?
Students seeking acceleration from Year 3 to Year 5 in 2019 You can apply for up to two primary schools with opportunity
must gain a score which places them in the top half of the classes. Think about your choices carefully. List only the
cohort of students offered placement in their school of choice. schools you would like your child to attend and in your
preferred order. Offers are made on the basis of your order
Selection committees have discretion not to place students of choice. If your child qualifies for both schools, he or she
who are currently in Year 5 and whose parents wish them to will get an offer only to your first choice of school.
repeat Year 5 in an opportunity class in 2019.
Make sure that the schools you choose are suitable for your
Brothers and sisters child and that travel time is reasonable. Check the map on
As placement in an opportunity class is based on academic the Unit’s website for the location of the primary schools
merit, you should not expect that if one of your children with opportunity classes. The selection committees do not
has been successful, the other children in your family will be consider distances, travelling times and transport options
placed. The placement of one twin/triplet does not guarantee between the student’s home and chosen school.
the placement of another. Be aware that Maryland PS is in the Newcastle area, not in
Brothers and sisters and twins/triplets will be offered a place Merrylands.
in the same opportunity class if they have scores that are
Change of school choice
high enough to qualify.
Parents of students who are offered a place in an opportunity You can change your school choices before Friday 10
class cannot assume that younger or older siblings can also August 2018 by sending a Change of choice form
enrol as an out-of-area enrolment at that school. available on the Unit’s website to the Unit. You cannot
change choices after 10 August 2018 unless something
Residency status
unexpected and outside your control changes and you
You must be living in NSW at the beginning of the school have documentary evidence. A request for a change of
year of entry. choice after 10 August 2018 must be approved by the
Your child must be a citizen of Australia or New Zealand or Unit. Use the Change of choice form at https://education.
a permanent resident of Australia to enrol in an opportunity nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-
class. If your child is not yet a permanent resident, you can opportunity-classes/year-5/information-for-applicants .
apply and your child can sit the test if you expect permanent
residency will be granted before mid-October when initial You cannot normally transfer between primary schools with
offers are made. You will not be offered a place in an opportunity classes.
opportunity class unless permanent residency has been
granted.

5
How are students ranked for opportunity Every effort will be made to send you this information but
class entry? it is your responsibility to ensure that you have received this
advice. The information sent to you by email (or mail if you
All students are ranked and placed in order of academic do not use an email address for correspondence) will consist
merit. Academic merit is determined mainly by combining of:
the results of primary school assessments in English and
mathematics and the Opportunity Class Placement Test. This • a Test authority which must be presented at the test
combination is expressed as a calculated placement score centre
out of 300. • a Test information bulletin which explains the test and lists
For some applicants, extra information is requested. For what your child should bring. The bulletin explains how to
example, the Report of academic merit must be completed show the answers to the questions in the test.
for interstate and overseas applicants.
If you have not received your Test authority advice
School assessment scores by Thursday 19 July 2018, you must email the Unit
The primary school gives school assessment scores to urgently using the Test authority not received form
show each student’s achievement on the school curriculum on the Unit’s website at https://education.nsw.gov.au/
in English and mathematics in Year 4. The scores are public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-
scaled (moderated) according to the performance in the classes/year-5/the-test .
Opportunity Class Placement Test of the candidates from the
Parents are responsible for ensuring that their contact details
child’s primary school.
are current throughout the placement process.
This means the moderated school assessment scores can be
Students from the same primary school will usually attend
compared with those of all other applicants in NSW and gives
the same test centre.
them equal weighting with the English and mathematics test
scores. You will be able to see the list of test centres on
If students do not have school assessment scores that can the Unit’s website at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-
be moderated, only their test scores will be used to calculate schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/
their final placement score. year-5/the-test .

