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.

In our classroom

At Mount St Thomas Public School, 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 public speaking and debating, a range of competitions, and through STEM and coding pathways like First Lego League.
Talent is celebrated through musical and performance showcases including Southern Stars preparations, Southern Illawarra Music Festival, Bands in the Mall, and through school-based performances such as in Education Week, Grandparents Day and special Assemblies. Creativity is also celebrated in drama activities, art club and Operation Art.
Leadership grows through our student leaders, SRC, library monitors, PRC leaders, student mentoring and peer coaching, and wellbeing is made visible with PBL awards.
Daily life invites curiosity and belonging, with Open Library everyday at recess.
Sport matters too, with PSSA sport, training, coaching and a range of competitions and GALA Days.

Across NSW

Our students participate in a wide range of statewide programs to extend and enrich student potential.

Students participate in opportunities such as Premier’s Spelling Bee, Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking, Premier's Reading Challenge, Premier's Sporting Challenge, Operation Art, Premier's Debating Challenge, ICAS Academic Assessments and First Lego League (FLL).
Statewide and NSW Department of Education support is available for high potential and gifted students, and we help with entries, preparation and reflection so every experience feeds back into learning.