The grade five student was recently selected to become part of an opportunity class at Tighes Hill Public School, near Mayfield.

10,500 students applied for the opportunity classes, which are run at selected public schools all over the state, and 1,700 NSW students were chosen.

Tighes Hill Public School offers opportunity classes for years five and six.

After finding out about the school from family friends, Ashley applied for the opportunity class through the Department of Education, sat an entrance exam and received a letter of acceptance a few weeks later.

Being a resident of Hawks Nest, Ashley’s acceptance means that the start of her school day now begins at 6.30am - when she wakes, gets ready and heads off to school, which is around an hours travel on the bus.

Ashley said starting her new school has made her feel more excited than nervous.

“I already know some people that go there and I met some new people at the Open Day they held at the school,” she said.

Tighes Hill Public School has exactly the same subjects as other NSW primary schools, but the students’ work at their own level.

Although students from the opportunity class learn separately from the mainstream classes, they still mix with the other children at lunch and recess.

Ashley’s favourite subject is english and she loves to write.

“When I grow up I want to work in the field of forensic science, or be an archaeologist, or maybe even a botanist,” she said.