Government school principals provide scores to the Unit You must arrange for your child to travel to and from the
online. test but you must not stay on the school grounds during the
test unless the Unit asks you to stay because your child has a
If your child is at a non-government school you will need to diagnosed disability or medical condition which requires you
give the principal’s page for provision of school assessment to be available during the test.
scores to the school to get school assessment scores. The
principal’s page will be emailed to you as soon as you submit Test components
your application online. There are two parts to the test. Each part consists of a mix of
Give the principal’s page to the principal within seven days multiple-choice questions in English, mathematics and general
of applying. ability. Answers are recorded on computer-marked answer
sheets. Students use black pen supplied at the test centre to
It is the parent’s responsibility to liaise with the non- show their answers. Students have half an hour to complete
government school to ensure that the completed principal’s each part.
page for provision of school assessment scores is sent to
the Unit by Friday 8 June 2018. For marking, students are identified by barcoded booklet
numbers only.
If non-government principals will not give any of their
students school assessment scores, you must write an email Important: If your child does not follow instructions
or letter of explanation to the Unit and attach evidence to and marks the answers on the question booklet
support your request for exemption. Selection committees instead of the answer sheet, the marks may not be
will consider whether an exemption is justified. counted.

Find out more about the calculation of scores at https:// Sample tests
education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools- Sample tests are published on the Unit’s website to help your
and-opportunity-classes/year-5/selection-process . child practise answering the questions on the sample answer
What do I need to know about the test? sheets. Find the sample tests at https://education.nsw.gov.
au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-
The Opportunity Class Placement Test for Year 5 entry in classes/year-5/the-test#Preparing2 .
2019 will be held on Wednesday 1 August 2018 in test
centres, usually at government high schools. The test is held These samples are provided only to allow students to
only on this day and only in official test centres in NSW. become familiar with the test format, so results obtained
All test materials are kept secure before, during and after may not reflect the score your child will get in the actual test.
the test and are not released to any unauthorised person. Selection committees will not make any decisions based on
The test measures ability rather than performance on the your child’s score on practice items or any other tests.
curriculum. Special test provisions
The Opportunity Class Placement Test If your child has a disability or medical or behavioural
On Wednesday 18 July 2018 you will be sent Test authority condition that could affect his/her performance on the test,
advice that tells you where to take your child to sit the test. you can ask for special test provisions when you apply. For
example, the Unit can arrange provisions such as enlarged

6
papers, specific seating and approval to take medications to allow their school counsellor to conduct the test. If this
into the test room. option is unavailable parents will need to arrange for their
Please advise us if your child suffers from a medical or child to be tested at their own expense.
behavioural condition that makes it possible that other How are decisions made?
students may be disturbed by your child during the test. In All selection committees make their placement decisions
these cases we may be able to arrange for your child to be using the same selection criteria, but each school selection
supervised in a separate room for testing. committee makes its decisions independently. Each
Students cannot usually be given extra time or a person to committee includes the principal of the school with an
write for them and they cannot use computers for the test. opportunity class and a member of the school counselling
If you explain your child’s special needs in your application, service and can also include other Departmental staff, such
the Unit may contact you or the school to discuss special test as Directors, Public Schools NSW or relevant school staff.
provisions. Selection committees:
The Unit will try to assist in unforeseeable emergency • place students applying for their school in order of their
situations (e.g. a broken arm just prior to the test). However, placement scores
special test provisions for existing conditions cannot be • consider illness/misadventure requests
modified or added to after Wednesday 11 July 2018 and • consider disability and medical and behavioural conditions
special test provisions requested for the first time after • consider matters affecting students outside the usual age
Wednesday 11 July 2018 cannot be guaranteed. range or school Year
In situations where a special test provision cannot be modified • give consideration to students who are Aboriginal or who
prior to the test parents can seek special consideration have been educated in English for less than 48 months
through the illness/misadventure process. • look at other evidence of academic merit, if necessary
• list students for offers and reserve places according to the
Test supervisors are not trained in first aid or administration
number of vacancies at the school
of life-saving medication so parents must disclose medical
• consider any other relevant factors brought to their
information and be available to wait at the test centre to
attention.
administer medication, if required.
