High potential and gifted education (HPGE)
The NSW Department of Education has an extensive policy guiding the implementation of High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) programs within schools.
At Glenfield Park School, our HPGE framework promotes engagement and challenge for every student. We are committed to recognising, nurturing and supporting high potential and gifted students so they can achieve personal excellence.
The following principles guided the development of the HPGE framework:
- All students, regardless of background or personal circumstances, require access to learning programs that meet their learning needs and support to aspire to, and achieve, personal excellence.
- Our commitment to high expectations for all students includes high potential and gifted students.
- Achieving excellence for high potential and gifted students is underpinned by effective school environments including quality teaching, learning and leadership.
- Potential exists along a continuum, where differing degrees of potential require differing approaches and levels of adjustment and intervention.
The Domains of Potential
High potential and gifted students may demonstrate potential in one or more of the following domains:
- Intellectual – natural abilities in processing, understanding, reasoning and the transfer of learning.
- Creative – natural abilities in imagination, invention and originality.
- Social-Emotional – natural abilities in self-management and relating to and interacting with others.
- Physical – natural abilities in muscular movement and motor control.
Potential exists along a continuum, requiring varied approaches to support student growth and achievement.
High Potential Students
High potential students are those whose potential exceeds that of students of the same age in one or more domains. Their potential may be assessed as beyond the average range across any domain. These students may benefit from enriched or extended curriculum opportunities beyond the typical level of students of the same age. High potential and gifted students often:
- Are intensely curious
- Learn new ideas or skills quickly and easily
- Display strong memory skills
- Ask complex questions
- Show creativity and originality
- Enjoy complex thinking
- Require fewer repetitions when learning
- Become deeply focused on areas of interest or passion
School communities have the responsibility to:
- Develop effective and equitable procedures for identifying high potential and gifted students
- Implement developmentally appropriate programs for gifted and talented students
- Foster collaborative home-school partnerships to support high potential and gifted students
Teachers have the responsibility to:
- Select and implement a variety of teaching strategies to meet the diverse needs of high potential and gifted students within their classes
HPGE Initiatives at Glenfield Park School
Enrichment and Extension Activities
- Art Show
- Wakakirri
- Bowling League
- Work Crew
- Café Club
- Junior AECG
- Student Leadership opportunities
Differentiated Instruction
Teachers adjust the pace, content and level of instruction to meet the specific learning needs of gifted students within regular classroom settings.
Ability Grouping
Ability-based groupings within classrooms provide targeted and differentiated learning experiences.
HPGE Policy Implementation
The NSW Department of Education HPGE policy guides our identification and support of high potential and gifted students, promoting engagement and challenge for all learners.
Classroom Practice
In our classrooms:
- We are committed to recognising and nurturing high potential and gifted students so every learner can thrive.
- Classroom practices are designed to support and extend high potential and gifted students.
- Teachers identify learning needs using evidence-informed practices to challenge and extend students.
- Learning pathways include enrichment, extension and acceleration where appropriate.
- Supportive learning environments promote belonging, creativity, collaboration and positive risk-taking.
- Teachers engage in ongoing professional learning to meet the diverse needs of all students, including high potential and gifted learners.
School-Level Support
At a whole-school level:
- We recognise that every student is an individual and provide flexible, diverse opportunities to explore and develop strengths.
- A range of whole-school programs support student growth.
- Students with high potential are supported through targeted enrichment, extension and extracurricular opportunities such as debating, competitions, critical thinking workshops, STEM and coding clubs.
- All students, including high potential and gifted students, are encouraged to take on leadership roles through the Student Representative Council, mentoring programs and peer coaching.
NSW System-Level Opportunities
- Students participate in a range of statewide programs designed to extend and enrich potential.
- NSW Department of Education support is available for high potential and gifted students.
- Students are provided access to local, state and national competitions and events to further develop their talents.