 | This article needs to be updated.(December 2016) |
| Schools Spectacular | |
|---|---|
| Genre | Music performance |
| Frequency | Annual event |
| Locations | Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Olympic Park (2016–present) Sydney Entertainment Centre (1983–2015) |
| Years active | 42 |
| Inaugurated | 1983 |
| Most recent | 2025 |
| Previous event | 28 and 29 November 2025 |
| Next event | 27 and 28 November 2026 |
| Participants | 5,500+ [1] |
| Attendance | 32,000+ |
| Website | www |
The NSW Schools Spectacular, commonly known as Spec or Schools Spec, is an Australian variety show featuring more than 5,500 students from public schools across New South Wales performed annually at the Qudos Bank Arena in Sydney Olympic Park. It was previously held at the Sydney Entertainment Centre (later known as Qantas Credit Union Arena) from 1983, until the venue was closed in 2016.
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The event is produced by The Arts Unit within the NSW Department of Education, bringing together students from across metropolitan, regional, and remote communities to perform in a professional arena environment alongside industry-standard technical production teams.
The NSW Schools Spectacular was broadcast by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation from 1984 until 2012, then by the Nine Network from 2013 until 2015. The Seven Network has been broadcasting the Schools Spectacular since 2016. Fifteen television cameras are placed in various vantage points throughout the arena. All four performances are recorded, and the best versions of each show segment are edited together and then aired in the television broadcast two to three weeks after the live event.
The actual performance is made up of many different pieces from a very wide variety of genres. A typical piece would have a spotlighted vocalists singing on an elevated platform in the arena, surrounded by many dancers and actors. On the stage, the orchestra would be playing the instrumental part of the song while the choirs behind and next to the orchestra would be singing the chorus of the song. There are more than 400 audio inputs for microphones and musical instruments, and an amazing array of around 600 lights used throughout the show.
Each production features:
- A massed choir of thousands of students
- Featured vocalists and musicians
- Large-scale dance ensembles
- Drama and specialty performance items
- Student stage crews and technical teams
- Professional lighting, audio, staging, and multimedia production
Students rehearse throughout the year before coming together for arena rehearsals and performances.
The production aims to:
- Showcase excellence in NSW public school performing arts programs
- Provide students with professional performance and production experience
- Build teamwork, discipline, and confidence
- Offer pathways into creative and technical industries
- Celebrate diversity and inclusion across public schools
Participation includes performers as well as students working in backstage, audio, staging, and production support roles.
The show is all inclusive with featured acts including a D'Arts Ensemble promoting children with disability to join in the action, there are several areas for students to participate ranging from students studying HSC VET Entertainment to the Aboriginal Dance Company, Featured Dance, Hip-Hop, Musical Theatre, Tap, Jazz, Vocalists, Backing Vocalists to Core Choir and Mass Choir. The production involves
The first NSW Schools Spectacular was Schools Spectacular 1983 and was intended to be a sound test for the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Since then, the NSW Schools Spectacular has evolved significantly. The 2012 event included 3,600 students and 600 teachers from 400 schools in four performances viewed by 30,000 people. [2] Schools Spectacular 2016 broke the Guinness World Record for "Largest Amateur Variety Act", with 5,500 performers. [1]
Schools Spectacular has become a major cultural event within NSW public education, celebrating student talent while demonstrating the scale and quality of performing arts programs in public schools. For many students, participation represents a highlight of their schooling and a pathway into future creative careers.
The Victorian Government also sponsors their own edition which began in 2001. [3] The Queensland Department of Education also has it's own form of spectacular named "Creative Generation" [4]