Richmond Public School OC: Opportunity Class Guide

Richmond Public School hosts an Opportunity Class (OC) — a two-year gifted-education placement for high-potential students in Years 5 and 6 — in the Hawkesbury, with 30 Year 5 places for 2027 entry. Entry is by the OC Placement Test. If Richmond is on your child's list, here's an honest profile and a clear explanation of how OC entry works.

School Snapshot

• Type: NSW public primary school (K–6) hosting an Opportunity Class
• OC program: Years 5–6 — a Year 5 OC and a Year 6 OC
• Location: Richmond, in the Hawkesbury
• OC places: 30 Year 5 places for 2027 entry
• Also on site: a Multi-Categorical (MC) support class, enrolled through a separate process

The Hawkesbury's Only Opportunity Class

Richmond is the only OC host school in the Hawkesbury, and the next-nearest options are a genuine drive: Penrith Public School (15 places) to the south, Quakers Hill (30) to the south-east, Blaxland East (30) up into the lower Blue Mountains.

That geography is the single most important fact for a Hawkesbury family. Opportunity classes are not zoned — you may apply anywhere in NSW — but a place you cannot drive to every morning is not really a place. So the honest way to use your four preferences here is to be realistic about which schools you would actually accept, put Richmond where it belongs on that list, and fill the remaining slots with schools whose commute you have genuinely tested rather than assumed.

The flip side is that Richmond is a 30-place stream, not a 15-place one. For a regional-edge school that is a substantial intake — the same size as Chatswood, Beecroft or Woollahra.

What the OC Class Is Like

The school describes opportunity classes as being "for high potential and gifted students," where "students learn with classmates who have similar academic ability," alongside the usual extra-curricular life of a primary school — sport, arts, music and clubs. The OC runs as a two-year program from Year 5 to Year 6.

Richmond also runs a Multi-Categorical support class on the same site. That is a separate enrolment pathway with its own access process, not something the OC application covers — worth knowing so you apply through the right channel.

An OC is an academic class within the school, not a separate school. Your child joins in Year 5 and continues in the OC to the end of Year 6, sharing assemblies, sport, playground and school events with the rest of the school.

How OC Entry Works

The OC Placement Test — Year 4 for Year 5 entry

For 2027 entry, Richmond Public School offers 30 Year 5 opportunity-class places according to the NSW Department of Education. Parents apply "at the end of Year 3 or the beginning of Year 4 for placement in Year 5," and students must sit the placement test. The test is computer-based and covers:

• Reading
• Mathematical Reasoning
• Thinking Skills

You nominate up to four OC schools in order of preference on the one application — one more than the selective high school test allows. Preference order never changes your chances at any single school; it only decides which offer you receive if your child qualifies for more than one.

As the school puts it: "Enrolment is by application only. You can apply to up to 4 schools." And "parents cannot apply for Year 6 placement only" — there is one entry point, in Year 5.

Equal places for girls and boys

Richmond confirms it offers an equal number of places for girls and boys, reflecting the gender balance model applied to OC places from the 2027 intake. At a 30-place school that means roughly 14 places to boys and 14 to girls, with each competing within their own half and the remaining places awarded on academic merit. This does not change how your child is assessed — the OC Placement Test is identical for everyone.

Getting There

The school is in Richmond, near the end of the Richmond branch of the T1 Western line and close to the Hawkesbury Valley Way. For families further out — Kurrajong, Wilberforce, North Richmond — it is generally a drive rather than a train trip, which is worth costing out in minutes before you decide where Richmond sits on your preference list.

Richmond and Nearby OC Options

Your realistic western list is Richmond (30 places), Penrith Public (15), Quakers Hill (30) and, over the Nepean, Blaxland East (30). One quirk worth knowing: Blaxland East and Glenbrook run alternating Year 5 intakes — each takes a new cohort every second year — so Glenbrook shows no places for 2027 and its next intake begins in 2028. Check places and suburbs in the full NSW OC schools directory before you lock in your order.

What a Competitive Application Looks Like

There's no published cut-off, so aim for a strong, balanced result across all three sections of the OC test. A lopsided result — strong maths but weaker Reading or Thinking Skills — can be overtaken by a more even performer. The most reliable preparation is consistent practice with realistic, OC-style questions in the same computer-based format used on test day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Richmond Public School have an opportunity class?

Yes. The school hosts Opportunity Classes for high-potential and gifted students in Years 5 and 6, entered through the NSW OC Placement Test.

How many OC places does Richmond Public School have?

30 Year 5 places for 2027 entry — roughly 14 boys and 14 girls under the gender balance model, with the remaining places on academic merit.

Is Richmond the only OC school in the Hawkesbury?

Yes. The nearest alternatives are Penrith Public School, Quakers Hill Public School and Blaxland East Public School, all a significant drive from Richmond.

Do we have to live in the Hawkesbury to apply?

No. Opportunity classes have no intake areas — enrolment is by application only, and you may apply to up to four schools anywhere in NSW.

Can we apply for Year 6 only?

No. The school states parents cannot apply for Year 6 placement alone. Entry is in Year 5, applied for in Year 4.

Does the OC test include writing?

No. The OC Placement Test covers Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills. (Writing is part of the selective high school test, not the OC test.)

Related reading

• How to apply for OC and Selective: 2028 entry
• OC test dates 2028
• How OC placement scores are calculated
• The OC reserve list explained
• Find OC schools near you in NSW

Prepare for the OC Test with AcePath

Whichever OC schools you're aiming for, the OC Placement Test decides your child's options. Start with a free AcePath sample quiz to see where they stand in Reading, Mathematical Reasoning and Thinking Skills, then build an exam-ready routine with our OC practice test packs, which mirror the real computer-based format used on test day.