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. These strengths may be intellectual, creative, artistic, academic, physical, or social-emotional. 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?

Our school is committed to identifying and supporting students with high potential and those who are gifted. HPGE programs aim to challenge and extend these students beyond the standard curriculum, ensuring they reach their full academic and personal potential.

Our approach to HPGE is embedded in everyday teaching and learning, guided by a strong focus on formative assessment, evidence -based practices, and effective differentiation to meet the unique needs of every student.

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.

Identification

Students may be identified through:

Classroom observations and teacher assessments
Academic performance, including standardised test results
Cognitive and psychological assessments when appropriate
Student work samples that demonstrate creativity and problem-solving skills
Input from families and the students themselves
Consideration of cultural, linguistic, socio-economic, and disability diversity to ensure equity and inclusion.

In our classroom

At Cromer Public School, we recognise that high potential exists in many forms across all learners. Our approach to HPGE is embedded in everyday teaching and learning, guided by a strong focus on formative assessment, evidence-based practices, and effective differentiation to meet the unique needs of every student.

Here are some of the evidence based teaching strategies used in the classroom to support all students:

Use of Formative Assessment Tools
Teachers regularly use diagnostic assessments, observation checklists, and student self-assessments to identify strengths and areas for growth across multiple domains, providing timely data that informs lesson planning and differentiation to promote continuous student growth and engagement.

Differentiated Learning Tasks and Flexible Grouping

Learning activities are designed with varying complexity, allowing students to work individually, in pairs, or flexible groups based on interests or abilities, ensuring appropriate challenge, fostering collaboration, leadership, motivation, and social skills.

High Expectations Embedded in Lesson Planning

Teachers explicitly communicate high expectations by designing learning objectives that foster higher-order thinking, creativity, and problem-solving, encouraging students to set personal goals and reflect on their progress, which promotes a growth mindset, resilience, and self-efficacy, leading to deeper learning and higher achievement.

Student Leadership and Voice

Students take lead roles in projects, discussions, and school initiatives tied to their interests, and participate in setting goals and self-assessing, fostering ownership, motivation, and leadership skills.

Ongoing Professional Learning and Collaboration

Teachers regularly engage in professional development on HPGE strategies and collaborate to share best practices and design differentiated curriculum units, strengthening instructional quality and consistency to ensure all students benefit from effective talent development. Academic competitions

Across our school

We actively provide enrichment activities, providing our students with valuable opportunities to challenge themselves and perform at their best.

Music program (band and string ensembles)
Interschool sport competitions
Representative sport pathways
Student Leadership programs
Public speaking and debating
Dance groups
Choirs
Drama groups
School camp
Year 6 performance
Wellbeing programs
Curriculum aligned excursions & incursions
School Spectacular
Sydney North Public Schools Dance
Festival of Instrumental Music - Combined String Ensemble
Coding club
Environmental club
Art club

Across NSW

We actively participate in statewide competitions and activities, providing our students with valuable opportunities to challenge themselves and perform at their best. Through this collaborative and enriched approach, we ensure every student’s unique talents are recognised, developed, and celebrated.