Sydney Technical High School: Selective Entry Guide

Sydney Technical High School is a fully selective public school for boys in Bexley, southern Sydney, and one of the six original selective schools in NSW. With a technical-education heritage dating to 1911, "Sydney Tech" has a long tradition of strong academic results. If it's on your child's preference list, here's an honest profile and a clear explanation of how entry works.

School Snapshot

• Type: Fully academically selective public high school, boys only
• Years: 7–12
• Location: Forest Road, Bexley, in southern Sydney
• Enrolment: roughly 920 students
• Established: 1911
• Motto: "Manners Makyth Man"

What the School Is Like

Sydney Technical High School is one of the six original NSW selective schools, with a heritage in technical education (it began as a day school linked to Sydney Technical College and moved to its Bexley campus in 1956). The school emphasises a century-plus tradition of academic excellence and rigorous, explicit teaching, and has a notably diverse student community. It has a historical strength in areas such as Engineering Studies alongside its broader academic program.

Academic Reputation

Sydney Tech has a long-standing reputation for strong HSC results. As with every selective school, it's worth being precise: the NSW Department of Education does not publish official rankings or entry cut-off scores, so any specific rank or number online is unofficial. The honest summary is that it is a well-regarded, high-performing selective boys' school.

How Entry Works

Year 7 — the main entry point

Sydney Technical High School offers 150 Year 7 places for 2027 entry, according to the NSW Department of Education.

Most students join in Year 7 through the NSW Selective High School Placement Test, sat in Year 6. The test is computer-based and covers Reading, Mathematical Reasoning, Thinking Skills and Writing.

You nominate up to three selective schools in order of preference on the one application. Your preference order doesn't change your odds at any single school — it only decides which offer you receive if your child qualifies for more than one.

A single-sex school — the 2027 gender rule doesn't change entry here

Sydney Technical is a boys-only school, so the NSW gender parity model that splits places 50/50 at co-educational selective schools from 2027 does not change how places are allocated here. Entry is decided purely by placement-test performance among boys applying.

Later-year entry

The school considers applications for vacancies in Years 8–11 when current students leave; availability varies and is not guaranteed. Year 7 remains by far the main entry point.

Getting There

The Bexley campus is on Forest Road; the school notes the closest train station is Hurstville, from which students walk or catch a bus. As a selective school it draws boys from across the metropolitan area rather than a local catchment.

What a Competitive Application Looks Like

There's no published cut-off, so aim for a strong, balanced result across all four sections of the placement test. A lopsided result can be overtaken by a more even one. The most reliable preparation is consistent practice with realistic, exam-style questions in the same computer-based format used on test day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Sydney Technical High School co-ed or single-sex?

It's a boys-only selective school.

What score do you need to get in?

There's no officially published cut-off, and any specific number online is an unofficial estimate. Entry is decided by placement-test performance.

Does the 2027 gender balance change affect Sydney Technical?

No. The 50/50 split applies to co-educational selective schools. As a single-sex boys' school, Sydney Technical allocates places purely on placement-test performance.

Can you apply here and to other selective schools at the same time?

Yes. You list up to three selective schools in order of preference on one application. Order doesn't affect your chances at any single school.

Is there entry other than in Year 7?

The school fills Years 8–11 vacancies when they arise, but Year 7 is by far the main entry point.

Related reading

• Selective High School Test dates 2028
• How selective placement scores are calculated
• The selective reserve list explained
• Gender parity in NSW selective schools from 2027

Prepare for the Placement Test with AcePath

Whichever selective schools you're aiming for, the 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 and Selective practice test packs, which mirror the real computer-based format used on test day.