High potential and gifted education

At Green Square Public School, we are committed to the NSW Department of Education’s High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Policy, which ensures that students with high potential across all areas of ability are identified, supported and challenged to thrive. The policy recognises that students may demonstrate high potential — and the capacity for gifted performance - in one or more of four domains: intellectual, creative, social emotional and physical. Our HPGE process includes a continuous cycle of assessment, identification, planning, implementation and evaluation, ensuring that all students with potential and giftedness are recognised and extended across all four domains. Through enrichment, extension and co-curricular opportunities, we provide engaging pathways to coach talent, build confidence and develop capabilities that prepare students for high school and life beyond. Green Square PS enthusiastically opens pathways to our children to provide challenge, ignite passion and open up new worlds.

The High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) strategy for Green Square Public School reflects our commitment to high quality educational opportunities for all High Potential and Gifted learners. The strategy recognises the following:

every student is entitled to rigorous, relevant and engaging learning opportunities that meet their personal learning needs and interests;
students can be encouraged and supported in the optimisation of growth across all domains of potential: intellectual, creative, social-emotional, and physical;
high potential and gifted students are a diverse group with a broad range of levels of intellectual potential and require different types of educational adjustments and provisions;
staff provide talent development opportunities including differentiated teaching and learning practices;
a range of data will be used to identify high potential and gifted students;
the school will work in close partnership with parents to support their children;
all staff are supported with knowledge and professional learning to provide quality gifted and talented programs and initiatives;
the school collaborates with other schools, educational providers and industry to develop best practice for HPGE learners;
the strategy is linked to the school’s School Excellence Plan. It is an evolving strategy that will be implemented, evaluated and revised as part of the school excellence cycle.

Our HPGE strategy is framed by Françoys Gagné's definition of giftedness and talent established in the Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent DMGT 2.0 (2009).

High potential students are those whose potential exceeds that of students of the same age in one or more domains: intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical.

Gifted students are those whose potential significantly exceeds that of students of the same age in one or more domains: intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical. Gagné and others commonly estimate 10% of students may be considered gifted. They typically develop talent and achieve mastery notably faster than their age peers.

Highly gifted students are those whose potential vastly exceeds that of students of the same age in one or more domains: intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical.

Talent development is the process by which a student’s potential is developed into higher achievement in a specific domain or field of endeavour. Students move through various stages of competency along a continuum from novice to competency to mastery. Mastery refers to expertise, exceptional performance, accomplishment or outstanding achievement in a given field, including the accomplished achievement of curriculum outcomes in a subject area or domain. A student demonstrating mastery exhibits a deep understanding that enables them to transfer that understanding across domains. High potential and gifted students may develop talent and move through the stages of competence more quickly than same-age peers. To develop talent, students need opportunities and encouragement. A student who shows high potential in dance, for example, may never develop a talent without time to practise, space in which to dance and expert support.

The Four Domains of Potential provide a comprehensive model that expands the conception of potential and ensures a broader range of students are identified as high potential. The four domains of high potential are:

Intellectual Domain - the intellectual domain of potential refers to natural abilities in processing, understanding, reasoning, and the transfer of learning.
Creative Domain - the creative domain of potential refers to natural abilities in imagination, invention and originality.
Social-Emotional Domain - the social-emotional domain of potential refers to natural abilities in self-management and relating to and interacting with others.
Physical Domain - the physical domain of potential refers to natural abilities in muscular movement and motor control.

Our high potential and gifted education opportunities

Our high potential and gifted students are supported to grow, achieve and thrive in a myriad of ways:

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 students are provided with a rich array of HPGE opportunities across the four domains.

Intellectual Domain

Inquiry Based Learning Programs
Philosophy for Children Program K-6
Writing and Literature Enrichment Programs - Green Square Writers' Circle and the Metropolitan South Schools Quest Program, Writing Competitions, Engagement with the Sydney Writers Festival
Premier’s Spelling Bee
Public Speaking Programs and Competitions
Debating Programs
Australian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads - Maths Olympiad (Years 5-6) Maths Explorer (Years 3–4), Maths Quest (Year 2)
STEM Enrichment - Coding and Robotics Club, Lego Masters, Maker Space Design
Incorporation of design thinking approaches across the curriculum
Chess Program
Curriculum-aligned excursions & incursions to provide enrichment and extended learning opportunities
Partnerships with community-based and external arts organisations such as University of NSW STEM programs.
Collaboration with the University of Sydney as an Academic Partner

Creative Domain

Inquiry Based learning and Design Thinking Approaches incorporated across the curriculum as key pedagogies
Choral programs - various choir programs (K-6)
Instrumental programs - band, percussion circle and guitar
Song Writing
Dance Programs - K-6 Dance Companies
Musical Theatre
Drama Enrichment and the School Drama Project
Writing and Literature Enrichment Programs - Green Square Writers' Circle and the Metropolitan South Schools Quest Program, Writing Competitions, Engagement with the Sydney Writers Festival
Film Making
Podcast Program
Partnerships with community-based and external arts organisations such as The Song Company.
Collaboration with the University of Sydney CREATE Centre and Creative Schools Initiatives.

