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?
At Finley High School, we are committed to ensuring that every student is challenged, extended, and supported to reach their full potential. Guided by the NSW Department of Education’s High Potential and Gifted Education Policy, we nurture student growth across the four domains of potential:
● Intellectual
● Creative
● Social–Emotional
● Physical
We recognise that high potential and giftedness occur across all backgrounds and that students require targeted, evidence-based support to develop their talents.
What HPGE means at Finley High School
High potential students:
● show abilities beyond typical expectations
● require enriched and extended learning
● benefit from challenge and higher-order opportunities
Gifted students:
● have significantly advanced abilities
● learn more rapidly
● require greater curriculum adjustments
Our high potential and gifted education opportunities
Our students engage with HPGE education in the classroom, in our school, and across NSW.
● Our school offers differentiated teaching programs across all KLAs.
● Explicit teaching across all subjects
● A broad subject selection and electives in Stages 4, 5 & 6
● Extension Mathematics, English, History, Science and Music available in HSC
● Community projects
● Aurora College
● Our supportive classroom environments promote a sense of belonging and encourage risk-taking, creativity and collaboration.
● Groups are flexible for collaboration and presentation, students take lead roles, and feedback is strengths-based with clear goals and self-assessment.
● When evidence shows a need for more, students are extended and have the opportunity to access advanced pathways.
● Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning.
● Differentiated movement tasks and skill refinement in PDHPE.
● Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islanders Enrichment Program
● Study Skills Program for Year 10
● Dance Group & School Spectacular
· Talent development opportunities
o Social Emotional: debating, public speaking, Student Representative Council, peer support program.
o Physical: school representative teams (football, soccer, netball, squash, golf), school carnivals (swimming, athletics and cross country), a broad range of sporting options that align with their strengths.
o Intellectual: IXL, chess club,
o Creative: lunch time art club, art excursions, MADDD, mural painting???
● HPGE Newsletter Spotlight
● Teacher professional learning around HPGE
● Excursions
● Visual Arts students have various opportunities to engage in enrichment through excursions and workshops. Students will visit local galleries, viewing traditional and contemporary artworks. Venues include The Art Gallery of NSW, the Museum of Contemporary Art and the National Art School. In addition, they extend their own practice through field trips to record new and varied experiences.
● Talent in the Creative Arts is celebrated and extended through music ensembles, choir and drama,
● When subjects are not available at Finley High School, students in Stage 6 are supported to access a broad range of learning opportunities through Distance Education.
● Assessment results and data are analysed to identify academic strengths to enable opportunities for HPGE students.
● Alignment with NSW DoE HPGE Policy
● Collaboration with External Providers, including universities, TAFE and industry specialists
● Finley High School continues to prioritise sporting participation in a multitude of competitions, including gala days, knock-out competitions and selection through to zone, regional and state carnivals.
● Students have the opportunity to participate in ICAS assessments in English, Writing, Mathematics, Digital Technology and Science.
● Students with talents in areas not offered at Finley High School are supported to compete in statewide competitions and events.
Help for your high potential child
If your child shows signs of high potential, contact us. We can share how our HPGE support can guide their learning journey.
Student opportunities and activities
Discover the opportunities our students have at our school.
Learning
Find out about our approach to learning and supporting students to progress.