Specialist Schools by Subject
New South Wales runs a number of government schools with a particular subject focus, alongside the comprehensive curriculum that every school teaches. These schools offer specialist facilities, staff and programs in areas such as sport, the performing and visual arts, languages, technology, agriculture and marine studies.
Some are selective and some enrol local students; entry arrangements vary by school and by subject. Browse the specialties below to see the NSW government schools in each, then open a school to read about its programs, location and how to enrol.
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Agricultural
These schools offer a focus on agriculture and primary industries, giving students access to farms, livestock, cropping and agricultural technology alongside the full curriculum.
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Intensive English
Intensive English programs help newly arrived students from language backgrounds other than English develop the English they need to take part fully in mainstream schooling.
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Language
These schools place a particular emphasis on languages, offering bilingual programs or a wide range of languages other than English alongside the full curriculum.
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Marine Technology
These schools offer a focus on marine and maritime studies, giving students access to aquaculture, marine science and water-based technology alongside the full curriculum.
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Performing Arts
These schools offer specialist programs in the performing arts, supporting students in music, dance and drama alongside the full curriculum.
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Sports
These schools offer specialist sport programs, facilities and coaching alongside the full curriculum, supporting students who play sport at a developing or representative level.
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Technology
These schools place a particular emphasis on technology, offering applied and digital technologies, engineering and STEM programs alongside the full curriculum.
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Visual Arts
These schools offer specialist programs in the visual arts, supporting students in art, design and media alongside the full curriculum.
Most NSW government schools are comprehensive — they teach the full curriculum without a single subject specialty, so they are not listed as a category here.