Preamble
The enrolment policy of Sydney Boys High School was drafted in 2001 by a Committee consisting of 2 staff members, a member of the school community and the Principal. It was revised in August 2003. The current update was a result of discussions between the School Executive and DET. The policy is designed to clarify or explain the various circumstances by which students gain entry to Sydney Boys High School. It also sets out the processes for filling vacancies. The policy is to be read in conjunction with the following documents:

• Enrolment of Students in Government Schools: A Summary and Consolidation of Policy, 1997
• School Attendance Policy

Enrolment Limits
An enrolment ceiling for each year was set as follows:

• Years 7-8 (180 per Year)
• Years 9-12 (200 per Year)

The maximum possible enrolment was set at 1160 students. At the level of ceiling enrolment the site is being fully utilised. Room occupancy rates are very high.

Enrolment Processes
Sydney Boys High is an academically very strong school which caters to the needs of gifted students. It has an important membership of the Athletic Association of the Great Public Schools. This GPS relationship, which commenced officially in 1906, involves participation in sporting competitions on Saturdays (Cricket, Basketball, Tennis, Rowing, Rifle Shooting in Terms 1 and 4, Swimming in Term 1 [Friday evenings] and Rugby, Soccer, Cross Country, Athletics, Volleyball, Rifle Shooting in Terms 2 and 3) and debating competitions on Friday evenings in Term 3. The school has a comprehensive co-curricular program being able to participate in activities available to NSW DET schools and also in activities available to GPS schools. It runs a strong performance music program. Leadership, skills development and community services activities are encouraged. The school has an active cadet unit which provides advanced leadership training through to Year 12. It provides a comprehensive Outdoor Education Program 7-10. The school has implemented a leadership development program for Years 7 - 12.

Prospective applicants should be aware that competitive sport is played on Saturdays and students are expected to be involved. Also, swimming, debating and chess occur on Friday evenings. Students are expected to participate in a minimum of two GPS sports each year.

Year 7 Enrolment
Each year 180 boys are selected for entry by reference to a state-wide test administered by the Selective Schools Unit, moderated teacher assessments in English and Mathematics, and to an achievement profile supplied by applicants. Boys are offered places on the basis of a rank-ordered composite score and a preference list of up to 4 schools. Application forms are available from Selective High Schools and from State Primary Schools and District Offices. The Application Package can also be downloaded from the Selective School Unit website. (Sample questions from past Selective Schools Placement Tests are also available on the SSU website). The Selective Schools Unit can be contacted on 9707 6262 or by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

A Placement Committee, consisting of the School Education Director, the Principal, a Deputy Principal and a parent representative, is involved in the process of selecting students entering Year 7. It considers a variety of additional information supplied by applicants to the Selective Schools Unit. The Committee decides on various claims and illness, misadventure reports. The Placement Committee signs off on a finalised rank order list of applicants’ scores. Places are then offered according to Selective Schools Unit protocols.

Years 8-12 enrolment
Applications for places in Selective Schools for Years 8-12 are advertised in the media from late June each year. Each school has its own policy in respect of filling occasional vacancies. Sydney Boys High has its own expanded Application Form. It is strongly recommended that applicants download and use a form below, or collect one from the school: Enrolment Applications for 2011 are now open.
Applications for years 8-12 enrolment in 2011 must be received by Thursday 29 July 2010.

  Year 08 2011 - Application For Entry Form
  Year 09 2011 - Application For Entry Form
  Year 10 2011 - Application For Entry Form
  Year 11 2011 - Application For Entry Form
  Year 12 2011 - Application For Entry Form

Vacancies
In Year 8 there are historically very few vacancies. In Year 9 up to 20 additional places are offered. In Year 10 to 12, vacancies will only be filled if the number of students falls below 200.

The Application and Selection Process - Years 8 - 12
Please complete the four pages of the application form. Before doing so, please read the page six of the application form containing examples of information that might be included in support of the application. Supply a copy of your last two School Reports. Do not supply any other documents. If you are selected for interview you will be required to support your claims with appropriate evidence. Return your application, accompanied by a payment of $50 to cover administration costs, to the school by Thursday 29 July 2010.

Selection Criteria
Students selected for enrolment at SBHS are expected to support and enhance the ethos of the school in its pursuit of academic excellence, through its competition in the AAGPS and by participation in a range of co-curricular activities. The Selection Committee considers:

• the educational history of the student
• his performance in academic competitions
• whether he has siblings already enrolled in the school
• his sporting interests and accomplishments
• his co-curricular interests and abilities
• his reasons for wishing to attend SBHS
• the availability of subjects/courses or combinations of these
• compassionate circumstances
• the impact on local public comprehensive schools
• the effects on local area selective classes in comprehensive schools
• his desire to access single sex education
• his proximity and ease of access to the school

Selection Committee
Applications will be considered by the Selection Committee. The Selection Committee is headed by the School Education Director (Bondi). A parent representative is invited to assist in the selection process. The Principal is the third member of the Committee. Members of the school executive and senior teachers assess the applications in terms of the selection criteria and rank the applicants. An interview list is created according to the rank order list and recommendations of the assessors in consultation with the Principal. Once interview lists are determined the Selection Committee reviews the applications of those recommended for interview. Students are then invited for interview with the Principal. At this stage the students' abilities, interests and achievements are taken into consideration, including their academic aspirations, their 'fit' in terms of their co-curricular and sporting activities with the school's ethos, their commitment to the values of the school, appropriate course vacancies and the quality of their accompanying documentation. The Principal determines the rank order of applications after the interview process.

If vacancies exist, a Placement List is created and students are offered places. One place is reserved for seven days after unsuccessful letters are sent to applicants in case a Selection Committee decision is appealed. A Reserve List for future vacancies is created as a result of the process. As vacancies arise applicants are contacted and places are offered. The Reserve List is current until the application process for the following year commences in July and is usually limited to 5 places for each Year but may be adjusted to reflect realistic expectations of potential vacancies. Overseas students and misadventure students are considered for the Placement or Reserve Lists as appropriate when interviews can be arranged. Applicants are either offered places or advised of their position on the Reserve List. Applicants are also informed that their position on the Reserve List may be varied if overseas students and misadventure applicants displace them on the list as a result of late interviews.

Family Placement Claim
Where two or more boys have equal merit, a boy with a family placement claim will be given priority. A family placement claim can be made if a brother or sister, parent, grandparent, guardian or caregiver currently attends or previously attended Sydney Boys High School or Sydney Girls High School.

Purposeful Grouping of Students
Boys are grouped together to meet identified needs or to bring together students with similar interests and/or abilities. Ability Grouping is one of the features of this school. Ability grouping occurs in some classes in Stage 5. The article Ability Grouping on this website outlines the rationale behind this approach.