Selective school (New South Wales)

Type of school in Australia

Selective schools in New South Wales, Australia are government high schools operated by the New South Wales Department of Education that accept their students based upon their academic merit. Each year, approximately 15,000 Year 6 students across the state of New South Wales optionally undertake the Selective High School Placement Test to seek one of the 3,600 places offered for first year entry into selective high schools. For Year 8 to Year 12 entry into selective schools, students do not take an external test, however they can apply directly to a school for entry. The application package is standard to all government selective schools, with internal selection committees considering applications each year during August or September.

The first government selective high schools in NSW were established in the late 19th and early 20th century. The selective school system at the turn of the 20th century included both schools newly established as selective schools, and older schools with selective entry that were brought into the system. The oldest selective schools included Bathurst High School, Fort Street High School, Goulburn High School and Sydney High School (now Sydney Boys High School and Sydney Girls High School). Many of the oldest selective schools in NSW have always been selective since establishment, including Fort Street (1849), Sydney Boys and Sydney Girls (1883), North Sydney Girls High School (1914), North Sydney Boys High School (1915), Hurlstone Agricultural High School (1959) and James Ruse Agricultural High School (1959). Before World War II, most of the state's government high schools were selective. In 1957, a government report recommended the conversion of selective schools to comprehensive schools, reflecting changes in education philosophy. However, in 1988, the NSW government began increasing the number of selective schools and also made an important reform, abolishing catchment restrictions for selective schools so that any student in NSW could apply to attend any selective school. as of 2019 there are 47 fully or partially selective government high schools, including 17 fully selective high schools (some of which are co educational and other provide a single sex educational environment; 25 partially selective high schools (high schools with both selective and comprehensive classes); four selective agricultural high schools; and one virtual selective high school. Of the 47 school, 34 are located in greater metropolitan Sydney. The Aurora College is a virtual selective high school that caters for students enrolled in government high schools in rural or remote areas in New South Wales.

A number of schools have been designated as "partially selective", in that they have self contained classes to provide for gifted and talented students in the junior years of high school. Often, schools combine selective and comprehensive streams as students enter the senior years, however, in practice, selective students tend to "self select" into more advanced classes, such as extension units in Mathematics and English.

Other criteria include age and grade, and current residency status in Australia. This usually requires students to be between 11 years and 5 months and 13 years at the start of the year they wish to commence Year 7, be in Year 6 the year before they wish to enter, and be either a citizen or permanent resident of Australia or a citizen of New Zealand. However, exemptions to some of these requirements may be given in special circumstances or through consultation with the Department of Education.

If a student wishes to get entry into a selective school after the initial testing in year 6, they may apply to thre selective schools using particular methods, such as submitting a portfolio (consisting usually of school achievements and reports). Some schools may require testing. The HAST (Higher Ability Selection Test) is a common examination conducted by the students first choice of the application or the school with highest priority that requires the HAST results, however, some schools may use their own test method. Academically gifted students are found using the HAST secondary school ability test, which is used to place them in accelerated learning and enhancement programmes. Reading comprehension, mathematical thinking, abstract reasoning, and written expression are all included in this assessment of natural talent and academic potential. Another common test method is edutest, which is mainly done by the top four schools. Entry into years 8 11 is very competitive and difficult.