High potential and gifted education

At Camden South Public School, we are deeply committed to the NSW High Potential and Gifted Education Policy and to ensuring every child is known, valued and challenged in their learning. We believe all students have unique strengths, talents and interests, and we actively create opportunities for them to shine. Our approach recognises that high potential can emerge in many different ways, and we support students to grow in the areas where they show natural ability or strong interest. Students may demonstrate high potential in:

Intellectual: advanced thinking, quick understanding, curiosity and problem-solving
Creative: original ideas, imagination, innovation and flexible thinking
Social-emotional: leadership, empathy, strong relationships, communication and self-reflection
Physical: movement, coordination, stamina, skill development and athletic talent

Through inclusive identification, high-expectation teaching and rich, differentiated learning experiences, we ensure all students are challenged at the right level. Our commitment ensures every learner has the opportunity to grow, flourish and reach their full potential.

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.

In our classroom

At Camden South Public School, HPGE lives in everyday practice. Many students have high potential, and we help that potential to grow into something powerful.

Explicit and Evidence-Informed Teaching: Teachers clearly model, explain and scaffold new concepts, using strategies like low floor/high ceiling tasks and open-ended activities so all students—especially high potential learners—can think deeply and tackle complex ideas.
Targeted and Differentiated Learning: Each student’s strengths, interests and learning needs guide planning. Differentiated tasks, personalised goals and flexible supports help every child grow, while providing stretch for those who need additional challenge.
Enrichment and Extension Opportunities: Students access a wide range of extension activities, enrichment programs, competitions and advanced problem-solving tasks that push them beyond the standard curriculum and keep them engaged and motivated.
Collaboration, Leadership and Positive Classroom Culture: Learners work with peers in both similar-ability and mixed groups to build teamwork and confidence. Classrooms promote belonging, curiosity, creativity and academic risk-taking, with students encouraged to share ideas, take on leadership roles and explore their thinking.
Ongoing Assessment and Strengths-Based Feedback: Teachers regularly assess student learning and adjust lessons accordingly. Feedback focuses on strengths, clear learning goals and ongoing self-reflection so students understand their progress and next steps.
Expert Teaching and Digital Innovation: Teachers engage in continuous professional learning to understand and support high potential learners. Technology and digital tools are used to extend thinking, provide access to advanced content and create rich, engaging learning experiences.

Across our school

Every student is individual, so opportunities are flexible and diverse. Opportunities include:

Public Speaking

Students build confidence, communication skills and the ability to clearly express complex ideas. Domains: Intellectual, Social-Emotional
Spelling Bee

Students develop advanced vocabulary, spelling accuracy and confidence under pressure. Domains: Intellectual, Social-emotional domains.
Debating

Debaters learn reasoning, persuasive argument, respectful discussion and teamwork. Domains: Intellectual, Social-Emotional
Maths Olympiad

Students engage in advanced, non-routine problems that foster deep mathematical reasoning and strategic thinking. Domains: Intellectual
Tournament of the Minds

Teams solve open-ended challenges that require creativity, critical thinking and collaboration. Domains: Intellectual, Creative, Social-Emotional
Sport – Gala Days, Representative Sport & Knockout Teams

Students develop physical skills, coordination, teamwork and leadership through participation and competition. Domains: Physical, Social-Emotional
Dance Groups – Both Performance & Fun

Dance encourages creative expression, rhythm, coordination and confidence in performance settings. Domains: Creative, Physical, Social-Emotional
Choir & Glee Club

Students develop vocal technique, musicality and performance confidence while working collaboratively. Domains: Creative, Social-Emotional
Band

Band members refine instrumental skills, ensemble performance and musical creativity. Domains: Creative, Social-Emotional
Aboriginal Culture Club & Leadership Opportunities

These programs strengthen cultural identity, community connection and leadership skills.
Domains: Social-Emotional, Creative
Orienteering

Students develop spatial awareness, quick problem-solving and physical endurance through real-world navigation.
Domains: Intellectual, Physical
Art Show

Celebrates creativity, artistic skill development and personal expression through visual art.
Domains: Creative, Intellectual
Student Representative Council (SRC)

SRC provides authentic leadership opportunities where students collaborate, represent their peers and contribute to school decision-making. Domains: Social-Emotional, Intellectual

Across NSW

NSW Department of Education schools offer a wide range of High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) opportunities for primary-aged students, including Opportunity Classes (OC) for Years 5–6, academic and creative competitions, debating, sporting opportunities public speaking, leadership programs, and specialised enrichment activities across all learning areas. These programs aim to recognise and develop student potential in the intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical domains.

At Camden South Public School, we support and encourage all students to strive to reach their potential across every domain and to shine in their areas of strength.