Stage 6 Online Curriculum Access

Metropolitan Schools and Schools in Large Regional Centres

The following schools are classified as metropolitan schools and schools in large, regional centres (including Newcastle, Central Coast, Wollongong, Tweed and Queanbeyan) and are authorised host schools for the Stage 6 Online Curriculum Access program.

Any schools not on this list should visit the Secondary Senior School (Regional, Rural and Remote) program page for details of the Regional, Rural and Remote school offerings.

Building on the department’s commitment to high potential and gifted education, from 2027 metropolitan schools and schools in large, regional centres will be able to support their students in Year 11 and 12 to access 11 academically rigorous courses delivered online by specialist teachers through Aurora College. This program offers students more choice in addition to courses already available through distance education providers.

From Term 3 2026, you will be able to support students to apply for the courses listed below and delivered online by subject-specific teachers through Aurora College in 2027.

For further information, including access criteria for Stage 6 student enrolment in Aurora College courses, refer to:

• Stage 6 online curriculum access (Staff only)
• Frequently asked questions (Staff only)

We invite principals and interested staff to join us for a livestream at 3:30 pm (AEST) on Thursday 21 May 2026. At the livestream, the project team will provide additional information about this exciting opportunity to enhance your students’ learning choices and outcomes. The presentation will include details of the application process and will be followed by a Q and A session.

If you have any questions, please call Aurora College on 1300 287 629 or email auroracoll-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

How will I learn?

When you enrol at Aurora, you become a ‘dual citizen’ of two schools. By remaining in your local community, your education will benefit from the enhanced opportunities that come from belonging to two education communities.

During your timetabled Aurora lessons, you will work in a special area at your home school and will connect to your virtual classroom on a desktop computer with a webcam and a headset with microphone. On screen you will see and hear your teacher and classmates in a high quality audio and visual connection. For the balance of the curriculum, you will join your home school peers in regular lessons.

Aurora’s web conferencing software allows your teacher to share documents, presentations, videos and even his/her desktop. A range of features, including a chat pod, whiteboard, note pad, polling app and ‘breakout’ spaces will make your Aurora lesson a highly engaging experience.

Aurora College also provides you with a laptop device to complete classwork, take notes, or view digital textbooks and other resources in our digital school library. A range of cutting-edge platforms in use at Aurora will also enable you to work collaboratively in real time with your teachers and classmates.

During recess and lunch breaks, you might like to catch-up with your Aurora mates in our virtual playground. This amazing three-dimensional virtual environment also has a school hall and lecture theatre, where our masterclasses and mentoring sessions take place.

If at any time your technology is not working as it should, help is never far away. Aurora’s hardworking and highly skilled technology support team may be reached during school hours via telephone or email. Our ‘tech gurus’ will also work directly with technology staff in your home school to ensure you stay well-connected at all times.

What can I study?

The following courses are available to academically able students who can work in the virtual school environment from authorised host schools.

• Mathematics Advanced
• Mathematics Extension 1
• Mathematics Extension 2 (from Term 4 2027)
• English Advanced
• English Extension 1
• English Extension 2 (from Term 4 2027)
• Economics
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Science Extension (from Term 4 2027)
• History Extension (from Term 4 2027)