Inspire – High potential and gifted education

At Peakhurst South Public School, our High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) program is designed to nurture and challenge our students across the four key domains: intellectual, creative, social, and emotional development. We provide tailored learning experiences that inspire deep thinking, develop innovative problem-solving, encourage strong interpersonal skills and support emotional wellbeing. Through a balanced and enriching approach, we empower our high potential students to thrive both academically and personally within a supportive community.

What is high potential and gifted education?

High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) inspires and nurtures students who show exceptional abilities across intellectual, creative, social, or emotional domains.

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.

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Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

Intellectual domain

The Intellectual domain of HPGE focuses on developing students' critical thinking, problem-solving and advanced reasoning skills, encouraging deep inquiry and a passion for learning across all subject areas.

Creative domain

The Creative domain of HPGE nurtures students' originality, imagination and innovative thinking, encouraging them to explore new ideas, express themselves in unique ways and develop creative solutions across a range of learning experiences.

The Social-emotional domain of HPGE supports students in developing self-awareness, resilience, empathy and strong interpersonal skills, supporting them to enhance advanced self-awareness, emotional insight and an increased ability to support the emotional wellbeing of others.

Physical domain

Students showing high potential or giftedness in the Physical domain often demonstrate outstanding coordination, agility and motor skills, excelling in physical activities, sports or movement-based tasks. They may display advanced athletic ability, spatial awareness and commitment to health and wellbeing.

Our high potential and gifted education opportunities

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

Intellectual domain

Premier’s Spelling Bee
The Premier’s Spelling Bee challenges gifted spellers to enhance their vocabulary, spelling skills and confident public performance, progressing through a pathway from class competition to state finals.
Public Speaking
Public Speaking nurtures students’ confidence, clarity and impact, providing a platform for developing effective oral communication and leadership presence, progressing through a pathway from class competition to Sydney-wide finals.
Debating
Debating offers selected students the chance to develop advanced critical thinking, persuasive communication and logical reasoning skills through structured argumentation.
Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO)
The Stage 3 Maths Olympiad and Stage 2 Maths Explorer programs challenge gifted students to apply complex problem-solving skills and extend their mathematical thinking beyond the classroom, promoting and improving maths problem solving skills; supporting teachers in developing their students to understand a variety of strategies to promote flexibility in their problem solving; encouraging creativity and collaboration in problem solving; and stimulating enthusiasm for and enjoyment of mathematics.
Sydney Technical High School (STHS) Maths Enrichment Competition Day
A team of Stage 3 students selected to attend STHS to take part in a Mathematics Enrichment Day based on the model on the long running ANU Maths Day for Year 12 students. The questions are problem-solving style mathematics questions geared towards accelerated and high-achieving Year 5 and 6 mathematicians, requiring both teamwork and contrasting strategies.
Gifted Games HPGE Year 4 Excursion
The Gifted Games Year 4 Excursion offers intellectually and creatively gifted students challenging tasks that promote critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving in an engaging environment in partnership with our local high school, GRC Peakhurst.
International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS)
ICAS assessments challenge high-potential students across multiple subjects, providing opportunities to demonstrate academic excellence and achieve recognition.
Lego Robotics
Lego Robotics engages students in hands-on STEM learning, combining coding, engineering and collaborative problem-solving to promote innovation and teamwork.

Creative domain

Inspired by Nature Visual Arts Enrichment Day
Inspired by Nature provides gifted Stage 2 students with hands-on, interdisciplinary learning experiences that deepen their understanding of the natural world through visual arts and inquiry-based activities.
Gifted Games HPGE Year 4 Excursion
The Gifted Games Year 4 Excursion offers intellectually and creatively gifted students challenging tasks that promote critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving in an engaging environment in partnership with our local high school, GRC Peakhurst.
SPAF - St George Performing Arts Festival Showcase
Participation in SPAF gives performing arts students the opportunity to showcase their talents in a prestigious annual festival, promoting artistic excellence and community involvement.
Band
Our Band program develops musical talent and teamwork among gifted students, providing opportunities for advanced performance and musical growth.
Choir
Choir nurtures vocal skills and self-expression in gifted students, increasing confidence and collaboration through a shared love of music.
Auslan Choir
The Auslan Choir offers students a unique opportunity to develop communication skills and cultural awareness while encouraging empathy and a deeper understanding of inclusiveness through learning and performing in Australian Sign Language.
Dance
Our diverse dance programs, stage based dance troupes, DanceSport and SPAF dance group, challenge gifted students to explore movement, creativity, and performance, enhancing physical coordination and artistic expression across year levels.

Social-emotional domain

Peer Support
Peer Support nurtures leadership and empathy in high-potential students, allowing them to mentor younger peers and contribute positively to the school community.
Student Representative Council (SRC)
The SRC provides gifted students with opportunities to enhance their leadership abilities, advocate for student interests and actively participate in shaping school initiatives and culture.
Peer Mediation
Peer Mediation empowers gifted students to develop advanced resolution and communication skills by helping their peers navigate differences in a constructive and respectful manner.

Physical domain

The Gifted Games HPGE Year 4 Excursion
The Gifted Games Year 4 Excursion offers intellectually and creatively gifted students challenging tasks that promote critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving in an engaging environment in partnership with our local high school, GRC Peakhurst.
PSSA Representative Pathways
Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA Sport) provides opportunities for primary students to participate in competitive sport at an inter-school level. Representative pathways provide talented athletes with tailored training and competition opportunities to showcase their skills at district, regional and state levels, encouraging leadership and excellence in sport.
Swimming
Swimming opportunities support strong, competitive swimmers by providing pathways to represent the school in district, regional and state competitions, enhancing advanced skills, sportsmanship and a commitment to excellence.
Cross Country
Cross Country supports high-potential students in building endurance, determination and strategic pacing while developing a love for long-distance running and healthy competition.
Athletics
Our Athletics program provides gifted students with opportunities to develop advanced physical skills, compete at higher levels, and build resilience and sportsmanship.