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2026-07-18 · StudyAU

NSW Public Primary Schools — Year 5–6 Entry 2026: Which Schools Are Open and When to Apply

Based on the NSW Department of Education's 1 June 2026 capacity data, this guide covers all 28 public primary schools accepting international students in Year 5 or Year 6, including catchment rules, transition to secondary school, and application timing.

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Direct Answer

As of 1 June 2026, NSW has 28 public primary schools that accept international students into Year 5 or Year 6. Of these, 27 accept Year 5 and 26 accept Year 6 — Bellevue Hill Public School is open for Year 5 but not Year 6 in 2026, and Gordon East Public School only goes up to Year 4. Year 5–6 entry is the final primary school window for international students before the transition to secondary school. Families choosing this entry point need to plan for both the immediate primary placement and the secondary school transition, which typically occurs at Year 7. Unlike secondary schools, all primary international students must live with a parent or approved guardian — homestay is not available for this age group.

Capacity data is a snapshot from 1 June 2026 and a guide only; it does not constitute a guarantee of placement.

The 28 Schools: Full List

Of the 28 schools accepting Year 5 or Year 6, 16 accept out-of-area enrolment, 7 require a catchment address, and 5 have unspecified catchment policies.

Out-of-Area Schools (16 schools)

These schools do not require international families to live within the catchment zone:

  1. Beauty Point Public School · Mosman · K–5
  2. Beverly Hills Public School · Beverly Hills · K–5
  3. Blacktown South Public School · Blacktown · K–5
  4. Campbelltown Public School · Campbelltown · K–5
  5. Campsie Public School · Campsie · K–5
  6. Canley Heights Public School · Canley Heights · K–5
  7. Carlingford Public School · Carlingford · K–5
  8. Concord Public School · Concord · K–5
  9. Hampden Park Public School · Lakemba · K–5
  10. Marsden Road Public School · Liverpool · K–5
  11. Ngarala Public School · Epping · K–5
  12. Ryde Public School · Ryde · K–5
  13. St Ives Park Public School · St Ives Park · K–5
  14. Strathfield North Public School · Strathfield North · K–5
  15. Strathfield South Public School · Strathfield South · K–5
  16. Bellevue Hill Public School · Bellevue Hill · K,1,2,4,5 (no Year 6 in 2026)

Catchment-Required Schools (7 schools)

International families must live within the school’s designated enrolment zone:

  1. Canley Vale Public School · Canley Vale · K–5
  2. Edgeworth Public School · Edgeworth (Newcastle) · K–5
  3. Hornsby South Public School · Hornsby · K–5
  4. Jasper Road Public School · Baulkham Hills · K–5
  5. Lane Cove Public School · Lane Cove · K–5
  6. Meadowbank Public School · Ryde area · K,1,3,4,5 (no Year 2 or Year 6)
  7. Gordon East Public School · Gordon · K,2,3,4 (stops at Year 4 — no Year 5 or 6)

Unspecified Catchment (5 schools)

Catchment requirements for these schools must be confirmed at the time of application:

  1. Cardiff South Public School · Cardiff (Newcastle)
  2. Hurstville Public School · Hurstville
  3. Killarney Heights Public School · Killarney Heights
  4. Newcastle East Public School · Newcastle
  5. North Sydney Public School · North Sydney

Note: Wiley Park Public School is open for K–5 but the capacity data shows it among K–2 schools — confirm Year 5–6 status with NSW DE International before applying.

Why Year 5–6 Entry Is a Strategic Choice

Entering NSW public primary school at Year 5 or Year 6 has distinct advantages and trade-offs:

Advantages:

  • Earlier English acquisition. Primary-aged learners absorb academic English faster than teenagers, giving them a head start before secondary school.
  • Smoother secondary transition. A student who completes Year 6 at a NSW primary school transitions to Year 7 within the same education system, with records, reports, and peer networks already established.
  • No entrance exam for secondary. NSW public secondary schools do not require an entrance exam; a student progressing from a NSW primary school moves into Year 7 seamlessly.
  • Lower fees. Primary school tuition is lower than secondary school fees, making Year 5–6 a cost-effective on-ramp.

Trade-offs:

  • Short primary window. A student entering at Year 5 has only two years of primary school before secondary transition. A Year 6 entrant has just one year.
  • Limited school pool. With only 28 primary schools in the programme (compared to 112 secondary), location flexibility is constrained.
  • Parent must reside in Australia. There is no homestay for any primary student. The Subclass 590 Student Guardian visa requires a parent or approved relative to live with the child full-time.

Transitioning to Secondary School

For families entering at Year 5–6, the secondary school transition should be planned from day one:

  • Feeder school relationships do not apply to international students. Unlike local students, international students do not receive automatic placement at the local secondary school simply because they attended a nearby primary school. Secondary enrolment is a separate application through NSW DE International.
  • Plan secondary applications 12 months ahead. By mid-Year 5, families should have a shortlist of target secondary schools and begin compiling academic records. Applications for Year 7 are typically lodged in Year 5 or early Year 6.
  • Catchment rules reset at secondary level. A family living in a primary school’s catchment may find their preferred secondary school requires a different catchment address. This is particularly relevant in areas like Killarney Heights, Hurstville, and North Sydney, where secondary catchment boundaries do not align with primary boundaries.

Application Timing

Primary Year 5–6 applications follow the same DE International process as other primary intake levels:

  • Apply 6–12 months before the intended start date. Year 5 and 6 places are limited; late applications risk the preferred school being full.
  • Term 1 (January) is the primary intake. Mid-year entry (Term 2 or 3) is possible at some schools but should not be relied upon.
  • Visa considerations. The Student visa (Subclass 500) and Student Guardian visa (Subclass 590) must both be approved before the child can start school. Processing times for the 590 visa can be longer than for the 500, so build in extra lead time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Can a child enter Year 5 mid-year from an overseas school system?

Yes, but it depends on the specific school’s capacity. NSW primary schools generally accept mid-year enrolments if places are available, but Year 5 and 6 cohorts are typically smaller than K–2 cohorts, so mid-year availability is less predictable. Confirm with NSW DE International before making travel arrangements.

Q2: Does the child need to speak English before starting Year 5?

No formal English test score is required for primary school entry. However, the child will need enough English to participate in classroom activities from day one. Schools provide EAL/D support, but families should ensure the child has at least basic English before arrival to avoid a difficult transition period.

Q3: What happens if the family’s preferred secondary school has no Year 7 capacity?

International students do not automatically receive a secondary place, even from a NSW primary school. Families should apply to multiple secondary schools (NSW DE International recommends at least three preferences). If all preferences are full, DE International will suggest alternative schools with available places.

Q4: Are there Opportunity Classes (OC) for international students in Year 5?

Opportunity Classes are academically selective classes for gifted Year 5 and 6 students in NSW. These are administered by the NSW Department of Education’s Selective High School and Opportunity Class Placement unit, separately from the international student programme. International students are generally not eligible for OC placement; entry to an OC requires sitting the OC Placement Test in Year 4, which is designed for students already in the NSW school system.

Data Source and Methodology

All school names, year-level availability, catchment requirements, and enrolment policies are from the NSW Department of Education’s Government Schools Capacity Update, effective 1 June 2026. The dataset covers 31 primary schools in the international student programme. Three schools are excluded from this Year 5–6 count: Chatswood Public School (no 2026 capacity), Lindfield East Public School (stops at Year 4), and Gordon East Public School (stops at Year 4). Bellevue Hill Public School is included for Year 5 only (no Year 6 in 2026). Capacity data is a snapshot for guidance and does not constitute a guarantee of placement.

Sources