High potential and gifted education (HPGE)

All NSW public schools have a range of differentiated learning opportunities, enabling students to thrive and reach their potential.

At Dunedoo Central School we foster a culture of high expectations and equity in excellence, ensuring every student, regardless of background, has opportunities to develop their potential into talent.

Our school offers a diverse range of opportunities across the 4 domains of potential: creative, intellectual, physical and social-emotional. These opportunities allow us to find the potential, build the talent and make the difference!

Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

Recognising potential and developing talent

Evidence-informed teaching supports all students to achieve personal excellence.

At Dunedoo Central School we know that potential exists along a continuum, where different levels of potential require different approaches.

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), formerly known as Gifted and Talented, is how our school supports students with advanced learning needs. It works towards providing a high quality learning environment for students with talent and high academic ability.

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.

Learn more about HPGE here.

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 Dunedoo Central School, we are committed to recognising and nurturing high potential and gifted students, which ensures every student has the opportunity to thrive at our school. HPGE is part of everyday practices and routines:

Our supportive classroom environments promote a sense of belonging and encourage risk-taking, creativity and collaboration.
Groups are flexible for collaboration and presentation.
Students learn from tasks that promote choice, authenticity, and critical and creative thinking.
Individual student learning plans identify strengths and talents, which are nurtured through programs such as vertical integration for Mathematics.

Across our school

All our students, including high potential and gifted students, are encouraged to take on leadership roles through student representative council leadership, mentoring programs and peer coaching and leadership of major events including ANZAC, Remembrance Day and NAIDOC activities.
Our annual Intensive Swimming Program involves all Infants students in a learn-to-swim schedule each December that is tailored to individual ability. In addition, leadership experience is gained by Secondary students who work with qualified swimming instructors to deliver the program.
Students have exciting opportunities to explore STEM pathways through classroom STEM lessons, where they engage with technology beyond the curriculum and apply their learning in real-world contexts. These experiences build creativity, problem-solving and a love of innovation from an early age.
Our students have many opportunities to engage in Visual Arts enrichment through excursions and workshops. Students will visit local galleries, viewing traditional and contemporary artworks. Our Art 4 Youth Whole School Staffing Day allows students to explore their creativity across a range of artistic mediums.
Talent in the Creative Arts is celebrated and extended through our Whole School Production, which encompasses choir and drama, supported by a student stage crew who run sound, lighting and production. Our highly talented students engage in events through the Education Department's Art Unit and Moorambilla, in addition to the opportunities afforded at our regular school assemblies.
Students are encouraged and supported to develop their confidence and communication skills through in-school Public Speaking competitions, in addition to the Lions Youth of the Year Competition for our senior students.

Across NSW

Our students can participate in a wide range of state-wide programs that aim to extend and enrich student potential.

Student leaders are given the opportunity to extend their leadership skills through attending the Young Leaders Program in Sydney each year. This program gathers leaders in multiple fields to give advice and personal insight into leadership, talent and determination.
Dunedoo Central School continues to prioritise sporting participation in a multitude of competitions including gala days, knock out competitions, the Run Beyond Project and selection through to zone, regional and state carnivals. These opportunities are available to both individuals and teams. Dunedoo Central School is particularly competitive in the annual Central Schools Knockout Competition, fielding teams several sports.
The Leos Club - an arm of the international Lions Club organisation - is very active in Dunedoo. The Leos are involved in community and leadership events both locally and across the state.
Targeted students participate in ICAS assessments in English, Mathematics and Science.
Students with talents in areas not offered at Dunedoo Central School are supported to compete in statewide competitions and events.