How do I find out the outcome?
You must provide supporting documents if you are asking
for special test provisions. Students with a disability or a In mid-October you will be sent your child’s placement
medical or behavioural condition will be given individual outcome. Your child may be:
consideration by selection committees. • offered a place for one school choice and/or
What happens if something goes wrong? • placed on a reserve list for one or both school choices
and/or
If a problem such as sickness or an accident stops your • unsuccessful for one or both school choices.
child from taking the test or from doing his/her best, If your child is made an offer to the school you selected as
either in the test or at school, you can make an illness/ your first choice and also has a score high enough to be
misadventure request using the form on the Unit’s offered placement at your second choice school, that second
website. The form must reach the Unit by Wednesday choice school will be shown as ‘not applicable’.
15 August 2018. If you receive an offer or a place on a reserve list, you will be
sent an Outcome information bulletin explaining what each
If your child is sick or injured at the time of the test, you must
type of outcome means and what you need to do.
have a medical certificate and a completed Independent
evidence of illness form, both of which cover the day of In most cases you will receive your child’s calculated
the test. It is generally better for the student to sit the test, placement score out of 300.
if possible, and submit an illness/misadventure request If you have not received the placement outcome by
afterwards. Wednesday 17 October 2018, email the Unit using the
If you believe something has occurred to prevent your child Outcome not received form on the Unit’s website at https://
from gaining higher school assessment scores, you should education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-
provide documentary evidence if possible. and-opportunity-classes/year-5/outcome .
School selection committees discuss the illness/misadventure There is no fixed minimum score required for entry to
requests and decide whether or not to accept them. You individual schools as students are placed in rank order of
cannot make an appeal later claiming illness or misadventure. their placement scores to fill the available vacancies.
Further information is available at https://education.nsw.gov.
The score held by the last student accepting a place at the
au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-
school in the previous year is the ‘minimum entry score’ that
classes/year-5/the-test/illness-or-misadventure .
is published on the Unit’s website in April each year. This
If an illness/misadventure request is made for a student who score varies from school to school and from year to year.
missed the test and who does not have reliable, moderateable You cannot use these scores from the previous placement
school assessment scores, the student may be considered for process to prove that your child should have received an
placement on the basis of a reliable WISC V Full Scale IQ offer to a particular school in the current placement process.
Score and any other assessment that may be requested. In
The Unit sends reports to public primary schools listing
cases where an IQ test may be the only comparable evidence
the outcome for all their students who applied. Non-
of academic merit which can be considered by selection
government school principals can request information if the
committees, government primary schools may be asked
non-government school provided school assessment scores.
7
Responding to offers been considered by the selection committee. All appeals
must be supported by relevant documentary evidence.
If you receive an offer you must fill out the response form
that you are sent with your placement outcome information You must access the official Appeal form that will be available
and return it by the date shown on the form. This is usually on the Unit’s website. Details about the way to appeal will
14 days later. If you get an offer by phone you might have be available closer to the date of the outcome. Appeals must
less than 24 hours to decide whether or not to accept. If be lodged by Friday 26 October 2018. Schools must return
you do not respond by the due date the Unit may assume their section of the appeal by Friday 2 November 2018.
you do not want the offer. If you accept an offer and then Late appeals will not be accepted.
change your mind and want to decline it, you should write Anything that should have been dealt with or was dealt with
to the Unit immediately so that the place can be offered to by the selection committee through the illness/misadventure
another student. process will not be considered valid grounds for appeal.
If you will not have access to your email at the time offers Further details about grounds for appeal can be found at
are made, you can advise the Unit in writing if you wish to https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-
accept any offer in advance or if you want to change contact schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5/outcome/appeals .
details.
Can my offer be taken away?
