Years 1-12

International Applications

We do not accept international students at this time. If the student is not an Australian citizen, they will need a residential visa, not a student visa (500). New Zealand citizens may apply as domestic but must still supply a copy of their visa. For more information, please contact us.

Entry Criteria Supporting Documentation

As a school for gifted learners, there are a range of criteria we look at to ensure the applicant will thrive in our learning environment.

Every child is unique and we consider the whole student before making our final decision. The more information you can give us, the better an understanding we will have.

Applicants who meet all the criteria may be interviewed and will be considered for an offer of place. Places are limited, so meeting the criteria does not guarantee an offer of place.

Psychoeducational Assessment Report

The first document we require is a psychologist’s report with cognitive ability test results. There are different cognitive ability tests available, such as the WWPSI, WISC, Stanford-Binet, etc., and a psychologist who offers psychoeducational assessments will be able to facilitate an appropriate cognitive ability test for your child.

We encourage families to seek a psychological assessment of cognitive ability after or as close as possible to the age of 5, so that test results are more accurate. Please note that many psychologists have lengthy waitlists. In Australia, psychologists are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia.

In the Cognitive Ability category, our criteria include,

• a General Ability Index, Full Scale score OR Nonverbal Index in the 97^th percentile or higher
• OR at least two of the following:
  • Verbal Comprehension in the 97^th percentile or higher.
  • Visual Spatial in the 97^th percentile or higher.
  • Fluid Reasoning in the 97^th percentile or higher.

We ask for the psychologist’s report in full as it contains relevant contextual information and the psychologist’s recommendations.

If you are unable to undertake a full psychoeducational assessment, then alternatively, if the applicant is 10 years old or above, you may choose to access IQ testing through Mensa, which is facilitated four times a year. Please note that the results from this testing will not include any contextual statement and therefore may be less fully reflective of the applicant’s potential if they happen to underperform on the day.

Learning & Characteristics

The remaining documents we require can also be attached to an application as part of the submission of the application webform:

• • Achievement tests, if applicable, such as WIAT, UNSW, PAT Reading Comprehension, PAT Mathematics, ICAS competitions, Olympiad competitions, etc.
  • Current school report, if applicable.
  • NAPLAN results, if applicable.
  • Examples of work, if other learning documents lacking.
  • Characteristics Questionnaire
  • Teacher Questionnaire – please send this form to your child’s current teacher to return to us.
  • Authority to Exchange Information – if you would like to authorise us to contact the psychologist, kindergarten teacher, or another service provider for a reference or contextual information in support of the application, please fill out this form authorising us to contact them.

If your child

• is motivated to learn,
• asks complex questions,
• digs deeper than expected,
• is very curious, and
• expresses a strong sense of social justice,

we encourage you to apply.

Enrolment Intake Application Timeline

The Application Journey

All applications must go through the same Application Journey. Please apply for the intake for which you wish to be considered, as there is no waitlist and enrolment is not deferred except in exceptional circumstances. Siblings will also need to go through the ordinary application process and will not be prioritised.

Click the plus button to expand each step on the application journey below.

Apply Now

Additional Questions

When are school tours?

A limited number of information evenings are scheduled for 2024. Otherwise, for a “feel” of the school, please view our Video Tour. If you have any questions, please contact us.

Can I make a time to see the Principal?

Unfortunately, Dr McInnes is unable to see every family who enquires about the school. You are welcome to contact us with any questions you have.

Is there a particular school you would recommend if we don’t receive an offer of enrolment from Dara?

We are the only R-12 Gifted Education school in Australia, and we are structured at every level around a student-driven model and subject-based ability grouping. Because of this, we are quite unique. Comparisons to other schools will vary depending on the aspects of the learning environment which are most important to your child and your family. We do not have a special relationship with any pre-schools or other schools locally.