High potential and gifted education

In our classroom

All teachers at Clairgate develop and implement differentiated teaching and learning programs. This involves deliberate adjustments to content, process, product, and learning environments using the NSW Differentiation Adjustment Tool where appropriate. Teachers use a range of data sources to guide flexible grouping strategies, such as task-based and needs-based clusters, which allow students to engage in appropriate levels of challenge and success.

• Professional learning is ongoing, supporting staff to build their capacity in designing differentiated programs, extending curriculum, and embedding higher-order thinking strategies into everyday practice. Teachers also mentor and identify students for participation in external events, competitions, and specialised enrichment programs.

  The school may form withdrawal groups according to student needs that enhances and broadens the curriculum and caters to the specific learning and wellbeing needs of HPG students. For highly gifted students, curriculum compacting, mentoring and acceleration may be implemented in certain circumstances.

Strategies include:

• Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher order thinking​.
• Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning​.
• Advanced learning pathways, including accelerated or compacted content​.
• Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
• Opportunities for abstraction, inquiry, and curriculum depth​.
• Tasks that promote choice, authenticity, and critical and creative thinking​ including cross-curricular projects.
• Flexible grouping for collaborative ideation and presentation​.
• Differentiated movement tasks and skill refinement in PDHPE​.
• Targeted learning goals for coordination, agility, and control​.
• Opportunities to take on lead roles in physical demonstrations or team strategy​.
• Supportive learning environments that enable exploration and self-assessment.
• Strengths-based feedback and goal setting.​
• Opportunities for leadership within the classroom​.
• Structured peer collaboration and reflection.​
• Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance​.

Across our school

Extra-Curricular and Enrichment Opportunities

Clairgate Public School offers a rich and diverse range of extra-curricular activities to inspire and engage students across all domains of high potential and giftedness.

These may include school-based programs, external competitions, and collaborative initiatives that extend beyond the classroom such as:

Academic & Intellectual

• WOWEE- Ways Of Working Engagement and Enrichment- Clairgate Signature HPGE program.
• Extension Groups where appropriate
• HPGE Mentoring Program- HPGE Clairgate Facilitator and Celebrator Link
• Public Speaking and Debating Competitions
• NSW Premier’s Spelling Bee
• NSW Premier’s Reading Challenge
• NSW Public Speaking Competitions
• Student Representative Council (SRC)
• School Leadership Program and Leadership Incursions
• Digital and Information Technology lessons every week.

Creative & Performing Arts

• Clairgate Music Program- specialist music teacher- lessons every week.
• Clairgate on Parade (Annual Performing Arts Showcase)
• School Junior, Senior, and Signing Choirs
• Junior and Senior Dance Ensembles and Cheer Program (Clairgate POMs)
• Dance Opportunities at STEPs Music Festival and Blue Mountains Dance Festival.
• Operation Art
• RSL and Schools Remember ANZAC Art Competition

Social–Emotional Learning (SEL) and Clubs

• Extensive Leadership opportunities

• School Representative Council

• Sensation Station

• Busy Bees (SEL-focused playground group)

• Playground Games Program

• Kitchen Garden Gardening Club

• Games and Lego Club

• Chess Club

• First Aid Training

Physical & Sporting Excellence

• Sports Leadership Positions

• School Carnivals and Trials

• Gala Days

• Mt Druitt PSSA and Sydney West Sporting Pathways

• Zone, Regional, State and National Competitions

• Leadership and Team-Building Incursions

Competitions and External Programs

Clairgate Public School actively supports students to engage in external competitions and enrichment programs, both free and fee-based, including:

Free Competitions and Opportunities

• What Matters? Writing Competition – Whitlam Institute
• Beyond Words Writing Competition – Dymocks Tutoring
• Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition
• Sleek Geeks Science Eureka Prize
• Premier’s Reading Challenge
• ANZAC Day Schools’ Awards

Paid Opportunities

• Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Awards
• Maths Olympiad Years 5 & 6 - APSM
• Australian Mathematics Competition - Australian Maths Trust

Individualised Enrichment Excursions

• Field of Mars Environmental Education Centre HPGE Programs
• Longneck Lagoon HPGE Excursions

Useful Links

Department of Education High Potential and Gifted Education; Supporting Parents and Carers:

https://education.nsw.gov.au/teaching-and-learning/high-potential-and-gifted-education/supporting-parents-and-carers

Opportunity Classes and Selective High Schools:

https://education.nsw.gov.au/public-schools/selective-high-schools-and-opportunity-classes/year-7/outcome

Across NSW

Clairgate Public School, as an active member of the STEPS learning community (St Clair and Erskine Park Schools), supports the identification and development of High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) students through access to a range of local, state and national competitions and extension opportunities. These experiences enable students to explore, extend and apply their talents across multiple domains.

Students are encouraged to participate in academic and creative opportunities such as Public Speaking and the Premier’s Spelling Bee, which develop advanced communication skills, confidence and critical thinking. In the physical domain, the Representative School Sport Pathway and PSSA events provide opportunities for students to trial and compete at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, perseverance, teamwork and leadership.

Exclusive to the STEPS learning community, the annual STEPS Music Festival provides a high-quality performance and extension opportunity for students in the creative and performing arts. Clairgate Public School is proudly represented through its dance groups and senior choir, enabling students to perform collaboratively, refine their artistic skills and engage in authentic performance contexts.

Through collaborative planning and shared opportunities across the STEPS network, Clairgate Public School ensures that high potential and gifted students are supported, challenged and provided with equitable access to enrichment pathways beyond the classroom.