Participants

Timeline 

Text version

Term 1

Week 11 – applications

All applications for staff and students are submitted.

Term 2

Week 1–7 – panel review

Applications are reviewed by the selection panel and places are filled.

Week 8 – results sent

Results are sent to all applicants and successful students and school groups are offered their places.

You are here – offers accepted

The main contact teacher for each group completes the acceptance form. Due Friday 5 July (last day of term)

Term 3

Week 1–3 – student information

You will be sent forms to collect the following information:

• t-shirt sizes
• deeds of consent
• School Bytes student confirmation
• student measurements (dance only).

Week 5 – teacher information week

Teachers can attend an online information session for their respective categories and talk directly to the creative team and ask questions.

Week 8 – final student confirmation

All student numbers need to be confirmed and the Arts Unit will use internal journal to transfer the amount for each student from your school.

Term 4

Week 1–7 – item rehearsals

Students will participate in 2–3 item rehearsals throughout Term 4 guided by the Schools Spec team with assistance from all supervising teachers.

Week 4 – first combined rehearsal

Monday 4 November – a mass dance rehearsal with Sydney metro schools at Qudos Bank Arena where your item will rehearse in costume on the arena floor and run through the finale.

Week 7

Show week

December

Broadcast on Channel 7

2025 applications open

Risk assessments

Below you will find a link to our current risk management plans for rehearsal venues. These are to be used to supplement the NSW Department of Education’s excursion planning and management policy and your school’s excursion procedure. You will still need to develop your own plan that includes travel and accommodation where appropriate.

Access our current risk assessments.

Tickets are on sale now at Ticketek.

Selected areas of the venue will have an Early bird 10% discount applied if they are purchased before Friday 2 August.

Ordering your tickets to the Schools Spectacular is now easier than ever!

Please note: audience members will not be permitted to bring metal water bottles or bags larger that an A4 piece of paper into Qudos Bank Arena.

School excursions

To reduce the administration for staff, the easiest way to pay is via P-Card as you can order directly through the Ticketek website.

To order using a P-Card or credit card (recommended) 

log on to the Ticketek website. You will be able to order as many tickets as you want. Select the category of ticket and where you want to sit. Orders under 20 tickets will receive emailed Ezy Tickets. 

 

Full instructions on how to order and pay through SAP are on the ticket order form.

Ticket order form

Ticketek group bookings

Please note: If you are using a P-Card or credit card you do not need to complete any order forms!

Orders over 20 will receive hard copy tickets sent via Australia Post.

Log on to Ticketek

 

To order and pay through SAP

Download and fill out the Schools Spectacular ticket order form. Log onto Ticketek groups bookings. Upload the Schools Spectacular ticket order form to Ticketek groups bookings. The form will also need to be sent to EDConnect for paymnt

We encourage you to share your school’s Spec journey with your local community and also with us! We are looking for videos, photos and anecdotes from individual students/staff and schools to share on our media channels. This can involve rehearsal videos, images, direct-to-camera stories and more!

If you have any content that you’d like to share, please upload it to our Share Your Spec Journey Form

Please share posts and content released by the department’s media team and the Schools Spectacular social media sites which will give your school community a sense of the big picture journey.  You can of course share content on your school’s own channels, but please tag @TheArtsUnit and @SchoolsSpectacular and use the tags 

#SchoolsSpectacular2024

#SchoolsSpectacular

#Spec2024

#All4One 

Use these digital assets to display on your school signs, school newsletter, social media and permission notes.

The department has a global media strategy for the Schools Spectacular as it is a high-profile event for the department so please do not approach any TV or print media yourself nor respond to any approaches made to you directly. 

Inform the Schools Spectacular team if you have any media approaches or questions. Please direct them to Andy Lasaitis at The Arts Unit: andrew.lasaitis@det.nsw.edu.au