High potential and gifted education
Some students learn faster and more easily than others. These students may shine in creativity, thinking, leadership or sport.
At our school, we recognise and nurture these strengths early. We support advanced learners with great lessons and activities to help them grow and thrive.
Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?
Recognising potential and developing talent
Our teachers find potential and nurture our students to be the best they can be.
Tailored lessons
Each student has different abilities. Teachers respond to each student’s ability by providing extra challenges and extension activities to keep learning exciting and engaging.
Rich opportunities and activities
Students can take part in opportunities to develop their talent in the arts, sport, leadership and more.
Opening doors to wider experiences
Our students can participate in a wide range of state-wide opportunities that aim to extend and enrich student potential.
What is high potential and gifted education?
High potential and gifted education (HPGE) is how our school supports students with advanced learning needs.
We do this through:
- effective teaching strategies like enrichment, extension and acceleration
- tailored support during lessons that stretch, challenge and inspire
- access to a wide range of opportunities both within and beyond our school.
Our high potential and gifted education opportunities
Our students engage with HPGE education in the classroom, in our school, and across NSW.
- Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking.
- Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning.
- Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
- Opportunities for leadership within the classroom.
- Structured peer collaboration and reflection.
- Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance.
- Debating
- Academic competitions
- Music ensembles
- Visual arts and drama showcases
- Creative writing groups
- Sport squads
- Student leadership (SRC)
- Wellbeing programs
- Participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives.
- Participation in the Newcastle Science and Engineering Challenge
- Junior AECG leadership team
The Premier’s Spelling Bee promotes our students’ vocabulary development and attention to detail in competitive settings.
- The Premier’s Debating Challenge helps our students to build logical arguments and confidence in public speaking.
- The Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) promotes whole-school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and professional learning.
- The Representative School Sport Pathway and PSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.
- Participation in Starstruck promotes participation in the performing arts - dance, drama, music.
Academic competitions
Students are able to compete in ICAS competitions, Engineering competitions and many more.
PSSA sporting pathways
Students can compete as individuals in a range of sports or in teams in PSSA knockout competitions. Students can be selected to compete at a regional, or state level in athletics, swimming, cross country or team sports.
Band Program
Our extensive and successful band program has been running since 2001. Students can perform in our junior or senior band.
Enrichment Groups
Throughout the year, a variety of enrichment groups are offered to support and extend students' knowledge and understanding across a range of Key Learning Areas.
Creative arts
Students have the opportunity to participate in our annual art show, weekly dance groups, Starstruck dance troupe, junior and senior choirs and drama group. Students also can apply to attend the Hunter Creative Arts Camp.
Leadership opportunities
Students voice is important to our school and students have opportunities to be part of our Student Representative Council, be elected as school captains and prefects. Our Aboriginal students can be part of our Junior AECG.
Help for your high potential child
If your child shows signs of high potential, contact us. We can share how our HPGE support can guide their learning journey.
Student opportunities and activities
Discover the opportunities our students have at our school.
Learning
Find out about our approach to learning and supporting students to progress