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.

Some of the HPGE initiatives that we implement include our BALLERS and IGNITE leadership programs, Stage 5 Critical Thinking Elective, various CAPA opportunities including Choir and Entertainment Industries, Competitive Chess and Representative Sporting Opportunities.

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.

In our classroom

High Expectations – “High Potential, High Challenge, High Support”

Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking.

Extensive subject selection and electives in Stages 4, 5 & 6
Extension Mathematics, English, History, Science and Music in HSC
Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning.
Advanced learning pathways, including accelerated or compacted content.
Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
Differentiated movement tasks and skill refinement in PDHPE.
Opportunities to take on lead roles in physical demonstrations or team strategy.
Supportive learning environments that enable exploration and self-assessment.
Strengths-based feedback and goal setting.
Opportunities for leadership within the classroom.
Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance.

Across our school

HPGE talent identification, assessment and development
HPGE domain leaders (creative, intellectual, physical & social-emotional)
Personalised Learning Pathways Plans for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
Academic reviews and goal-setting for Stage 6 students
Interschool sports competitions
Horse Sports
Steer Leading leadership program
Young Mob Indigenous cultural immersion and leadership program
Peer mentoring
Student leadership (SRC)
School Vocal Group
Combined schools band
Upper Hunter Conservatorium of Music tutors
Wellbeing programs
Participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives.
CAPA performance showcase
Music ensembles
Visual arts and drama showcases
Strong community partnerships
Creative writing groups
Quality transition and pathways progams
Sport House Captains
Sport squads
Chess Club
Mixed sporting teams in community competitions
Sporting House competitions
Academic competitions
BALLERS Boys Leadership program - Ballers (Better Ambassadors, Leading Learners, Exceptional Role Models) – An original evidence based HPGE Leadership program for male students. Based around a basketball/sporting mentality, students are active in their community through regular work with preschool and primary school students (reading, pen pals, leadership days, mentoring), community basketball (coaching, refereeing, volunteering), community events (school and non-school based). The students also develop structured goal setting and journalling habits, secure coaching and officiating accreditations, develop and deliver leadership events, source and interact with sponsors. Grounded in a High Expectations framework Ballers is a strong engagement tool that lifts the bar for boys both in the program and those close to them in the wider school.
IGNITE Girls Leadership program - IGNITE is a leadership program created for girls aged 12 to 16. It is designed to help young women discover their power, find their purpose, and make a positive impact on the world around them.

Each semester, a small group of six girls will take part in the program. This group will help each member build:
- Courageous Voice: developing confidence, communication, and influence.
- Visionary Thinking: using creativity, strategy, and empathy to solve real problems.
- Authentic Action: leading with integrity, self-awareness, and social responsibility.
Leadership in IGNITE will be developed through community action, personal growth, mentorship and creative enterprise. The program empowers each member to grow as a leader and make meaningful change.

Across NSW

Our STEM Enrichment Partnerships with industry and universities deepen our students’ intellectual curiosity while developing innovation and collaboration.
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 and CHSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.