New opportunity classes
New opportunity classes in 2026
The department is making changes to increase the number of public schools that have opportunity classes in NSW for 2026 placement.
Composite Year 5/6 opportunity classes will be introduced at Doonside Public School and Guildford West Public School in Term 1, 2026.
Ironbark Ridge Public School and Blaxcell Street Public School will have a reduced intake from Term 1, 2026 (reduced from 30 to 15 Year 5 places each year).
Applications for opportunity class placement in 2026 are open from 7 November 2024 to 21 February 2025. Learn more about opportunity classes and how to apply.
Parents and carers can nominate 4 school choices and can select the new and existing schools as preferences in their application. School choices can be changed in the application dashboard until 18 May 2025 – even if you have already submitted your application.
The total number of places offered for 2026 placement across NSW will remain at 1,840.
Important information for current opportunity class students
- There will be no impact on students currently attending opportunity classes or starting in opportunity classes in 2025 at Ironbark Ridge Public School and Blaxcell Street Public School.
- Current opportunity class students do not need to move schools.
Why is the department making changes to opportunity class locations?
The department monitors school enrolments to ensure there are enough places for students to attend their local school.
These changes will:
- create opportunity classes at more schools
- make better use of school infrastructure and improve access for local students
- potentially give more capacity to new opportunity class schools to accept siblings of opportunity class students into the school.
What are the changes the department is making to existing opportunity classes for 2026 placement?
The department is moving opportunity class places from 2 schools that are near or over enrolment capacity (Ironbark Ridge Public School and Blaxcell Street Public School) to establish opportunity classes at 2 schools that are under enrolment capacity (Doonside Public School and Guildford West Public School).
The department will work with impacted schools to determine the best way to implement this change with minimal impact to students and staff.
What other options are available for high potential and gifted students (other than opportunity classes)?
Opportunity classes are just one of the ways that the department provides support for high potential and gifted students.
The NSW government is committed to ensuring all NSW public schools deliver high potential and gifted education, in high-quality offerings, that are valued by students, parents and teachers, as supported by the High Potential and Gifted Education Policy (HPGE Policy). All NSW public schools are required to support the implementation of the HPGE Policy and provide professional learning opportunities for staff.
The policy provides guidance and support to ensure the specific learning and wellbeing needs of high potential and gifted students are met. This includes talent development opportunities, access to acceleration or advanced learning pathways and differentiated teaching and learning practices.
Learn more at High potential and gifted education.
New opportunity classes in 2025
The department made changes to increase the number of public schools that have opportunity classes in NSW for 2025 placement.
The following primary schools will have opportunity classes starting in Term 1, 2025.
- Blacktown West Public School
- Brookvale Public School
- Lindfield East Public School
- Maroubra Junction Public School
- Miranda Public School
- Penrith Public School
- St Clair Public School
- Toongabbie Public School
- Wahroonga Public School
These schools will have one opportunity class in 2025 consisting of 15 Year 5 students.
The addition of the new opportunity classes will mean that some places will be reduced within existing opportunity classes. The total number of opportunity class places remains at 1,840.
The following schools will have a reduced opportunity class intake starting from 2025. The reduction will be from 30 to 15 places, unless otherwise specified below:
- Artarmon Public School (60 to 30 places)
- Balgowlah Heights Public School
- Blacktown South Public School
- Caringbah North Public School
- Colyton Public School
- Kingswood Public School
- Woollahra Public School (60 to 30 places)