In an effort to address a growing gender imbalance in coeducational selective schools, the NSW government will offer an equal number of selective places for boys and girls, from 2027.
The change will apply to all selective and partially selective high schools in the state, as well as opportunity classes in public primary schools.
Currently, the gender mix in selective high schools is 58 per cent boys and 42 per cent girls, while opportunity classes have 60 per cent boys and 40 per cent girls.
“There’s a growing decline in girls accepting places in opportunity classes and selective high schools, and we want to ensure our schools have a healthy gender balance,” said Acting Minister for Education and Early Learning Courtney Houssos.
In 2019, there were 45 per cent of Year 7 places being taken up by girls, but that number has dropped to 41 per cent in 2025. In some circumstances, cohorts have been more than 75 per cent male.
Parents have told the NSW government that girls have chosen not to accept places offered to them out of concerns about the over-representation of boys at coeducational selective schools.
The introduction of an equal number of selective places for boys and girls is aimed To better support a healthy gender balance across classes and schools
The NSW government also notes that entry to opportunity classes and selective high schools for boys and girls will continue to be based on performance in the placement test.
“The Minns Labor Government is working to provide opportunities for students to thrive,” said Houssos.
“Alongside our work to rollout of high potential and gifted education across all of our public schools, we are committed to ensuring every student has the opportunity to reach their potential.”
Applications for 2027 entry to NSW selective schools and opportunity classes will open on 6 November 2025 and close on 20 February 2026.
As announced earlier this year, testing will also be conducted at local public school settings from 2026.