New OC Classes 2026: Doonside and Guildford West Explained

From Term 1, 2026, NSW moved Opportunity Class (OC) places between four Western Sydney schools: new composite Year 5/6 OC classes opened at Doonside Public School and Guildford West Public School, while Ironbark Ridge Public School and Blaxcell Street Public School had their annual Year 5 intake halved from 30 to 15 places. The Department describes the change as moving places — from schools near or over enrolment capacity to schools with room to grow — rather than cutting them.

This guide explains exactly what changed, why the Department of Education did it, what a composite Year 5/6 OC class is, and what the changes mean for your child — whether they are already in an OC class or applying in an upcoming cycle.

The Changes at a Glance

• Doonside Public School — new composite Year 5/6 OC class from Term 1, 2026
• Guildford West Public School — new composite Year 5/6 OC class from Term 1, 2026
• Ironbark Ridge Public School — Year 5 OC intake reduced from 30 to 15 places each year, from Term 1, 2026
• Blaxcell Street Public School — Year 5 OC intake reduced from 30 to 15 places each year, from Term 1, 2026
• Current OC students are not affected — nobody has to change schools
• With the additions, NSW now has 88 schools with opportunity classes (57 in metropolitan Sydney and 31 in rural and regional areas), plus Aurora College online

Why the Department Moved These Places

The driver was enrolment capacity. Ironbark Ridge and Blaxcell Street were near or over their enrolment caps, while Doonside and Guildford West had room to spare. By shifting OC places, the Department set out to:

• Create opportunity classes at more schools, spreading the program across more communities
• Make better use of school infrastructure and improve access for local students
• Free up capacity at the reduced schools, which may also make it easier for siblings of OC students to enrol

The Department frames the change as a relocation, not a reduction — places were moved between schools rather than removed from the program. The total number of OC places offered across NSW for 2026 placement remained at 1,840.

What Is a Composite Year 5/6 OC Class?

The new classes at Doonside and Guildford West are composite Year 5/6 classes: a single opportunity class containing both Year 5 and Year 6 students, taught together. This is a common structure for new or smaller OC settings.

Nothing about entry changes. Students still sit the OC Placement Test in Year 4, are still selected on their test performance, and still complete Years 5 and 6 in the opportunity class. Composite classes follow the same curriculum expectations for each year level — high-potential students are grouped with academic peers either way.

Already in an OC Class? Nothing Changes

The Department has been explicit: there is no impact on students currently attending opportunity classes at Ironbark Ridge Public School or Blaxcell Street Public School. The reduced intake applies to new Year 5 cohorts only, and current OC students do not need to move schools. Your child finishes their placement exactly where they started it.

What It Means for Future Applicants

Two new options on the preference list

OC applicants can nominate up to four schools in order of preference. Doonside and Guildford West add two new options — worth a close look for families in the Blacktown and Cumberland areas who previously had a longer trip to the nearest OC setting. Remember that preference order never changes your child's chance at any single school; it only decides which offer you receive if your child qualifies for more than one.

Fewer places at Ironbark Ridge and Blaxcell Street

Halving an intake from 30 to 15 means those two schools simply have fewer places to offer each year. The Department does not publish school-by-school cut-offs in advance, but as a matter of arithmetic, a smaller intake leaves less room — families targeting these schools should treat a strong test score as even more important, and make full use of all four preferences rather than relying on one school.

New classes can mean a fresh start

Brand-new OC settings have no long waiting history and are often less familiar to families, which can make them attractive picks in their first cycles. If either school is practical for your family, there is no downside to listing it — the placement test, curriculum, and program are the same across all OC schools.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the new OC classes open?

Term 1, 2026, at Doonside Public School and Guildford West Public School. Both are composite Year 5/6 opportunity classes.

Do students at Ironbark Ridge or Blaxcell Street have to move?

No. Current OC students at both schools are unaffected and complete their placement at their current school. Only the size of future Year 5 intakes changes.

Were OC places cut overall?

The Department describes the change as moving places, not cutting them: places went from two schools near or over enrolment capacity to two schools with spare capacity, spreading the OC program across more schools. The total offered across NSW for 2026 placement remained at 1,840.

How do I apply for the new classes?

Exactly like any other OC school: nominate them among your up-to-four preferences in the OC placement application, and your child sits the OC Placement Test in Year 4. The next application window is expected to open around October–November 2026 for 2028 entry.

Is a composite Year 5/6 OC class worse than a straight Year 5 class?

No. Composite OC classes follow the same curriculum expectations per year level and group high-potential students with academic peers, just across two year levels in one room. Entry standards and the program itself are the same.

Where to Confirm the Official Details

School-level arrangements can be updated by the Department, so verify before making application decisions:

• The NSW Department of Education's new opportunity classes page at education.nsw.gov.au
• The individual schools — Doonside PS, Guildford West PS, Ironbark Ridge PS, and Blaxcell Street PS — for local enrolment questions
• Official email communications sent after you apply

Preparing for an OC Place — Wherever It Is

Whichever schools end up on your preference list, entry is decided by the same OC Placement Test. Start with a free AcePath sample quiz to benchmark your child across Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, and Thinking Skills, then build a steady routine with our OC practice test packs, which mirror the real computer-based format your child will face on test day.