The Unit will confirm your response to an offer within 21 If the Unit cannot contact you to make an offer or find out
days. If you have not received an acknowledgement 21 days your response after trying at least twice, the offer will no
after you sent your response, please email the Unit. longer apply.
Being on a reserve list only If your child does not satisfy all requirements, such as
If your child is on a reserve list only, you will be offered a place permanent residency, or does not attend the school on the
if his/her position on a list is reached. The Unit continues to first day without a satisfactory explanation, the offer will
make these offers, if vacancies occur, throughout Year 5 and be taken away. Offers or enrolments will be taken away if
to at least the end of Term 1 in Year 6, provided that students the placement was made on the basis of false or misleading
have not already enrolled in another opportunity class. information.
From early November you can follow the progress of the What do I need to do to enrol?
reserve lists at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/ If you have accepted an offer you will receive in January
selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5/ 2019 an Authority to attend letter which your child must
outcome . take to the school on the first day of the school year as part
Further offers of the enrolment process. You may also need to provide
original documentation, such as proof of residency, and
If your child has been offered a place at your second choice
meet all other NSW Department of Education enrolment
school and is also on a reserve list for your first choice
conditions. There are no extra fees for attending a school
school, a further offer will be sent if his/her reserve position
with an opportunity class. Schools may ask for materials and
is reached. You must accept or decline the new offer. If you
voluntary contributions as do other government schools.
accept the further offer, the Unit will consider the original
offer declined. The Unit will make an offer to your first Information about enrolment policy in NSW Department of
choice school even if you declined an offer to your second Education schools is at https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-
choice school. schools/going-to-a-public-school/enrolment .

If you accept an offer and are also on a reserve list, you can If you need to delay your starting date beyond the first day of
remain on that reserve list until 5 pm 29 January 2019. At the school year you must discuss it with the principal of the
that time you must give up either the reserve place or the school with an opportunity class (or with the Unit if it is in
offer. After this time, students who have accepted an offer the school holidays) before enrolling your child. You cannot
will be removed automatically from all reserve lists. delay enrolment beyond Friday 22 February 2019.

Can I find out more about my child’s scores? Who can make enquiries or decisions about
my child?
Scores information will be provided for most applicants. A
separate letter or attachment will show you the scores your The Unit corresponds with the parents or carers that you list
child gained on the Opportunity Class Placement Test and on the application. If you wish to let other people discuss
the school assessment scores. You cannot use these scores your child’s application with the Unit, you must write to the
to try to recalculate the placement score. Details of scores will Unit authorising them to make enquiries or decisions on your
not be provided over the phone. No other score information behalf.
is available. The Unit will provide information about an application to
Find out more about scores at https://education.nsw.gov. any parent or interested person who is legally entitled to it,
au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity- regardless of requests for confidentiality. The Unit will not
classes/year-5/selection-process . correspond with students or speak to them on the telephone.

How do I appeal? Where can I get further information?

You may appeal against the decision of the selection The Unit updates information about opportunity class
committee if you know something specific happened to placement procedures regularly on the Unit’s website at
prevent your child from gaining higher school assessment https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-
scores or test scores (but not both) which might not have schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5 .

8
The Unit’s telephone system also has current information panels will not make any decision based on your child’s score
about the placement process. Please check the website on practice test items.
or Facebook page before contacting the Unit by email The Department of Education does not endorse coaching for
at [email protected] or phone 1300 880 367 or the Opportunity Class Placement Test.
fax (02) 9266 8435.
5. How is the placement score derived if my child is
You will need to give the student application number and the only one applying from his or her school?
other identifying information when talking about a particular
student. For email enquiries you should use the original email A student who does not have school assessment scores,
address used in the application. or who is the only candidate from his/her school, will be
considered on test scores only.
Ask your child’s teacher if you want advice about whether or
not your child might benefit from attending an opportunity 6. Will my child be disadvantaged if the school
class. cannot provide school assessment scores?
