New opportunity classes in 2025
The department is making changes to increase the number of public schools that have opportunity classes in NSW.
For the first time, 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 new opportunity class schools will have one opportunity class in 2025 consisting of 15 Year 5 students.
The addition of the new opportunity classes will mean that, accordingly, 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)
Important information for current opportunity class students
- There will be no impact on students currently attending an opportunity class.
- Current opportunity class students do not need to move schools.
Why is the department making changes to opportunity class locations?
The department continuously checks enrolment numbers against available school places so we can support all students to attend their local public schools.
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.
How many students will be in each opportunity class in 2025 at the impacted schools?
Existing opportunity class schools reducing from 30 to 15 Year 5 places will have 2 opportunity classes in 2025:
- a Year 6 class of up to 30 students (no change for current students)
- a Year 5 class of up to 15 students.
Existing opportunity class schools reducing from 60 to 30 Year 5 places will have 3 opportunity classes in 2025:
- two Year 6 classes of up to 30 students each (no change for current students)
- a Year 5 class of up to 30 students.
New opportunity class schools will have one opportunity class in 2025 consisting of 15 Year 5 students.
How many students will be in these opportunity classes in 2026?
From 2026, most of these impacted schools will have a Year 5/6 composite opportunity class of 30 students.
Artarmon Public School and Woollahra Public School will have one Year 5 class and one Year 6 class with up to 30 students in each class.
What other options are available for high potential and gifted students (other than OC classes)?
Opportunity classes are just one of the ways that the department provides support for high potential and intellectually gifted students. High potential and gifted students are supported across all NSW public schools through implementation of the High Potential and Gifted Education Policy.
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.