High potential and gifted education

In our classroom

At Illaroo Road Public School, High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) is seamlessly integrated into our everyday learning experiences. Many of our students demonstrate exceptional talents, and we are committed to nurturing these strengths and supporting them to achieve meaningful success.

Our teachers carefully identify each student’s learning needs within the classroom and use evidence-based teaching strategies to extend and challenge their abilities. We offer a variety of learning pathways, including enrichment programs, extension tasks, and acceleration where appropriate. Students are identified by teachers—with valuable input from families encouraged—as having high potential or giftedness across cognitive, creative, physical, or social-emotional domains. This information is shared throughout the school community to ensure every learner receives effective and personalised support.

We foster nurturing classroom environments that promote a strong sense of belonging and encourage creativity, risk-taking, and collaboration. Gifted students, especially in the cognitive domain, receive targeted instruction tailored to their individual levels of challenge, engaging in open-ended activities and enrichment opportunities.

Key features of our approach include flexible groupings, leadership opportunities, and feedback focused on strengths, supported by clear goals and self-assessment.

Our practices align closely with the NSW Department of Education’s HPGE policy, which emphasises supporting giftedness across four essential domains:

• Creative Domain: Encouraging students to develop original ideas and express themselves through creative thinking, problem-solving, and artistic pursuits.
• Intellectual (Cognitive) Domain: Providing challenging learning experiences that foster advanced thinking, deep inquiry, and intellectual growth.
• Physical Domain: Supporting physical development and wellbeing through activities that enhance coordination, health, and physical skills.
• Social-Emotional Domain: Promoting emotional resilience, self-awareness, and positive social interactions to support the wellbeing of gifted learners.

At Illaroo Road Public School, we are dedicated to nurturing the whole child by recognising and developing each student’s potential across these four domains, ensuring every learner is empowered to thrive and succeed.

Across our school

At Illaroo Road Public School, we provide a broad range of opportunities to support and enrich our High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) students both within the school and the wider community. Our programs are thoughtfully designed to nurture talents across multiple domains, offering pathways for students to excel and engage beyond the classroom.

Students can join our Chess Team, which promotes strategic thinking and problem-solving skills. We offer diverse Creative Arts opportunities, including dance ensembles, choir, and joint creative arts events with other schools, enabling students to develop their artistic talents and collaborate with peers. Our comprehensive Band Program allows students to explore and enhance their musical abilities in a supportive environment.

For students interested in sports, we provide school sporting teams and representative sporting pathways that encourage physical development, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Leadership skills are fostered through participation in the Student Representative Council and various other school leadership roles.

We also help students develop their communication and critical thinking skills through Public Speaking and Debating programs. Additionally, our students have opportunities to participate in a variety of academic competitions that challenge and extend their intellectual growth.

At Illaroo Road Public School, we are dedicated to offering a rich and diverse HPGE experience that empowers gifted learners to thrive in all aspects of their development, both within our school community and beyond.