What do opportunity classes look like at Kingswood Public School?
All classes in NSW follow the same curriculum. At Kingswood Public School our opportunity classes offer greater challenges which include more extension and enrichment activities, as well as competitions and project-based learning. Students work alongside like-minded peers in a fast paced environment where they are encouraged to reach their highest potential.
What are opportunity classes?
Opportunity classes are offered in primary school from Years 5 to 6. Parents/carers apply when their child is in Year 4.
You can include up to 2 school choices when you are applying for an opportunity class.
What is selective education?
Selective education is one of the ways that the department supports students with high academic potential. Selective education includes selective high schools and opportunity classes.
Selective education has many benefits, including:
· Students learn alongside, and form friendships with, other high potential and gifted classmates.
· Special teaching methods allow students to learn at a quicker pace and in more detail.
· Research shows that students benefit both academically and socially when learning with classmates who have similar abilities.
Opportunity classes and selective high schools are not zoned so you can apply to ones outside your catchment area.
Is the opportunity class the right fit for my child?
High potential and gifted students can be found across diverse family, socio-economic, language, cultural backgrounds and geographic locations.
Your child may have high academic potential if they demonstrate some of the following:
· enjoy learning
· have intense curiosity
· display a good memory
· ask complex questions
· enjoy learning new and often complex ideas or skills
· require fewer repetitions when learning new things
· are creative
· become intensely focused in their area/s of interest.
Note: Not all high potential and gifted students will display all of these characteristics, for example, due to disability, disadvantage or lack of opportunity. Learn more about the department’s High Potential and Gifted Education Policy.
How do I apply for entry into an opportunity class for my child?
Parents/carers should visit the selective high schools and opportunity classes website to learn more about opportunity classes and selective high schools and complete an online application.
How are students placed in an opportunity class or selective high school?
Places are offered to students based on their performance on the free placement test.
Research has shown that some groups of high potential and intellectually gifted students experience barriers to entry into opportunity classes. The Equity Placement Model is designed to make entry fairer for these students by holding a percentage of places for high potential and gifted students:
· from low socio educational advantage backgrounds
· who are Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander
· from rural and remote areas
· with disability.
How should my child prepare for the placement tests?
Students may like to do a small amount of preparation for the placement test using the department’s free resources so they know what to expect on test day: · Applying for an opportunity class: Student resource hub · Applying for a selective high school: Student resource hub.
Some practise helps students feel confident and prepared, but coaching for the test is not necessary or beneficial.