Social-Emotional Domain

Character Strength Education
Mental Health Programs - brain awareness and neuroscience, emotional literacy, emotional intelligence development
Kindness and gratitude initiatives
Service Learning - Be of Benefit Initiatives
Student Parliament - authentic leadership opportunities (Years 1-6)
Stage 2 and 3 Leadership Development Program

Physical Domain

Premier's Sporting Challenge (K-6)
Morning sports program - AFL and Netball
PSSA - soccer, netball, league tag and softball (to be introduced in 2027 when our school has a Stage 3 cohort).
Athletics carnival
Swimming carnival
Cross Country carnival
Representative team pathways e.g. PSSA Zone teams
Connection with elite sportspeople and associations as role models and mentors e.g. Sydney Swans

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

In our classroom

High potential can be found in many different forms across all students. Our approach to High Potential and Gifted Education is seamlessly integrated into everyday teaching and learning. It is driven by a strong emphasis on formative assessment, evidence-based methods and tailored differentiation to address each student’s unique needs.

Below are some of the evidence-supported teaching strategies employed in our classrooms to support every learner:

Use of formative Assessment tools

Teachers use a range of assessments, observations, and student reflections to identify strengths and areas for growth. This information guides lesson planning and differentiation to support ongoing student progress and engagement.

Flexible Grouping

Learning activities are crafted with varying levels of complexity, allowing students to work independently, in pairs, or within flexible groups based on interests or abilities. This approach ensures appropriate challenge while promoting collaboration, leadership, motivation and social development.

Adjusted Learning Tasks and Differentiation

Learning is intentionally adjusted to meet the needs of high potential and gifted students across all aspects of the learning process.

Processes
Teaching strategies are modified to promote critical and creative thinking, multiple approaches to problem-solving, and inquiry-based learning.
Content
Learning content is adapted to include greater depth, complexity, and relevance through real-world connections.
Products
Students demonstrate their learning through a variety of traditional and digital formats, with opportunities to share their work with authentic audiences and receive meaningful feedback.
Learning Environment
Students engage in learning individually, in pairs, or in flexible groups based on their interests and abilities, fostering challenge, collaboration, leadership, motivation, and social growth.

High Expectations Embedded in Lesson Planning

Teachers set and communicate high expectations by designing learning intentions that promote higher-order thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Students are encouraged to set individual learning goals and reflect on their progress, fostering a growth mindset, resilience, and self-efficacy that lead to deeper learning and higher achievement.

Student Leadership and Voice

Students are encouraged to take leading roles in projects, discussions and school initiatives aligned with their interests. They also participate in goal-setting and self-assessment activities, enhancing their sense of ownership, motivation and leadership skills.

Educator Professional Learning and Collaboration

Educators regularly engage in professional learning focused on HPGE strategies and collaborate to share best practices and design differentiated curriculum units. This continuous learning strengthens instructional quality and consistency, ensuring that all students benefit from effective talent development.

Our Principal (Nicole Molloy) sits on the NSW Department of Education High Potential and Gifted Education Working Party where she has input into state-wide initiatives, discussions and directions that are being taken to support HPGE learners.

Across our school

We identify and cultivate each student's unique abilities by offering flexible, varied and enriching experiences that promote development in the academic, creative, social and physical domains.

Examples include:

Academic Competitions
Literacy and Numeracy Enrichment
Interest Clubs
Performing Arts
Sporting Teams and Competitions
STEM Enrichment
Wellbeing and Student Leadership

For a full list of offerings, please refer to the information above under each domain.

Across NSW

As our school becomes more established and grows, we are actively connecting students with enriching statewide initiatives and external programs. These opportunities broaden their horizons, expose them to new challenges, and support their development as confident and capable young people who strive for excellence.

Competitions and challenges: e.g. Maths Olympiad, PSSA Sporting pathways, STEM challenges, Premier's Spelling Bee, Public Speaking and Debating
Performing arts and cultural events: Participation in events such as the NSW Arts Unit Music Festivals, School Spectacular and specialist music, drama and visual arts groups lets students showcase their talents on prominent stages and develop confidence.
Specialist external programs: Partnerships with providers in chess, music, visual arts, STEM and other specialised areas expand learning options and refine students’ unique skills beyond the school setting.

For a full list of offerings, please refer to the information above under each domain.