Inspire – 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 our school, we recognise and nurture these strengths early. We support advanced learners with great lessons and activities to help them grow and thrive.

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?

Inspire – 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

At Putney Public School, we are committed to providing a comprehensive High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) program as a vital part of our School Excellence Framework. We ensure that students demonstrating advanced abilities in creative, academic, leadership, and sporting domains are identified early and receive targeted support.

Our Inspire HPGE program is seamlessly integrated into everyday teaching and learning practices. Collaborative stage teams regularly analyse student data to tailor teaching programs that address individual learning needs. This process is underpinned by our staff’s dedication to embedding formative assessment, evidence-based instructional strategies, and thoughtful differentiation, creating an inclusive learning environment where gifted students can thrive.

We recognise and celebrate each student’s unique learning journey and are devoted to nurturing their growth and achievement, enabling them to realise their full potential.

In our classroom

At Putney Public School, we recognise that high potential exists in many forms across all learners. Our approach to HPGE is embedded in everyday teaching and learning, guided by a strong focus on formative assessment, evidence-based practices, and effective differentiation to meet the unique needs of every student.

Evidence based teaching strategies used in the classroom to support all students:

Use of Formative Assessment Tools
Teachers regularly use diagnostic assessments, observation checklists, and student self-assessments to identify strengths and areas for growth across multiple domains, providing timely data that informs lesson planning and differentiation to promote continuous student growth and engagement.

Differentiated Learning Tasks

Learning activities are designed with varying complexity, allowing students to work based on abilities, ensuring appropriate challenge. Strength based feedback and students setting goals

High Expectations Embedded in Teaching and Learning Activities

Teachers explicitly communicate high expectations by designing learning intentions and success criteria to enable students to reflect on their progress, which promotes a growth mindset, resilience, and self-efficacy, leading to deeper learning and higher achievement.

Student Leadership and Voice

Student Counsellors are selected from Stages 1 -3 to represent their class at the Student Representative Council and take lead roles in class and SRC meetings which help to foster their leadership skills.

Ongoing Professional Learning and Collaboration

Teachers regularly engage in professional development on HPGE strategies and collaborate to share best practices and design differentiated curriculum units, strengthening instructional quality and consistency to ensure all students benefit from effective talent development.

Collaboration with Parents and Caregivers

Collaborating with parents is essential for supporting High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) students in our school. Effective partnerships help ensure our students’ learning needs are understood and met both at school and at home Staff work closely with parents and students developing Personalised Learning Support Plans where required for HPGE students. Acceleration opportunities are discussed with our Learning and Support team in collaboration with parents. Advice about activities, enrichment programs, or competitions available at school and externally are communicated to parents. Information is shared about professional organisations, websites, and community events relevant to HPGE.

Across our school

At Putney Public School, our HPGE program is designed to identify and nurture the exceptional talents of our students. We offer a variety of flexible and enriching opportunities that challenge and support their growth across academic, creative, social, and physical domains.

We have enrichment groups for Stage 2 and 3 one day a week which include a focus on writing, reading and mathematics.

Opportunities offered across our school and the four domains include:

Academic Domain:

Public Speaking: participation in Rotary and Multicultural Public Speaking Competitions and auditions provided for compere roles at

Debating Teams-participation in Australia National Virtual Debating Competition

Premiers Spelling Bee

Chess Club and Ryde Network Interschool competition

Premiers Reading Challenge

Writing Enrichment Groups Stages 2 and 3

Putney Press Gang-Stage 3 become reporters and produce a termly School Newspaper

APSMO Maths Olympiad Stage 3, Maths Explorer Stage 2

Young Engineers After School program

Creative Domain:

Drama Ensemble with performances in: Sydney North Lights Up Drama Festival and Sydney North Combined Schools Musical

School Concert and School Training Band -School Bands Australia before school rehearsals and tutorials during Band day

Keyboard lessons before school

Art Competitions

Choir

Dance Groups performing in Ryde Schools Performing Arts Festival

Social Domain:

Peer Mediation Program-Year 6

Student Leadership Opportunities- Student Representative Council (SRC)

Gardening Club and Waste Warriors

Physical Domain:

Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) Weekly Competition and pathways for Zone, Regional and State Representation

Premiers Sporting Challenge

Sporting in Schools-Australian International Sporting Organisation is engaged to deliver alternative sports options or lifestyle sports, highlighting their role in promoting physical activity in diverse and enjoyable ways.

External Providers such as Got Game to provide tuition in Athletics skills.

Across NSW

We actively engage in statewide competitions and events, giving our students valuable chances to push their limits and showcase their best efforts. Through this collaborative and enriching approach, we make sure every student’s unique talents are acknowledged, nurtured, and celebrated.

ICAS Competitions-We offer students the opportunity to participate in ICAS stands for International Competitions and Assessments for Schools. It is a series of academic competitions and assessments conducted at our school in English, Mathematics, Spelling and Digital Technologies.

Premiers Spelling Bee, Reading Challenge and Sporting Challenge

At Putney Public School, we are dedicated to empowering every high potential and gifted learner to thrive, grow, and succeed.