High potential and gifted education

At Hornsby South Public School, we are committed to empowering every student to reach their full educational potential, regardless of their background or personal circumstances. Through explicit teaching strategies and quality teaching, we cultivate a supportive and inclusive learning environment where all students are challenged, engaged, and inspired to succeed.

We are committed to setting high expectations for all students, including high potential and gifted learners. Our goal is to foster their growth, engagement and wellbeing, empowering them to thrive as resilient, lifelong learners.

We aim to maximise the growth and achievement of high potential and gifted students across all domains, including intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical. This is done through evidence-based talent development opportunities and differentiated teaching and learning practices, to ensure that their specific learning and wellbeing needs are met.

To support students with high potential, our Hornsby South Public School HPGE guidelines outline both the identification and provision process.

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 Hornsby South Public School, we recognise that every student has unique strengths and that high potential can be expressed in many different ways. Our High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) approach is woven into everyday teaching and learning, guided by formative assessment, evidence-based practices, and purposeful differentiation to support the growth of all learners.

Teachers design and deliver differentiated learning programs that include thoughtful adjustments to content, process, product, and learning environment. These adjustments ensure that high potential and gifted (HPG) students are challenged, engaged, and supported in their learning. Teachers regularly collect and analyse data to monitor student progress and evaluate the effectiveness of these programs.

We also use flexible and intentional grouping to extend students in their areas of strength. Groupings may be based on specific needs or learning tasks, allowing students to work with different peers as their learning progresses and as new strengths emerge.

Across our school

Here are some of the opportunities available to support the talent development of students at Hornsby South Public School:

Debating and Public Speaking opportunities
Chess Club and Chess Gala Day
Bebras Coding Program
ThinkTank Partner School
Science and Technology Enrichment Days
Code Camp
Young Engineers
Language Classes: Vishna Hindu, Hindi School INC, Taiwanese Language School, Sydney Chinese Language School
School band, music tuition and performances
Band Camp
String Ensemble
Junior and Senior Choirs
Drama Club
Dance Groups
TIG Day
Track and Field events, Cross Country and Swimming Carnivals (Ages 8-12)
Zone trials for Sydney North Teams

Across NSW

We actively engage in statewide competitions and programs, giving students meaningful opportunities to challenge themselves and strive for excellence. Through this collaborative and enriching approach, we recognise, nurture, and celebrate the unique talents of every student.