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 our school, we recognise and nurture these strengths early. We support advanced learners with great lessons and activities to help them grow and thrive.

Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

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

• tailored support during lessons that differentiate, 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.

In our classrooms

At Minerva School, we are committed to recognising and nurturing the strengths, interests and high potential of every student. Our teachers create inclusive and engaging learning environments where high potential and gifted learners are supported to achieve their personal best.

Differentiated learning is built into our planning and daily teaching. Staff adjust the pace, content, task complexity and level of support so each student can work at an appropriate level of challenge. Students may take part in extension tasks, project-based learning, curriculum-compacted lessons or alternative problem-solving activities depending on their readiness and interests.

We use flexible groupings to encourage collaboration and deeper thinking. Students might work in small guided groups, mixed-ability teams, peer-mentoring arrangements or independent extension groups based on their learning needs.

Teachers set targeted learning goals and provide ongoing, strengths-based feedback to help students understand their progress and next steps. This approach ensures high potential learners are challenged, supported and encouraged to grow as confident, creative and capable learners.

Across our school

Across our school, we provide a range of programs that nurture high potential and gifted learners across all four domains of potential. Our staff engage in ongoing professional learning to ensure we use evidence-informed practices that help students extend their strengths, develop new skills and experience appropriate levels of challenge.

Creative and performing arts are supported through our weekly whole-school music program, the Minerva Band and our break-time music group. These programs give students opportunities to develop musical talent, practice performance skills and collaborate with peers in meaningful ways. Regular cultural and Aboriginal art incursions further extend creativity while building cultural understanding and connection.

Students with leadership and social-emotional strengths are supported through the Student Representative Council (SRC), where they take on school-wide responsibilities, contribute to decision-making, lead assemblies and initiatives and represent their peers. Peer mentoring, public speaking activities and interest-based groups also provide avenues for confident communication, teamwork and personal growth.

Intellectual and practical potential is extended through STEM opportunities such as the Robotics Program in classrooms, where students engage in coding, logical thinking and hands-on problem-solving. Our Minerva Bicycle Repair and Maintenance Program similarly develops technical skills, persistence and real-world learning through guided mechanical challenges. The Kirrawee High School Friendship Program and a range of excursions and incursions further broaden students’ learning opportunities and develop their real world living and social emotional skills.

Physical and wellbeing strengths are fostered through programs such as our Learn to Swim program, the gardening and sustainability initiative within our vegetable garden, lunchtime clubs and targeted wellbeing programs led by our Student Support Officer. These activities help students build resilience, independence, practical skills and healthy routines.

These whole-school opportunities work together to ensure high potential learners across all domains are recognised, challenged and supported to thrive.

Outside of our school

Students at Minerva School are encouraged to develop their strengths beyond the classroom through a variety of regional and state-level opportunities. These experiences help us identify and nurture high potential across all domains and provide authentic contexts for students to extend their skills, confidence and independence.

Through the School Sports Unit Disability and Inclusion program, students participate in external swimming and athletics carnivals, as well as “come and try” sports days. These events give students the chance to develop physical talent, build resilience and experience healthy competition. Many also engage in regional boccia and ten pin bowling competitions, which strengthen strategic thinking, teamwork and personal achievement.

Our First Nations students take part in Woronora River First Nations Student Council days, where they connect with peers from other schools, explore leadership opportunities and deepen their cultural knowledge and identity. These experiences nurture social-emotional strengths and promote a strong sense of belonging and pride.

For senior students, external work experience placements through organisations such as SCOPE Industries and CIVIC provide valuable opportunities to identify individual strengths, explore emerging interests and develop workplace capabilities. These real-world settings play an important role in informing post-school pathways and supporting students to reach their full potential.

These NSW-wide programs complement our school-based initiatives by offering rich, diverse and authentic experiences that allow high potential learners to grow, challenge themselves and develop confidence in a broader community setting.

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.

Contact us