Students who are gifted or disadvantaged, including those with disability will have an opportunity to attend selective high schools in NSW. It follows a review by the NSW Education Department that showed there were fewer applications from students from low socio-economic backgrounds, Aboriginal students, those with a disability and students from rural and remote areas.
Education Minister Sarah Mitchell said the change will set aside up to 20 per cent of places for students from the four equity groups. “A student’s academic potential should not be determined by where they live, their background or their disability,” she said. “We are helping to address the unintended barriers that prevent gifted students from having fair and equitable access to opportunity classes and selective high schools.”
The changes will be implemented this year for 2023 enrolments. There are currently 51 selective high schools and 77 primary schools with opportunity classes in NSW.