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 Hornsby North Public School, we are dedicated to identifying and supporting students with high potential and gifted abilities. We believe every student should have the chance to succeed and grow. Our school community values strong academic achievement alongside creativity, leadership, wellbeing, sport, and the arts. We aim to develop the whole child.

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.

In our classroom

Our Approach

In the Classroom
Our teachers create positive and challenging learning environments that help gifted and high-potential students to thrive. We:

Recognise each student’s unique strengths and learning needs.
Use teaching methods based on research to provide tasks that are tailored to meet their needs and more interesting.
Encourage students to be creative, take risks, and work together.

Continuously learn and improve our teaching to support all students.

In Class examples:

Tasks are adjusted to match each student’s pace and level, encouraging higher-level thinking.
Teachers use ongoing assessments to track progress and adjust learning plans.
Explicit teaching of critical thinking, problem-solving, and inquiry skills.
Projects that allow students to explore ideas in depth and across subjects with real choices.
Group work that promotes discussion and presentations.
Feedback focused on student strengths, goal setting, and leadership chances.
Safe and supportive spaces where students are encouraged to take risks and reflect on their learning.
Targeted goals in physical education, including skill-building, leadership, and teamwork.

Across our school

At the School Level
We offer many flexible and varied opportunities for students to discover and develop their talents beyond regular classes. Our school culture is inclusive and supportive, where every student feels valued and encouraged to grow. School programs include:

Music and dance groups such as choirs and ensembles.
Debating, public speaking, and specific academic competitions.
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), robotics and coding activities.
School plays, visual arts, and creative showcases.
Sports teams, training squads, and in-school sporting activities.
Peer mentoring and leadership roles.
Wellbeing programs to support social and emotional development.

At School examples:

Music and dance programs with performance opportunities.
Competitions in debating and public speaking.
STEM, robotics and coding initiatives for creative problem-solving.
Whole-school productions and arts showcases.
Sports training and competitions inside and outside school.
Leadership and peer support programs.
Wellbeing activities that foster social skills and inclusion.

Across NSW

At the System and Statewide Level
Through the NSW Department of Education, our students can access a wide range of programs that challenge and inspire them outside the school. These include:

State and regional challenges like the Premier’s Spelling Bee and Premier’s Speaking Challenge.
Opportunities to join representative music groups, state choirs, and orchestras.
Debating and public speaking competitions.
Statewide dance and creative arts programs.
Premier’s Sporting Challenge and representative sports pathways across many sports through the NSW Primary School Sports Association (PSSA).
Participation in state and regional academic competitions.
Access to state-level music and arts ensembles.
Involvement in statewide sports and creative arts programs