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 Strathfield Girls High School our classes offer a variety of enrichment and extension activities that are thoughtfully designed to deepen students’ knowledge, understanding, and skills. These activities are regularly evaluated and adapted each year to meet the evolving needs of our High Potential Gifted (HPG) students. Teachers create differentiated learning programs by making deliberate adjustments to content, process, product, and the learning environment, ensuring that each student’s specific learning needs are addressed.

Flexible and purposeful grouping strategies are a key part of our approach, with students frequently regrouped based on formative assessments and learning progress. This includes needs-based or task-oriented groups and extension groups focused on particular strengths and talents. Differentiation is inclusive, catering also to HPG students with disability, to ensure all students are challenged to master new skills. Our supportive learning environment promotes a sense of success, wellbeing, and belonging, empowering every student to reach their highest potential.

Across our school

At Strathfield Girls High School we implement evidence-based differentiated programs, practices and procedures in all classrooms so that high potential and gifted students’ specific learning needs are identified and catered for.

Staff includes a range of specialist teachers, including learning and support teachers, music, drama, technological and applied studies and languages teachers, to cater for high potential and gifted students across a range of domains.

The collaborative planning process enables the creation of differentiated learning programs which support the needs of HPG students. There is a strong focus across the school on promoting creative and critical thinking and rich and open-ended tasks within curriculum programs.

The school also facilitates opportunities and encourages participation in programs beyond the school to provide opportunities for high potential and gifted learners in a range of domains.

Finally, we have an extensive number of programs/activities/clubs that students can join to further their own interests.

Across NSW

Statewide Opportunities: Extending High Potential and Gifted Learners Beyond SGHS

Strathfield Girls High School supports high potential and gifted students by connecting them with statewide opportunities that nurture talent in four domains: intellectual, creative, physical, and social-emotional. These programs allow students to develop advanced skills, pursue personal passions, and represent the school in wider academic, cultural, and civic settings.

Academic

Students extend their learning through enrichment programs such as ICAS competitions, the Australian History and Geography Competitions, and RACI Chemistry challenges. They also engage in initiatives like the Brain Bee Challenge, Australian Business Week, and the Sleek Geeks Science Prize. These platforms promote advanced thinking, discipline expertise and real-world application.

Creative

Our students access rich creative experiences beyond the classroom through theatre collaborations (Belvoir, Griffin, Young Belvoir), music ensembles, and state festivals such as School Spectacular and State Drama Camp. Visual and performing arts opportunities like Bundanon Art Retreat and collaborative productions with St Patrick’s College foster imagination, originality and innovation.

Physical

SGHS students compete in inter-school and regional carnivals in sports like volleyball, basketball, Oztag and swimming. Those with high physical potential participate in elite competitions such as the NSW Dragon Boat Championships. Coaching, dance showcases, and club sports offer varied pathways for skill development and achievement.

Social-Emotional

Students grow as confident, capable leaders through public speaking, debating, volunteering, and peer support. Programs such as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Legacy Day, and Market Day develop initiative and responsibility. Signature initiatives like the Breakfast Club demonstrate active citizenship and meaningful community contribution.

School Programs/Activites/Clubs

Art Pathways Program

Artisans- Art Club

Australian Business Week

Australian Economics Olympiad

Australian Geography Competition

Australian History Competition

Badminton Club

Battle of the Bands

Belvoir Theatre’s No Barriers Program

Bundanon Art Retreat

Coaching & Mentoring at Marie Bashir Public School