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.
At Leichhardt Public School, we are committed to recognising and nurturing high potential and gifted students, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive at our school.
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.
Students may engage in:
- Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking.
- Learning experiences that promote creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking through authentic, cross-curricular projects.
- Supportive and safe environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking and perseverance.
- Opportunities for exploration, self-assessment and leadership within the classroom.
- Feedback and reflection that build on strengths, set clear goals and celebrate progress.
At Leichhardt Public School, we recognise\ that every student is individual, and we provide flexible and diverse opportunities for students to explore and grow their strengths outside the classroom.
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.
Students engage in:
- Student leadership opportunities through the Student Parliament and school leadership roles.
- Sporting carnivals and events that encourage participation, teamwork and pathways to regional representation.
- A vibrant music and creative arts program, including choirs, bands, recorder groups, string ensembles, and specialised art and drama lessons .
- Extra-curricular programs in coding and chess.
- Competitions in debating and public speaking.
- Enrichment opportunities across all four domains.
At Leichhardt Public School, our students take part in opportunities that extend beyond our school, connecting them with regional and state-wide programs.
Students may engage in:
- Academic competitions such as the Premier’s Spelling Bee.
- Creative and performing arts events including the Festival of Instrumental Music and the Schools Spectacular.
- Regional and state sporting pathways through cross country, athletics carnivals and other representative events.
- Collaborative opportunities with other schools.
Student Parliament
The Student Parliament is the voice of the student body. Our student leaders, who are elected from Year 5 at the end of the school year, form a collective of Ministers and Senators. Students from each class from Early Stage One to Stage Three elect one representative to form the body of the Student Parliament.
The Student Parliament meets weekly to consider issues brought to the meeting from individual class meetings. Suggestions brought forward from the students are considered by the school executive. Roles include school improvement programs and the support of charity groups. Support of charity groups includes fundraising and disbursement of relevant information about volunteer associations. Student Welfare Staff and students work in an environment that is welcoming, friendly, and supportive. Our school promotes values such as tolerance, self-respect, citizenship, pride, endeavour, courtesy, social justice and responsibility. Our policies and programs foster a school environment that is safe, secure, and inclusive, values diversity and respects individual differences. Through the school’s strong home and school partnerships, students are encouraged to respect and care for the environment and live a healthy and well balanced lifestyle.
We are committed to developing high potential across 4 domains: creative, intellectual, physical and social-emotional.
Intellectual Domain
The Intellectual domain refers to natural abilities in processing, understanding, reasoning, and the transfer of learning.
Our school identifies and supports students with high potential through first and foremost through differentiation of teaching and learning, as well as targeted enrichment, extension and extra-curricular opportunities such as Philosophy for Children, the Premier's Spelling Bee, Literacy and Numeracy enhancement lessons, public speaking and debating competitions, and more.
Creative Domain
The Creative domain refers to natural abilities in imagination, invention and originality.
Our school nurtures creativity by providing targeted programs and opportunities such as our specialist art program, music ensembles and participation in events like the Festival of Instrumental Music and the School's Spectacular. Students are encouraged to explore different creative outlets, develop their artistic skills, and collaborate on projects that inspire innovation and self-expression.
Through these experiences, students are encouraged to take initiative and confidently express what makes them unique. They learn to think innovatively, adapt their ideas, and appreciate diverse perspectives, which not only enhances their creative growth but also contributes to a vibrant and dynamic school community. Active engagement in these creative programs helps students build essential skills such as critical thinking, communication, and self-expression, preparing them for lifelong creativity and innovation.
Physical Domain
The Physical domain refers to natural abilities in muscular movement and motor control.
At our school, we support and extend students’ physical talents through targeted programs, enrichment opportunities and extra-curricular activities. These include participation in representative sport teams, Athletics, Cross Country and Swimming Carnivals, Primary School Sports Association competitions, and specialised clinics and workshops.
Through these activities, students learn and practice different movement skills and how to use them in various situations. They also work on solving challenges related to movement and combining skills to create and perform physical sequences. By being involved in physical activities, students understand how staying active is good for their health and wellbeing. These opportunities encourage students to improve their skills, challenge themselves, and develop healthy, active lifestyles.
Social-Emotional Domain
The Social-Emotional domain refers to natural abilities in self-management and relating to and interacting with others.
Our school fosters social-emotional development through targeted programs and opportunities such as student parliament, The Resilience Project's School Partnership Program, and leadership roles. Students engage in activities that promote teamwork, conflict resolution, and community involvement, helping them to develop strong interpersonal skills and a positive sense of self.
Students are encouraged to participate actively in these programs to develop essential life skills such as gratitude, empathy, mindfulness and emotional litercay. They learn to communicate their thoughts and feelings clearly and respectfully, to work effectively in teams, and to contribute positively to the school community.
All our students, including high potential and gifted students, are encouraged to take on leadership roles through student leadership opportunities and roles. Our leaders are given opportunities to develop their leadership skills by attending workshops, hosting important guests, attending the Dream and Lead conference and designing and implementing positive, school-wide change.
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