High potential and gifted education

Some students demonstrate high potential and learn at a faster pace or in more complex ways than others. These strengths may appear in many forms—creativity, problem-solving, leadership, sport, or exceptional social-emotional capability.

At Chester Hill North Public School, we intentionally recognise, value and nurture these strengths from the earliest years. Through high-quality teaching, targeted extension, and rich learning opportunities across our school, we ensure advanced learners are challenged, supported and inspired to achieve their personal best. Our commitment to high expectations, evidence-informed practice and inclusive excellence means every student with high potential is given the opportunity to grow and thrive.

Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

Recognising potential and developing talent

At Chester Hill North Public School, our teachers are skilled in identifying students’ strengths—whether intellectual, creative, social-emotional or physical—and providing the right level of challenge to help them excel. Through ongoing assessment, data-informed planning and targeted extension, we recognise potential early and support every student to grow their talents, build confidence and achieve at high levels.

Tailored lessons

At Chester Hill North Public School, we know that every child learns differently and brings unique strengths to the classroom. Our teachers design responsive lessons that match each student’s abilities, providing purposeful challenge, enrichment and extension to keep learning engaging, stimulating and appropriately stretching. Through flexible grouping, targeted instruction and differentiated tasks, we ensure all learners—including those with high potential—are supported to reach their full potential..

Rich opportunities and activities

At Chester Hill North Public School, students engage in a wide range of activities that help them explore and develop their talents across the arts, sport, leadership and academic domains. From school-wide extension programs and creative arts initiatives to representative sporting pathways, dance groups, SRC leadership roles, public speaking, debating and enrichment challenges, our students are provided with meaningful opportunities to extend themselves, showcase their strengths and grow in confidence. These experiences help every learner discover new talents and deepen existing ones.

Opening doors to wider experiences

At Chester Hill North Public School, we connect our students with a broad range of state-wide programs designed to extend and enrich their potential. From selective high school and Opportunity Class pathways to arts, STEM and sporting enrichment initiatives across NSW, our students are encouraged to take part in experiences that broaden their horizons, challenge their thinking and inspire excellence beyond the classroom.

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

At Chester Hill North Public School, we are committed to ensuring that every student—including those with high potential and gifted abilities—experiences challenge, stretch, and rich learning opportunities. Our approach is aligned with the NSW High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Policy and the HPGE Toolkit, with intentional structures embedded at the classroom, school, and system levels.

In our classroom

We provide differentiated, evidence-based classroom practices that allow students to demonstrate high potential across the four domains—intellectual, creative, social-emotional, and physical. At CHNPS, this includes:

Differentiated teaching and learning using the Gradual Release Model, learning intentions, and success criteria.
Flexible grouping and targeted small-group instruction informed by ongoing data (PLAN2, Check-in, Reading Graphs, Essential Assessment).
Curriculum compacting for students who have mastered outcomes ahead of time.
Extension tasks and deep learning challenges, including:
- Problem-solving and inquiry-based learning.
- Mastery challenges through Essential Assessment and Numeracy extension tasks.
- Higher-order thinking prompts incorporated into daily practice.
Creative and critical thinking routines, visible thinking routines, and structured opportunities for students to design, innovate, and reflect.
Social-emotional opportunities such as leadership roles, group collaboration, peer coaching, and participation in our Real Schools relational practices.
Learning adjustments for high-potential students with disability, ensuring access and challenge through tailored IEPs and classroom accommodations.

These practices are supported by our whole-school focus on Effective Classroom Practice, guided by 4DX WIGs, executive coaching, observation cycles, and data conversations.

Across our school

We offer a wide range of programs and leadership opportunities designed to extend students beyond the classroom, build their strengths, and nurture their talents:

Academic & Creative Opportunities

Spelling Bee (school, stage, zone and regional finals)
Public Speaking & Debating opportunities
Premier’s Reading Challenge
Maths Explorer (Years 3–4) and Maths Olympiad (Years 5–6)
Author visits, Book Week enrichment, and creative writing projects
Technology/STEM challenges embedded in classroom units and project-based learning

Physical & Performance Opportunities

Dance groups (e.g., Stage 3 lyrical dance showcased at network events)
School Concerts
Sporting gala days and representative pathways (Zone, Regional, State)
School carnivals: Swimming, Cross Country, Athletics
Premier’s Sporting Challenge

SRC leadership roles and student voice initiatives
Peer mentoring and buddy programs
Community Hub engagement (playgroups, cultural projects, wellbeing initiatives)
Real Schools behaviour and relational practice providing strong support for collaborative leadership
Kindness Champions and wellbeing-led initiatives

Inclusive & Equity-Focused Extension

We recognise high potential can exist in all student groups and ensure equitable identification, especially for:

EAL/D learners (working closely with our EAL/D Advisor)
Students from low-SES backgrounds
Aboriginal students
Students with disability or diverse learning profiles (Inclusive Education Unit & mainstream integration)

Our Learning and Support Team, data walls, and WIG tracking ensure HPGE students are intentionally monitored and supported.

Across NSW

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Students at CHNPS have access to a range of state-wide opportunities to extend their potential:

Opportunity Class (OC) placement pathways and preparation support
Selective high school application support
Orienteering
Leadership Programs
Arts, STEM and sport-based state initiatives, including:
- The NSW Premier’s Spelling Bee
- Festival of Choral Music / Dance opportunities
- Pulse Alive - Dance and Choir
- Representative sport trials
- External competitions and challenges promoted through the HPGE Toolkit
Virtual and statewide enrichment programs, including online extension modules and NSW DoE enrichment initiatives.