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 through identification and tracking. 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?

At Kirrawee Public School, high potential and gifted students from all backgrounds and abilities have access to quality learning opportunities that meet their needs and aspirations.

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

We are committed to recognising and nurturing high potential and gifted students, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive at our school.

In our classrooms students participate in:

differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking
explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies
supportive learning environments that enable exploration and self-assessment
structured peer collaboration and reflection
safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance.

Across our school

Our school identifies and supports students with high potential through targeted enrichment, extension and extra-curricular opportunities.

At Kirrawee Public School students have the opportunity to participate in:

debating
Makerspace/STEM
academic competitions
musical performances and ensembles
visual arts showcases
enrichment lessons
student leadership (SRC)
wellbeing programs
whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives.

Across NSW

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

At Kirrawee Public School students have the opportunity to participate in:

the Premier's Spelling Bee - promoting our students' vocabulary development and attention to detail in competitive settings
the Premier's Debating Challenge - helping our students to build logical arguments and confidence in public speaking
the School Spectacular - an iconic performing arts event that celebrates the talents, diversity and creativity of students from across NSW public schools
Create - a HPGE program in the arts through which students have the opportunity to work with teachers and industry professionals to enhance their skills by creating an original musical over four days of workshops and two performances.

Academic competitions

Students across our primary setting were selected for participation in Makers Empire, a program that empowers students to become confident creators, innovators and problem-solvers.

Here our students were asked to solve a problem on Earth using a space technology. Our students' design of a communication device for children with a disability won the Industry Award which was the highest level of recognition and achievement at the competition.

Enrichment lessons

Students identified as HPGE have the opportunity to participate in weekly enrichment lessons with a dedicated enrichment teacher. The focus of enrichment lessons changes each term/semester based on the interests and abilities of the selected students.

Examples of past projects include;

solar car making, podcasting, film making, local historical research, coding and programming, sustainability projects

design and make of products for a specific consumer and more.

Create

Create is a high potential gifted education program in the arts through which students in years 4-6 have the opportunity to work with teachers and industry professionals to enhance their skills by creating an original musical over four days of workshops culminating in two performances.

Podcast series with local retirement village

Stage 3 students were involved in a podcast series with the local retirement village. Throughout the project students were able to connect with, and build relationships with the retirement village residents.

Our students interviewed the local residents about changes from their past to our present and their favourite childhood memories.

This has now ignited the passion of podcasting with other series including children's authors, Public Education Alumni, Educators and significant people connected to our school community. All podcasts can be found on spotify and youtube under the Kirrawee Public School name.

Not Just a Brush

Not Just a Brush is a visual arts program for NSW public schools. The program includes teacher professional learning workshops and culminates in an art exhibition for Kindergarten to Year 6 students in a professional gallery at the end of the year.

The program provides teachers with skills they can take back to school and use in their classrooms with their students to create artworks over a period of time, incorporating a variety of forms and media.

Students then have the opportunity to exhibit their artworks in a professional gallery exhibition.

Music ensembles

All students at Kirrawee Public School participate in weekly music lessons with a dedicated music teacher.

During these lessons students are taught about musical notation, beat, tempo and more.

Students then have the opportunity to showcase their talents through performances at various school and local events.

Dance and Choir Opportunities

Students at Kirrawee Public School have the opportunity to join our dance programs which are offered through an external provider. Participation in our dance groups culminates in showcase events, eisteddfod performances and for some students, the School Spectacular.

Students may also join the school choir or the HPGE Vocal Ensemble. Students in the school choir perform at various school events and at the Sutherland Shire Schools Music Festival with the Vocal Ensemble performing at prestigious events allowing the opportunity to exhibit their abilities and talents.