High potential and gifted education

Empowering every learner to reach their full potential

At Wamberal Public School, we are committed to nurturing the strengths and potential of every child. Aligned with the NSW High Potential and Gifted Education Policy, our approach ensures equitable access to learning that challenges, engages and extends students across the intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical domains. We use inclusive, evidence-based practices to nurture talent, build confidence and support every learner to achieve their personal best.

HPGE at a Glance

Recognises and develops high potential across four domains
Uses evidence-based teaching and robust assessment practices
Provides a blend of classroom differentiation, enrichment and whole-school pathways
Builds a culture of engagement, challenge, creativity and wellbeing

How does Wamberal Public School identify high potential?

At Wamberal Public School, we recognise and nurture students’ strengths early. We are committed to providing rich learning experiences and meaningful opportunities that support advanced learners to grow and thrive.

Identification of high potential and gifted learners is ongoing and strengths-based. Students may demonstrate high potential in one or more domains — intellectual, physical, social-emotional or creative and these strengths can emerge at different times throughout their schooling.

We have clear systems and processes in place to identify high potential across all four domains. Using a combination of robust formative and summative assessment practices, our teachers build a deep understanding of each learner over time. This allows us to implement targeted supports, adjustments and enrichment opportunities, ensuring every student is supported to achieve personal excellence and reach their potential.

To build a comprehensive picture of each child’s strengths, teachers may consider evidence such as:

classroom learning and assessment data

observations of how students think, create, problem-solve and respond to challenge

participation in enrichment, leadership, creative or sporting opportunities

external achievements or strong areas of interest

Identification is based on multiple sources of evidence gathered over time, ensuring fair, flexible and inclusive identification practices.

Teacher observations → Evidence gathering → Identification → Support plan → Ongoing review

What happens after identification?

After identification, students are supported through a range of meaningful opportunities such as differentiated learning in the classroom, enrichment groups, and leadership, creative or sporting programs. Support is flexible and grows with the child, ensuring they are continually challenged, engaged and encouraged to reach their potential.

How can families be involved?

Families are encouraged to share insights about their child’s interests, strengths and achievements and to work in partnership with teachers to support learning and wellbeing.

How do we celebrate the success and growth of HPGE students?

At Wamberal Public School, we offer a variety of programs in the classroom and across the school to help students build new skills, make friends and explore new interests. We celebrate student effort, progress and achievement across all domains of potential through classroom practice, school communications and whole-school celebrations.

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.

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

Explicit Teaching focused on laying a strong foundation of learning that is built upon every lesson.
Development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Ongoing assessment to track progress and inform instructional adjustments.
Enhanced learning routes that offer acceleration or condensed material, teaching students at their own point of need.
Adaptive grouping strategies to promote teamwork, creative thinking, and presentation skills.
Encouraging learning settings that foster exploration and self-evaluation.
Feedback and goal-setting approaches that highlight students’ strengths.
Classroom opportunities that promote student leadership roles.
Secure and encouraging environments that build confidence, support risk-taking, and nurture perseverance.

Across our school

Visual Art showcases
Performing Arts showcases
Sports
Mentoring programs
Curriculum-aligned and stage/grade-determined excursions and incursions
Student Leadership (SRC)
Wellbeing Programs
Inclusion Initiatives

Across NSW

ICAS Competitions
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) opportunities and groups.
- Integrated Technologies
- Coding
- Robotics
- 3D printing and design
- Teamwork, collaboration and problem-solving skills
Wamberal Public School Public Speaking Competition
Central Coast Public Speaking Competition
Inter-school Debating Competition
Premier's Debating Challenge
Premier's Reading Challenge
Premier's Sporting Challenge
Gardening Club (Environmental awareness)