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?

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

· Our teachers engage in professional learning to support the diverse needs of all students, including high potential and gifted learners. Our staff have had professional development training in the awareness of the four domains of HPGE that include intellectual, creative, physical and social-emotional areas of skills.

· Our school has traditionally reflected our community’s strong focus in sporting opportunities through excellence in both individual and team events. Many students go on to represent our school at both zone, regional and state levels. We also provide a wide range of creative initiatives that include creative and performing arts as well as technology and STEM based programs that tap into imagination, invention and originality. The natural abilities of students to demonstrate self-management and leadership is also catered for through the Student Representative Council and peer support programs. In 2025 there has been a focus on extension mathematics and targeting students with demonstrated potential in both literacy and numeracy for other areas. To further provide targeted programs our school has invested in Education Perfect, to further extend and challenge students.

Across our school

At Hay War Memorial High School:

· We recognise that every student is individual, we provide flexible and diverse opportunities for students to explore and grow their strengths outside the classroom.

· Our talented students will often display their abilities through opportunities for our high potential students to perform for the families and community to develop and showcase their talents.

· The school network VET program provides opportunities for our high potential students.

· Our Tiny Homes Project partners with industry and local professionals to deepen our students’ technological curiosity while developing innovation and collaboration.

· Students have the opportunity to have a voice through our Student Representative Council (SRC).

· We further foster our potential with HPGE education by our entries in competitions ranging from debating, public speaking, chess, e-games and state-wide competitions.

· At HWMHS we also provide the chance for students to self-nominate in extension programs that provide challenging and higher-level thinking skills in many subjects.

· Students studying Hospitality have the opportunity to develop, enhance and showcase their skills through catering for events and entering local competitions.

· Students from our Sport, Lifestyle and Recreation (SLR) and Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS) classes work with primary schools developing their leadership skills and performing roles as student officials for primary school sporting events.

· Our Aboriginal students’ engagement with culture and their pride when acknowledging Country is also tapping into leadership.

· We work with other regional schools to share student advocacy and agency by our involvement in the Minister’s Student Council (DOVES) program.

· We partner with community organisations to provide opportunities for student voice and student advocacy through the Hay Shire Council Youth Task Force. This is further enhanced through our Active Spirits program engaging with older members of our community and an intergenerational program.

· We connect our students to industry experts and positive role models in areas of interest to them.

Across NSW

Our students have the following opportunities:

· Pulse is an iconic rural and regional performing arts event that celebrates the talents, diversity and creativity of students from NSW public schools. In 2025 and 2026, one of high potential and gifted music students will participate in this event, showcasing her musical talent, developing leadership skills, creativity, performance presence and confidence.

· The Representative School Sport Pathway and CHSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.

· Our mentoring programs connect our students with trusted adults including school alumni to build confidence, motivation, and interpersonal skills.