The Beginner’s Guide to Year 6 NSW Selective Schools

What are Selective Schools?

A Selective High School is a public school but with more attention given to academic excellence.

To get into a Selective School, a student must sit a Selective School Entrance Test which tests a student’s academic capability. Entrance to a Selective School is competitive. For example, in 2020, 28% of applicants who sat the test were offered a spot.

We have created this Guide for parents to help them better understand Selective Schools and the Selective School Test so you can make an informed decision.

Different types of Selective Schools

There are five different types of Selective Schools in NSW.

1. Fully Selective High Schools
2. Partially Selective High Schools
3. Agricultural Selective High Schools
4. Aurora College
5. Conservatorium High School

Let’s have a look at the differences between them.

1. Fully Selective High School

There are currently 22 fully Selective Schools in NSW where all classes are academically selective. The majority are located within the Sydney region.

2. Partially Selective High School

There are currently 24 partially Selective Schools in NSW. Only some classes are academically selective.

3. Agricultural Selective High School

There are five Agricultural Selective Schools in NSW:

• Hurlstone Agricultural High School
• James Ruse Agricultural High School
• Farrer Memorial Agricultural High School
• Yanco Agricultural High School
• Richmond Agricultural College (partially selective)

These Selective Schools will place some emphasis on the study of agriculture. It is compulsory to study Agriculture in Years 7-10 at these schools.

4. Aurora College

Selective schools are not just for students located within the Sydney region. Aurora College is a virtual high school for rural and remote students in Years 7-10.

5. Conservatorium High School

Conservatorium High School is a public high school but with a specific focus upon Music. The selection criteria for Conservatorium High School includes the Selective School Test as well as a musical audition.

Should I consider Selective Schools?

The simple answer is, it depends.

If you would like your child to flourish in Sports or the Creative Arts, Selective Schools may not be the best choice as they tend to focus more on academic vigour (with the exception of Conservatorium High School).

However, the 2018 NSW Education report found that selective schools have supported gifted and talented students socially and emotionally by providing them with academic opportunities and an environment with like-minded peers.

So, if your child is academically-oriented, a Selective School may be highly beneficial for them.

Selective Schools vs Private Schools

The next question you may be asking is what about Private Schools? How do they compare?

Private schools have also topped the HSC rankings. So, you may also be wondering if more opportunities are available in Private Schools compared to Selective Schools.

While Private Schools are much more expensive ranging from $4000 to $40 000 per year, there are scholarships available which you may wish to consider.

To give you a sense of the similarities and differences, we’ve compared different schools.

For boys, we have compared Sydney Boys High School, Parramatta Marist High School and Sydney Grammar School so you can see the differences between a Selective School, a Catholic Independent School and a well-known Private School:

Similarly, we have compared North Sydney Girls High School, St Clare’s College and Wenona School for Girls:

As you can see from the above table, there are plenty of academic opportunities available in Selective Schools. However, international opportunities and sporting opportunities will be limited in schools that lack the resources of private schools.

So, how do I choose the right school?

In the next article, we discuss how to go about deciding which is the best Selective School for your child. We look at the different factors you should consider and provide details of the different schools that you can apply to.

If you think a Selective School may be a good option, read on to find out which Selective School is best for your child!