High potential and gifted education

At Clergate Public School, HPGE is part of everyday practice. We are committed to recognising and nurturing high potential and gifted students, ensuring every student can thrive at our school. We aim to provide:

• Differentiated tasks and flexible groupings that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking.
• Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning.
• Advanced learning pathways, including accelerated or compacted content.
• Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
• Supportive learning environments that enable exploration and self-assessment that promote a sense of belonging and encourage risk-taking, creativity and collaboration.
• Strengths-based feedback and goal setting with Individual Education Programs.

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.

• All students, including high potential and gifted students, are encouraged to take on leadership roles through our schoolwide leadership program and student representative council leadership, and leadership of major events including the community ANZAC Day and special assemblies.
• Students can apply for the Aurora College virtual opportunity class (in Year 4) for high potential and gifted students in Year 5 and 6.
• Talent in the arts is celebrated and extended through our local and statewide art exhibitions.
• Our specialist music teacher provides an option for students to learn violin and guitar and extends the music program into Kindergarten to Year 6 with choir. The students share their learning through community school concerts and eisteddfod events, showcasing their skills and talent.
• Students are encouraged and supported to develop their confidence and communication skills through public speaking competitions, including the district CWA Public Speaking event.
• The Premier’s Spelling Bee, Premier’s Sporting Challenge and Premier’s Reading Challenge all provide children with opportunities to enhance and extend their areas of passion and expertise.
• Participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives.
• STEM and coding clubs
• Academic competitions
• School dance troupe
• Visual arts and drama showcases
• Creative writing competitions

Our students can participate in a wide range of state-wide programs that aim to extend and enrich student potential.

• The Premier’s Spelling Bee promotes our students’ vocabulary development and attention to detail in competitive settings.
• The Schools Spectacular is an iconic performing arts event that celebrates the talents, diversity and creativity of students from across NSW public schools.
• The Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) promotes whole-school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and professional learning.
• The representative school sport pathway and PSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at district, regional, and state levels fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.
• Participation in local, regional and state-wide dance ensembles develops our high potential and gifted Stage 3 dance students’ technical skills, performance presence and physical expressiveness.
• Clergate Public School continues to prioritise sporting participation in a multitude of competitions including gala days, knock out competitions and selection through to zone, regional and state carnivals and trials.
• Targeted students participate in ICAS assessments in English, Writing, Mathematics, Digital Technology and Science.