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 Bowral Public School, every learner’s potential is our priority.

We strive to know our students to ensure that the full range of their abilities and needs are recognised
Our supportive classroom environments promote a sense of belonging and encourage risk-taking, creativity and collaboration
Teachers use evidence-informed teaching practices to challenge and extend students
Staff differentiate the pace and complexity of learning tasks across the curriculum
Targeted groupings in English and mathematics allow for extension
Flexible groupings allow for collaboration, problem solving and leadership opportunities
Our teachers engage in professional learning to support the diverse needs of high potential and gifted learners

Across our school

Our school recognises that every student is an individual, and we provide flexible and diverse opportunities for students to explore and develop their strengths beyond the classroom. These opportunities include:

Aurora College – A NSW Department of Education virtual school for high-potential and gifted rural and remote students in Year 5. Aurora College offers a selective, high-potential program that provides challenging and enriching learning experiences. The program features small class sizes and expert teachers specialising in gifted education and online learning.
Student Representative Council (SRC) – Our SRC empowers students by developing leadership skills and providing opportunities for those chosen to represent their classes.
Beginner and Senior Band – Delivered in partnership with Inner West Music.
Dance Groups – Our high-performing dance groups provide students with the opportunity to develop advanced skills and showcase their talents.
Choir – Our choir offers talented students the chance to develop their vocal skills and perform at special concerts and events.
Sporting Opportunities – Including the Premier’s Sporting Challenge, PSSA competitions, and school carnivals.

Across NSW

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

The Premier’s Spelling Bee promotes our students’ vocabulary development and attention to detail in competitive settings.
The Premier’s Debating Challenge helps our students to build logical arguments and confidence in public speaking.
Multicultural public speaking
Involvement in the Game Changer Challenge empowers our students to solve future-focused problems using design thinking.
The Southern Tablelands performing arts event that celebrates the talents, diversity and creativity of students across public schools.
Participation in music ensembles (e.g. Choral Festival and Primary Proms) hones our students’ musical skills, discipline and ensemble awareness.
The Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) promotes whole-school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and professional learning.
The Representative School Sport Pathway and PSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.