Inspire – High potential and gifted education
At Winston Hills Public School, our teachers are committed to identifying high potential in students by using objective, valid, and reliable measures as part of formative assessment to support and inform teaching and learning across the creative, intellectual, physical, and social–emotional domains.
We actively assess the specific learning needs of all high potential, gifted, and highly gifted students, ensuring each learner has access to customised programs and support that address their unique strengths and challenges.
Our planning is grounded in the belief that teachers must maintain high expectations for every student. We understand that differentiated, evidence-based learning opportunities are essential to maximise each student's growth and achievement.
Collaboration is key: we work closely with families, our school community, and wider networks, while participating in continual professional development to enhance teacher expertise. Through these committed efforts, our educators strive to inspire high performance and nurture talent in every student.
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?
Inspire – 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.
At Winston Hills 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
Every student is individual, so opportunities are flexible and diverse.
- Students deepen strengths through debating, competitions and critical thinking workshops
- Learning programs are collaboratively developed and continuously evaluated to ensure they include purposeful differentiation. This approach is designed to engage and extend students, catering to their unique strengths and learning needs.
- Comprehensive band program that provides opportunities for talented young musicians to develop their skills, collaborate with peers, and engage in a range of performance experiences.
- Student voice groups are dedicated to exploring and enhancing student engagement. These groups provide a platform for students to share their perspectives, contribute ideas, and collaborate on initiatives that foster a positive and inclusive learning environment.
- CAPA Talent is celebrated through opportunities to joint dance and choir groups with performances at Hills Performing Art Competition
- Enrichment Programs for Science, Visual Arts, Drama and Writing
- Leadership grows through SRC, Library and Technology Leaders and wellbeing is made visible with PBL awards driven by our House Captains and Winnie.
- Daily life invites curiosity and belonging, with Library and passive play available at lunch, chess club and garden club.
- Sport matters too, with PSSA sport, training, coaching and house competitions that include differentiated PE, as well as many opportunities for our students to represent Castle Hills PSSA on a zone and district level in a variety of sports.
Our students participate in a wide range of statewide programs to extend and enrich student potential.
- Students participate in opportunities such , APSMO Maths Olympiad, DoE WriteOn, Premier’s Spelling Bee, Premier’s Multicultural Public Speaking, Premier's Reading Challenge, Year 6 Rotary Writing Competition, and High School Links program
- 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.
Help for your high potential child
If your child shows signs of high potential, contact us. We can share how our HPGE support can guide their learning journey.
Student opportunities and activities
Discover the opportunities our students have at our school.
Learning
Find out about our approach to learning and supporting students to progress