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NSW Education Minister Prue Car has declared that “postcode should never determine a child’s opportunity” as she unveiled a sweeping expansion of high potential and gifted education programs across the state.
Addressing educators and families in her first major speech since returning from leave following breast cancer treatment, Car acknowledged the long-standing popularity of selective schooling in NSW, noting the state has more selective schools than almost any other jurisdiction in the world.
However, she said that concentration has historically narrowed access to advanced learning opportunities for many students.
“For a long time, high potential and gifted education was focused on incredibly popular, selective settings,” Car said. “But we know that limiting that gift of education to certain schools in certain areas impacts the broader education system. Many families feel they aren’t able to access the best public education for their child.”
Car said demand for enriched learning pathways continued to grow across both metropolitan and regional communities.
“More parents, families and students want access to high potential and gifted education,” she said. “My focus has been on expanding those opportunities to more schools and more communities.”
At the centre of the reforms is a new statewide initiative known as the Inspire program. Under the plan, every public school in NSW will provide structured extension opportunities spanning academics, leadership, sport, and the creative and performing arts.
Car stressed that selective schools and opportunity classes would no longer be the only routes for gifted students seeking to pursue excellence.
“Selective school applicants will now have more options to access extension classes, whether or not they receive a place in an opportunity class or selective school,” she said.
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