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 Barnsley Public School, we understand that every child has unique strengths and talents. For our gifted and high potential learners we provide the right support to help them reach their full potential.
Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?
Recognising potential and developing talent
We take pride in noticing gifted learners early. This enables us to offer lessons and activities designed to challenge and inspire students from the start. Our dedicated teachers carefully observe how each child learns, tailoring learning experiences that keep them motivated and excited to grow.
Tailored lessons
Each student has different abilities. Our teaching methods are clear, practical, and student-focused. 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.
We are committed to creating an inclusive environment that welcomes and supports all students, respecting every learning style and need. Our teachers regularly update their skills through professional development to use the best teaching methods available.
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?
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
Our students engage with HPGE education in the classroom, in our school, and across NSW.
- Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking.
- Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning.
- Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
- Opportunities for abstraction, inquiry, and curriculum depth.
- Tasks that promote choice, authenticity, and critical and creative thinking including cross-curricular projects.
- Flexible grouping for collaborative ideation and presentation.
- Differentiated movement tasks and skill refinement in PDHPE.
- Targeted learning goals for coordination, agility, and control.
- Opportunities to take on lead roles in physical demonstrations or team strategy.
- Supportive learning environments that enable exploration and self-assessment.
- Strengths-based feedback and goal setting.
- Opportunities for leadership within the classroom.
- Structured peer collaboration and reflection.
- Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance.
- Debating
- STEM and coding clubs
- Academic competitions
- Junior and Senior Dance ensembles
- Choir ensembles
- Visual arts group
- Sport squads
- Student leadership (SRC)
- Junior Aboriginal Education Consultancy Group (AECG)
- Wellbeing programs
- StarStruck
- The Premier’s Debating Challenge helps our students to build logical arguments and confidence in public speaking.
- The Premier’s Spelling Bee promotes our students’ vocabulary development and attention to detail in competitive settings.
- The Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) promotes whole-school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and professional learning.
- The Representative School Sport Pathway and PSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.
STEM
At Barnsley Public School, STEM learning is an important part of our HPGE program. Students engage in hands-on challenges that develop problem-solving, teamwork, and creativity. These activities inspire curiosity and help build skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathemetics.
Sporting opportunities
Our Students have many opportunities to participate in a wide range of sporting teams. With support from dedicated teachers, students are encouraged to take part in various sporting events that promote teamwork, skill development, and a lifelong passion for physical activity.
Dance Ensemble
Dance Ensemble is a creative group where students are given the opportunity to express themeselves through the movement of dance. The Dance Ensemble rehearse weekly to develop routines to perform throughout the year.
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.