For regular updates on the placement process log into Over the entire candidature, about half of the placement
Facebook to access this link: https://www.facebook.com/ scores are increased by the moderated school assessment
Opportunityclassplacement . scores while the other half are decreased. Where students
are not provided with school assessment scores, it is not
Translated information in 35 languages regarding the possible to guess whether or not having school assessment
Opportunity Class Placement Test can be found at: scores would have increased their placement scores. Students
https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/going-to-a- without school assessment scores who are considered
public-school/translated-documents/opportunity-class- exempt will be considered on their test scores only.
placement-test . 7. What happens if my child is sick or injured on
Frequently asked questions the day of the test?
It is generally better for the student to attempt the test than
1. Must I list two schools? to miss it. You should download the Illness/misadventure
You should list only those schools you are prepared to accept. form from the Unit’s website. You will need to take the
You may list one or two choices. Consider your choices student to the doctor and obtain a medical certificate which
carefully. covers the day of the test and ask the doctor to complete the
Independent evidence of illness form. You should complete
2. Does the order in which I list my choices matter?
the Illness/misadventure form, whether or not the student
Yes. If your child qualifies for both of your choices, you will attempted the test, attach the medical certificate which
be offered a place only at the first choice school. However, if covers the day of the test and the Independent evidence of
your child qualifies for only one of the two choices, you will illness form, and return the completed form to the Unit by
be offered that place regardless of whether it was your first Wednesday 15 August 2018. The selection committee will
or second choice. then consider the student’s illness/misadventure request as
3. What provision is made for students from non- part of the selection process. You will not be able to appeal
government schools? on the grounds of illness after the placement outcome is
known.
The selection procedures are the same for all students. The
only difference is that the Unit advises government school 8. Can I change my choice of schools after
principals about the students from their school who have submitting the application?
applied. Parents of students from non-government schools You must think about your choices very carefully when you
must ask their principals to complete the principal’s page apply. You can ask for a change of choice without explanation
for provision of school assessment scores (emailed to if you submit a request form by Friday 10 August 2018,
parents with their application confirmation) and then must when selection committee lists are created. After this date
ensure it is returned to the Unit by Friday 8 June 2018. In there have to be extenuating circumstances which occurred
circumstances where this is not possible you should submit a after Friday 10 August 2018, there has to be documentary
letter of explanation to the Unit. evidence of the extenuating circumstances and any change
The selection committee will NOT generally grant an must be approved.
exemption to applicants who do not have school assessment 9. If my placement outcome information indicates
scores if other students from the same school have them. that my child is unsuccessful, can his/her name be
The selection committee may decide not to accept the placed on a reserve list?
application in this case.
No. Three terms are used in the placement outcome
4. What can I do to prepare my child for the information: ‘offer’, ‘reserve list’ and ‘unsuccessful’. Selection
Opportunity Class Placement Test? committees decide the students who will receive offers and
Encourage your child to use the sample tests on the Unit’s those who will be placed on reserve lists. Students who
website to practise answering the questions on the sample receive offers and those on reserve lists have higher scores
answer sheet. Students will also be given practice questions than those who are unsuccessful. Students placed on a
before the test begins. See sample tests at https://education. reserve list will be given a number indicating their position
nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and- on the reserve list. Progress on the reserve list varies from
opportunity-classes/year-5/the-test#Test1 . year to year. When offers begin to be made from the reserve
list, the progress of each school’s reserve list is available on
The results of practice items do not mean that your child will
the Unit’s website from early November 2018.
score the same in the test. Selection committees and appeals

9
10. What does the Opportunity Class Placement time doing all school work in English, illness/misadventure
Test tell me about my child’s performance? request, appeal and a number of other factors. This is why
a student may appear higher on a reserve list than another
The Opportunity Class Placement Test measures ability, while
student with a higher calculated placement score. Adjusted
school assessment scores show each student’s achievement on
placement scores are not released as they can vary between
the school curriculum. The test helps to identify students for
the selection committees considering the application.
entry into opportunity classes on the basis of academic merit.
