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 Birrong Public School, we recognise and nurture these strengths early. We strive to know our students to ensure that the full range of their abilities and needs is recognised. We create inclusive environments to support all students by recognising, respecting and valuing diversity.

At our school, high potential and gifted students from all backgrounds have access to quality learning opportunities that help them grow and thrive.

Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

Poster reminding students that today is the start of something great

Recognising potential and developing talent

Our teachers find potential and nurture our students to be the best they can be.

group of students working on chrome books in a classroom

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.

class of students participating in the drum beats program in the hall

Rich opportunities and activities

Students can take part in opportunities to develop their talent in the arts, sport, leadership and more.

Students performing on the stage at the schools spectacular

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 Students

High potential students are those who demonstrate the capacity to perform significantly beyond the expectations of their peers in one or more areas of learning. Their abilities may be evident across a range of domains — intellectual, creative, social-emotional, or physical — and may be assessed as exceeding the typical range for students of the same age.

Gifted Students

Gifted students are those whose potential significantly exceeds that of their peers in one or more domains, such as intellectual, creative, social-emotional, or physical. These students often demonstrate advanced learning abilities and develop skills or achieve mastery at a much faster rate than others their age.

Highly Gifted Students

Highly gifted students are those whose potential vastly exceeds that of their age peers in one or more domains.

Because of their exceptional capacity to learn and process complex information, highly gifted students often require significant and specialised curriculum adjustments. These may include accelerated learning pathways, individualised programs, or targeted support to ensure both their academic and wellbeing needs are met.

At Birrong Public School, we recognise and support the diverse needs of high potential and gifted learners. These students may benefit from enriched, extended, or differentiated learning experiences that provide greater depth, complexity, and challenge to help them reach their full potential.

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

We are committed to recognising and nurturing high potential and gifted students, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive at our school.
Our classroom practices support and extend high potential and gifted students.
We identify students' learning needs in the classroom and use evidence-informed teaching practices to challenge and extend students. We provide learning pathways, including enrichment and extension programs and acceleration.
Our supportive classroom environments promote a sense of belonging and encourage risk-taking, creativity and collaboration.
Our teachers engage in professional learning to support the diverse needs of all students, including our high potential and gifted learners.

Across our school

Our school recognises that every student is individual, and we provide flexible and diverse opportunities for students to explore and grow their strengths outside the classroom.
We offer a variety of whole-school programs that support student growth.
Our school identifies and supports students with high potential through targeted enrichment, extension and extra-curricular activities such as debating, competitions, opportunities for critical thinking, STEM, coding and technology.
All our students, including high potential and gifted students, are encouraged to take on leadership roles through student representative council leadership, mentoring programs and peer coaching.
Student talent is celebrated and extended through school musicals, drama groups, visual arts showcases and music ensembles.
Our students can take part in sports training squads, coaching sessions, house competitions and differentiated Physical Education programs.

Across NSW

Our students participate in a range of statewide programs to extend and enrich student potential.
We provide access to local, state and national competitions and events to help students explore and extend their talents.
Gimbawali Festival of Stars (Choir)
District and State Cross Country, Athletics and Swimming
Primary School Sports Association (PSSA)
District football and
Debating