High potential and gifted education

At St Johns Park High School, we are committed to the Department of Education's High Potential and Gifted Education Policy, which has guided us in identifying gifted students, differentiating the curriculum, collaborating with parents, and monitoring student outcomes.

We believe that all students deserve an education that nurtures their talents and fosters their growth, regardless of background, across creative, intellectual, physical, and social-emotional domains.

To support every student to achieve their educational potential, this means providing enriching learning opportunities that are suitably challenging and engaging. Our approach to talent development of all high-potential and gifted students is founded on the rationale that:

We provide various avenues for students to showcase their exceptional talents.
We adapt our curriculum, assignments, pace, and expectations to match the advanced skills and understanding of gifted students. Rote learning holds little meaning, so we emphasise complex, interdisciplinary projects.
Beyond core academics, we also encourage creative expression, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking.
Our school provides essential social-emotional support through collaboration, relationship-building, and discussion of unique challenges.

Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

Accelerated Mathematics

Students in the Accelerated Mathematics program will complete their Record of School Achievement in Mathematics, Preliminary Higher School Certificate, and the Higher School Certificate in Mathematics, under a modified timeframe.

Our high potential and gifted education opportunities

Our gifted education program aligns with the Gagné Differentiation Model of Giftedness and Talent, which emphasises that potential exists when given the right conditions; high potential can lead to high performance and achievement. Students may show potential in one or more areas, including creative, intellectual, physical, and social-emotional domains.

At St Johns Park High School, we have a commitment to supporting the potential of all high-potential and gifted students based on individual student strengths, interests, and pace of learning through the following enriching opportunities.

This approach allows us to nurture the whole gifted child - creatively, intellectually, physically, and emotionally. We actively encourage parent insights and involvement.

Our high potential and gifted education opportunities

Our students engage with HPGE in the classroom in our school, and across NSW.

In our classroom

Year 7 and 8 STEAM
Targeted elective subjects specialised in Soccer, Basketball, and Volleyball
Accelerated Mathematics

Across our school

Morning Fitness Program
Numeracy Challenge
Drama Performance Evening
Music Showcase Evening
School, Zone, and Regional Carnivals
Student Leadership Teams
Student Leadership Events and Initiatives
Evan Yako's Drumming
Wellbeing Club
Robotics Club
STARRTS Sporting Linx
My Strengths
Table Tennis Training

Across NSW

Premier's Reading Challenge
Premier's Sporting Challenge
Science Week Showcases
Australian Business and Community Network Programs
University Partnership Programs

Project FIFA is a practical-based course that incorporates a wide range of soccer activities, including skills, rules, sporting history, competitive and non-competitive games, and individual and group physical fitness activities. Students develop and improve their skills related to movement and physical activity, and improve their knowledge of soccer through a theory component.

The Past in Action: A Hands-on History Experience is a High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) initiative that uses practical, immersive activities to extend students’ creative and intellectual capabilities in History. Through experiences like a Mt Vesuvius eruption simulation, students engage in higher-order thinking, problem-solving, and authentic historical inquiry. The program also creates meaningful cross-curricular links such as integrating History and Science through modelling volcanic processes, while deepening understanding and boosting engagement. Overall, the initiative enhances HPGE provision across Stages 4–6 and inspires students to explore their potential through active investigation of the past.

Help for your HPGE child

If your child shows signs of high potential, contact us. We can share how our HPGE support can guide their learning journey.

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Student opportunities and activities

Discover the opportunities our students have at our school.

Additional learning support

Find out about our approach to learning and supporting students to progress