Drawing on the expertise developed through its Opportunity Class, Brookvale Public School has another ACE up its sleeve for students seeking greater academic challenge.
Applications are now open for the school’s new Academic Extension Classes, which will launch in 2027 for students entering Years 3, 4 and 5.
Open to current Year 2, Year 3 and Year 4 students from all school sectors and areas, the full-time classes will provide a new local pathway for students who need greater depth, complexity and intellectual challenge within a public school setting.
The classes may suit students who learn new concepts quickly and seek greater depth and complexity. Some students demonstrate advanced achievement or potential in particular areas, while others require more sustained academic challenge than is typically available in a mainstream classroom. Students do not need to be working at the same level across every subject to be considered.
Brookvale Public School Principal Luke Richmond said capable students should not be expected to thrive without deliberate support.
“High potential and gifted students do not simply thrive because they are capable,” Mr Richmond said.
“They need challenge, they need expert, explicit teaching, they need opportunities to think deeply and they need to be in learning environments where it is normal to grapple with complex ideas.”
Students in the Academic Extension Classes will have access to many of the same opportunities currently available through Brookvale’s Opportunity Class, drawing on the expertise the school has developed in high potential and gifted education.
“Not every student will enter an Opportunity Class, but many students still need deeper challenge, richer learning and the chance to work alongside peers who are ready to think in more complex ways,” Mr Richmond said.
Students will receive explicit teaching across all subject areas, with a strong focus on advanced learning in English and mathematics. Learning will be adjusted to provide greater depth, complexity and pace, rather than simply giving students additional work.
Alongside the core academic program, students will undertake inquiry projects based on their interests, developing research, critical thinking and presentation skills before sharing their work through formats such as published books, websites, podcasts, documentaries and multimedia presentations.
Students will also have opportunities to participate in state and national competitions, including the NSW Game Changer Challenge, APSMO Maths Olympiad, Australian Mathematics Trust competitions and the ASX Schools Sharemarket Game.
Through collaboration with the Opportunity Class, local high schools and specialist providers, students will also access additional academic, creative and performing arts experiences.
Student wellbeing will remain central to the Academic Extension Classes. Alongside academic challenge, the program will focus on ensuring students feel understood, connected and confident within a learning environment designed for their needs.
“Our experience with students entering the Opportunity Class is that many feel an immediate sense of belonging when they find their tribe,” Mr Richmond said.
“For some students, it may be the first time they have learned alongside a group of peers who share their curiosity, interests and enthusiasm for complex ideas. That connection can be enormously important for their confidence and emotional wellbeing.”
“For some students, it may be the first time they have learned alongside a group of peers who share their curiosity, interests and enthusiasm for complex ideas. That connection can be enormously important for their confidence and emotional wellbeing.”
Mr Richmond said the model was not about acceleration for its own sake.
“This is not about pushing children harder for the sake of it,” he said. “Academic growth and emotional wellbeing must go hand in hand.”
Students will remain connected to their broader year groups through sport, camps, excursions, carnivals, assemblies and whole-school events, while also learning alongside peers with similar academic needs.
The Academic Extension Classes sit within Brookvale Public School’s broader ACE Pathways model, with ACE standing for Adjustment, Challenge and Enrichment. The whole-school approach is designed to match students with learning suited to their needs and readiness.
Places will be offered through an application process that draws on multiple sources of evidence rather than a single test or result. This will include a student portfolio, school achievement information, a parent questionnaire and, where required, a student interview.
Applications are welcome from students attending public, Catholic and independent schools, including those living outside Brookvale Public School’s local intake area.
An information evening will be held at Brookvale Public School on Wednesday 2 September 2026 at 5.30pm. Families can review eligibility, application requirements and key dates, and complete an expression of interest to attend through the Brookvale Public School website.
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