High potential and gifted education (HPGE)

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:

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

At Toongabbie PS, HPGE lives in everyday practice. Many students have high potential, and we help that potential to grow into something powerful.

  • Teachers 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.
  • Groups are flexible, students take lead roles, and feedback is strengths-based with clear goals and self-assessment.
  • Our teachers engage in professional learning to support the diverse needs of all students, including our high potential and gifted learners
Across our school

Every student is individual, so opportunities are flexible and diverse.

  • Students deepen strengths through debating, competitions, critical thinking workshops, and STEM and coding pathways like Lego Club and makerspace projects.
  • Talent is celebrated through the well established school band program and showcases such as Hills Performing Arts Festival, School Spectacular preparations, drama, visual arts, music ensembles, choir, Ukulele Group, and Boys and Mixed Dance, supported by student roles in tech and crew.
  • Sport matters too, with sport programs that include differentiated PE, representative sport pathways, and athletics, swimming and cross country carnivals.
Across NSW
Students also have the opportunity to participate in public speaking competitions, debating competitions, Maths Olympiad, Chess Club.
Opportunity class

Our school is very proud to host an "Opportunity Class".

OC placement provides intellectual stimulation and an educationally enriched environment for academically gifted and talented children in Years 5 and 6.

Parents apply when students are at the end Year 3 or the beginning of Year 4 for placement in Year 5. It is a 2-year program (Year 5 to 6). Parents cannot apply for Year 6 placement only.

Who can apply?

Parents and carers can apply for placement if their child is in:

  • a NSW public school
  • a non-government school
  • home study
  • an interstate school
  • an overseas school.

More information, and the link to apply can be found at
https://education.nsw.gov.au/schooling/parents-and-carers/choosing-a-school-setting/selective-high-schools/choosing-a-school/opportunity-classes

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.

Contact us

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