High potential and gifted education

At the classroom level, our teachers provide learning experiences that challenge and extend students with high potential, helping them grow their talents, think creatively, and solve problems.

Teachers at Bondi Beach Public School:

• Differentiate tasks for complexity, pace, and depth (using the Differentiation Adjustment Tool).
• Group students flexibly by ability or interest to promote collaboration and leadership.
• Offer enrichment through advanced reading, STEM, arts, or independent projects.
• Teach explicitly with modelling, critical questioning, and metacognitive strategies.
• Use ongoing assessment to monitor progress and adapt learning.
• Apply evidence-based practices to develop intellectual, creative, social-emotional, and physical talents.
• Give students choice in topics, formats, and challenge levels.
• Provide constructive feedback and help set personalised goals.
• Create a safe, respectful environment that encourages risk-taking and resilience.

These strategies ensure every student’s potential is recognised, nurtured, and challenged, building confident, creative, and independent learners.

At Bondi Beach Public School, we are committed to providing a comprehensive and inclusive approach to HPGE. We aim to support each student’s unique abilities and interests through a variety of thoughtfully designed programs and initiatives that promote academic challenge, creative expression, leadership development, and wellbeing.

Across our school we:

• Continually evaluate HPGE practices.
• Support teacher development through ongoing professional learning.
• Provide advanced learning pathways (curriculum acceleration, compacting, and extension opportunities).
• Personalise learning through PLSPs  collaboratively developed with staff, parents, and students to target individual strengths and goals.
• Use a range of assessment tools (including CogAT to identify and tailor pathways for high potential students).
• Offer access to academic competitions (Maths Olympiad, debating tournaments, and more).
• Foster performing arts participation (choir, band, dance, showcases, and community festivals).
• Develop leadership skills (GRIP, SRC, and mentoring programs).
• Promote student wellbeing (PB4L, UR Strong, and social-emotional learning initiatives).
• Host interest-based clubs (coding, chess, and other passion-driven activities).
• Facilitate sporting engagement (team competitions, carnivals, and PSSA sport).
• Provide senior buddy mentoring (senior students supporting Early Stage 1 transition and engagement).

By offering these diverse and integrated programs, we ensure our high potential and gifted students are challenged, celebrated, and supported to thrive across all four domains.

Our students access a rich array of state-wide initiatives that challenge and extend high potential and gifted learners, helping them grow academically, creatively, socially, and physically.

Programs across NSW:

• Offer selective school placement tests – Opportunity Classes and Selective High Schools.
• Support smooth secondary transitions – Orientation workshops focused on wellbeing and readiness.
• Promote reading engagement – Premier’s Reading Challenge to inspire a lifelong love of reading.
• Provide enrichment partnerships – Specialist programs like maGneT at Rose Bay Secondary College and MindQuest at St George Girls High School.
• Challenge mathematical thinking – Australian Mathematics Competition and Mathematics Olympiad.
• Build literacy and confidence – Premier’s Spelling Bee.
• Develop artistic talents – Music ensembles (FOIM) and regional dance festivals.
• Encourage sport and leadership – Representative School Sport pathways.
• Enhance public speaking skills – Premier’s Multicultural Public Speaking programs.

These initiatives connect our high potential and gifted students with diverse opportunities across NSW.