This webinar will cover the steps involved in applying for Year 5 placement in an opportunity class in 2026 and Year 7 placement at a selective high school.

It will cover:

• what are selective high schools and opportunity classes
• the benefits of selective high schools and opportunity classes
• the placement process
• the Equity Placement Model
• Aurora College: for students in rural and remote areas
• submitting the online application
• reasonable adjustments for disability
• preparing for the test and computer-based testing
• placement outcomes.

Participants may submit questions in advance.

Registrations are now open for this webinar. If you can’t attend, the webinar will be recorded, and all registrants will be notified once the recording is available for viewing.

We encourage you to promote the webinar to other parents and carers, and through your local school communities.

Magda Pollak PSM
Leader, Selective Education Unit NSW Department of Education, Selective Education Unit 

Magda Pollak has led the Selective Education Unit since 2005. She has spent almost 20 years as a high school English teacher and has two publications for English teaching staff to her name, and has always had a special interest in the education of high-potential and gifted students.

She is particularly passionate about providing a suitable peer group and teaching environment for such students who might otherwise find themselves isolated in mainstream classes and become disengaged. She is also committed to ensuring equal opportunity of access for disadvantaged groups and has received a Public Service Medal in recognition of her services to public education.

Skye Bower
Senior Disability Placement Officer, NSW Department of Education, Selective Education Unit 

Skye Bower is a Senior Disability Placement Officer for the Selective Education Unit and is responsible for arranging reasonable adjustments for students with disability sitting the Selective High School and Opportunity Class Placement Tests.

Prior to joining the Unit, Skye worked as a primary school teacher, enrichment teacher and learning and support teacher for over 10 years. Skye is a passionate advocate for students with disability and is committed to ensuring equitable access for all students applying for placement in a selective high school or opportunity class. Skye has a BA Dip Education with first class Honours and a Postgraduate Certificate in Learning Difficulties Support Teaching.

Sally Watts
Manager, Selective High School Placement, Selective Education Unit, Department

Sally Watts is currently Manager, Selective High School Placement, having been in the role for 11 years. Prior to this role Sally was a learning designer in the department, creating learning resources for students. Before that, Sally was a primary school teacher specialising in early literacy.

Morag Swankie
Opportunity Class Placement Advisor