High potential and gifted education
At Windang Public School, we recognise that every student has potential that can be developed through the right opportunities, support and challenge. Our approach to High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) is guided by the NSW Department of Education policy and focuses on four domains of potential: intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical.
We identify student strengths through assessment and observation and provide enrichment and extension opportunities across these domains. Students take part in programs such as the Public Speaking Program, Southern Stars, the Art Program and school sport representative pathways, which nurture creativity, confidence, athletic skill and academic excellence. Through HPGE, we aim to extend students beyond their current level of mastery and help every child connect, succeed and thrive at Windang Public School.
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?
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.
Explore some of the extraordinary opportunities on our HPGE showcase page.
We recognise, identify and nurture high potential and gifted students through evidence-informed, explicit teaching that challenges thinking, builds problem-solving skills and supports students to reach their full potential.
Our classrooms promote belonging, creativity and collaboration, with targeted support and adjustments to ensure all students, including high potential and gifted students with disability, can confidently participate and thrive.
We offer:
- Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking.
- Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning.
- 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.
Our school recognises that every student is unique and provides flexible, diverse programs and opportunities that support students to explore their strengths, interests and aspirations both in and beyond the classroom.
We create inclusive, culturally safe learning environments where diversity is valued, culturally responsive teaching is embedded, and strong partnerships with families and communities support all students, including high potential and gifted learners, to reach their potential
We offer:
- BAND (there are 2 school bands)
- Weekly Music Lessons taught by qualified music teacher from the Wollongong Conservatorium of Music
- Junior and Senior School Choir Groups
- Visual arts and drama
- Wellbeing programs
- Participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives.
- Lake Learning Community of Schools (CoS) Public Speaking Competition
- Lake Learning Community of Schools (CoS) Sport Days
- South Coast Dance Festival opportunities
- Southern Stars opportunities
- Southern Stars YANGGAA GARABA Aboriginal Dance Ensemble
- The Primary Aboriginal Dance Workshop, delivered by The Arts Unit
- Illawarra Choral Festival opportunities
- Representative Sport
- School Sport NSW
- South Coast Schools Sports Association (SCSSA)
Statewide/NSW Department of Education level support is available for our high potential and gifted students.
We offer:
- Operation Art
- Nagoya Art Exchange
- Young Archie Competition
- Tournament of the Minds (2026)
- Dream and Lead Conference
- GRIP Student Leadership
- The Representative School Sport Pathway and PSSA and CHSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.
- We provide access to local, state and national competitions and events to help students explore and extend their talents.
- 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 Premier’s Debating Challenge (PSC)
- Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition
- ICAS assessments in literacy and numeracy
Help for your high potential child
If your child shows signs of high potential or giftedness in learning, creativity, leadership or sport, please contact us. Our teachers and support staff can share how the HPGE program can guide your child’s learning and help them thrive.