Opportunity classes are to primary school students much what selective high schools are to secondary students.
Like selective high schools, opportunity classes cater for highly achieving academically talented students.
They do this by providing an educationally enriched environment. They provide intellectual stimulation by grouping talented students together, concentrating school resources and using specialised teaching methods.
All opportunity classes are found in primary schools which have both opportunity classes and regular community classes. There are NO fully selective opportunity primary schools.
The procedures for placing students in opportunity classes is much the same as the procedures for placing students in selective high schools.
- Teachers provide school marks based on the students performance on their school’s curriculum; and
- Students sit for tests in reading, mathematics and general ability.
There is no writing task in the Opportunity Class Placement Test.
The following is the complete list of schools with opportunity classes in NSW.
· Alexandria Park Community School
· Blacktown South Public School
· Blaxcell Street Public School
· Caringbah North Public School
· Cudgegong Valley Public School
· Harrington Street Public School
· Ironbark Ridge Public School
· Matthew Pearce Public School
· Newbridge Heights Public School
· New Lambton South Public School
· Port Macquarie Public School
· Queanbeyan South Public School
· Soldiers Point Public School
· Tamworth South Public School
· Wentworth Falls Public School