Minister launches virtual selective school

23 February 2010

The NSW Minister for Education and Training, Verity Firth, joined 30 students from remote parts of NSW who will use the latest technology including laptops, interactive whiteboards, web streaming and videoconferencing as part of a new virtual selective school.

The Government's new xsel program allows academically gifted students in remote areas to remain at home, close to their family and friends, instead of travelling to regional centres to attend selective schools.

Ms Firth said the xsel model was part of the NSW Government's plan to provide additional selective school places across the State.

"Partially selective schools have proven to be very successful," Ms Firth said.

"The Government made the decision to expand the number of places because we don't believe access to selective classes should be determined by geography.

"The xsel program is a fantastic innovation that will provide students in some of our most remote areas with the same opportunities as city students."

Students enrolled in the program are taught selective level Maths, English and Science and spend half their day in the virtual selective classes and half in their local school.

"We now have more than 24,000 students studying in selective classes from Year 7 to the HSC, including these 30 students from 17 different schools across western NSW," Ms Firth said.

"It's a great example of technology changing education for the better and creating new opportunities for students in regional and rural areas."

Ms Firth said the xsel program was an Australian first, and if successful, it could be made available to other remote areas across the State.

"More than 200 students applied to be part of this new program which demonstrates a strong desire in regional and remote areas to access selective education programs.

"NSW really is leading the nation when it comes to providing the widest range of programs to support our gifted and talented students."

In 2010 NSW has:

• 17 fully selective high schools
• 23 partially selective high schools
• 4 agricultural high schools

• Bathurst High
• Blayney High
• Broken Hill High
• Canoblas Rural Technology High
• Coonabarabran High
• Cowra High
• Dubbo College - South Campus
• Lithgow High
• Molong Central
• Mudgee High
• Oberon High
• Orange High
• Parkes High
• Peak Hill Central
• Trundle Central
• Wellington High
• Willyama High