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 Chester Hill High School, every learner's potential is our priority. We are deeply committed to the NSW Department of Education’s High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Policy. We foster a culture of high expectations and equity in excellence, ensuring every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to develop their potential. and ensuring that students with high potential across all areas of ability are identified early, supported deliberately and challenged to excel. We recognise 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 approach follows a continuous cycle of assessment, identification, planning, implementation and evaluation, allowing us to recognise students' strengths and talents, provide targeted extension, and ensure meaningful growth across all domains.

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. Through enrichment, extension, and extra-curricular programs, we create engaging pathways that nurture talent, build confidence and develop the capabilities that students need for high school success and life beyond.

Chester Hill High School HPGE opportunities include:

Intellectual

Differentiated and enriched learning across all KLAs
Access to extension classes, targeted NAPLAN growth programs
Participation in Atomi competitions and challenge-based learning tasks.
Engagement in inquiry-based and project-based learning.
Participation in academic enrichment programs through partnerships with UNSW, UTS (U@Uni), WSU Fast Forward and other tertiary institutions.
Opportunities for public speaking, debating, writing competitions and external academic challenges.

Physical

Wide range of school sporting opportunities, including weekly integrated sport, gala days and school representation.
Participation in athletics, swimming, and cross-country carnivals, encouraging both competition and personal bests.
Access to representative Knockout teams and zone, regional and state trials.
Enrichment opportunities through specialised sporting programs and coaching.
Engagement in physical movement and safe practice across PDHPE and Sport.

Extensive leadership pathways, including Prefects, SRC, Sports Leaders, Peer Support Leaders and VET Ambassadors.
Strong wellbeing structures supported by the CHHS Wellbeing Team, individualised mentoring programs and targeted transition support for Stage 4 students.
Opportunities to participate in community events such as Iftar Night, RUOK? Day, Community Festival, student volunteering and fundraising activities.
Participation in relational learning programs that develop resilience, confidence, teamwork and respectful communication.
Inclusive support systems for IEC transition students, high-growth learners and students with additional needs.

Creative

Opportunities in Visual Arts, Photography & Digital Media, Music and design-based TAS subjects.
Participation in school performances, exhibitions, showcases and cultural celebrations that highlight student talent.
Engagement in creative competitions, writing challenges, digital design projects and media production activities.
Access to enrichment through creative clubs, lunchtime workshops and partnerships with community organisations.
Hands-on creative learning through Technology Mandatory, including design projects, textiles, woodwork, food technology and multimedia.

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

We are committed to recognising and nurturing high potential and gifted students, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive at our school.
Our classroom practices support and extend high potential and gifted students.
We 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.
Our teachers engage in professional learning to support the diverse needs of all students, including our high potential and gifted learners.

Across our school

Our school recognises that every student is individual, and we provide flexible and diverse opportunities for students to explore and grow their strengths outside the classroom.

Our school offers a range of whole-school programs that support student growth.
Our school identifies and supports students with high potential through targeted enrichment, extension and extra-curricular opportunities such as debating, competitions, workshops, and STEM and coding clubs.
All our students, including high potential and gifted students, are encouraged to take on leadership roles through student representative council leadership, mentoring programs and peer support programs.
Student talent is celebrated and extended through visual arts showcases, music ensembles and creative writing workshops.
Our students can take part in sports, coaching sessions, competitions and differentiated Physical Education programs.

Across NSW

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

Statewide/NSW Department of Education level support is available for our high potential and gifted students.
We provide access to local, state and national competitions and events to help students explore and extend their talents.