It is not meant to be a diagnostic test to identify the student’s No other score information is available, including adjusted
strengths and weaknesses in English and mathematics. The scores or school rankings.
student’s primary school is most appropriate to advise you on 16. How does the reserve list work?
your child’s performance in these areas.
If the student is on a reserve list for an opportunity class, the
11. If my child was unsuccessful for opportunity number on the placement outcome information shows the
class placement, does it mean he or she will be student’s position on the list. The progress of the reserve
unsuccessful for selective high school entry? list depends on whether students accept or decline an offer
Not necessarily. The entry requirements for opportunity and whether other students receive further offers to schools
classes and selective high school placement can vary quite of higher choice. If a student’s position is reached on the
significantly. Moreover, there is scope for improvement in the reserve list, the Unit will contact parents with an offer. From
ability and performance of students over the time since they early November 2018 until 29 January 2019 you can track
applied for opportunity class placement. Conversely, not all the progress of the reserve lists on the website. The page is
students from opportunity classes are successful for selective updated regularly.
high school entry. There are more than twice as many Year 7 https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-
places in selective high schools as there are Year 5 places in schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-5/outcome#Reserve1 .
opportunity classes.
17. Does my child get an advantage if we live very
12. If I receive an offer to my second choice as well close to the school with an opportunity class?
as being on the reserve list for my first choice, do
No, selection committees do not consider travelling times
I have to give up the offer to stay on the reserve
and transport arrangements when offering places.
list?
You can accept an offer to your second choice school while
18. If my child is one of the last to be made an
remaining on the reserve list for your first choice school until offer, does that mean he or she will struggle in an
5pm on Tuesday 29 January 2019. After that time, no opportunity class?
further offers will be made to students who have already The selection committee offers places or reserve list positions
accepted placement in an opportunity class. only to those students they think are capable of doing well in
13. What should I do if my child does not get into an opportunity class. There are many things which can affect
an opportunity class? student performance, including your child’s willingness to
learn, his/her response to teachers and interaction with other
Opportunity classes are only one of the initiatives provided students. While some students who receive late offers might
by the Department of Education to meet the needs of gifted have problems, the majority should have no difficulties.
and talented students. As there is one place for approximately
every six people applying, not all students can be placed. Be 19. How is the placement score calculated if my
supportive and explain to your child that he/she can be very child is the only one applying from his/her school?
successful at a comprehensive primary school. A student who does not have school assessment scores
14. What score does a student have to gain to be or who is the only candidate from his/her school will be
successful for opportunity class placement? considered on test scores which will be expressed as a mark
out of 300 as the calculated placement score.
There is no predetermined score that a student has to achieve
to receive an offer of opportunity class placement. The 20. How can separated parents/carers make sure
minimum entry score for each school with an opportunity they both receive the information about the
class depends on the scores achieved by the candidates application?
applying for that school and can vary from school to school,
When you apply you will be asked to provide the names of
and from year to year. The greater the demand for the
both parents and you should give the contact details of the
school, the higher the entry score is likely to be.
parent/carer who the child lives with most of the time. You
15. How can I find out my child’s score? will have to provide copies of court orders if they exist.
Most parents/carers will receive their child’s placement score If the parent who does not live with the child is entitled to
at the bottom of their placement outcome email or letter in educational information about the student that parent may
October. contact the Unit and request duplicate system-generated
A further letter or attachment is provided with the breakdown correspondence.
of the raw school assessment scores and test marks. In a Under no circumstances should separated parents/
few cases the score cannot be published. If parents do not carers make separate applications for the same
receive their child’s score they can write to the Unit for an student.
explanation. Response forms are sent only to the parent making the
The selection committee may adjust a child’s score based application. It is the responsibility of separated parents to
on criteria such as a student’s Aboriginality, length of reach consensus about matters such as school choices and
accepting offers.
10