High potential and gifted education

Northlakes High School support high potential and gifted education (HPGE) students through evidence-informed talent development programs that foster engagement and challenge in creative, intellectual, physical, and social-emotional domains. At our school every learners potential is our priority with HPGE student learning needs specifically identified and supported. Through enrichment, extension, and extra-curricular programs, we create engaging pathways that nurture talent, build confidence and develop the capabilities that students need for high school success and life beyond.

Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

Recognising potential and developing talent

Our HPGE approach follows a continuous cycle of assessment, identification, planning, implementation and evaluation, allowing us to recognise students' strengths and talents, provide targeted extension, and ensure meaningful growth across all domains.

Referrals for HPGE identification can come from teachers, parents/carers, students, or external professionals. This can be completed on the Northlakes HPGE Student Referral Form

Enrichment Groups

High Potential & Gifted students are supported through a variety of school based programs including AVID classes, Dance Academy, Debating, BETTA and GRACE program to support leadership.

Rich opportunities and activities

Each student identified as high potential and gifted student has an Individual Education Plan completed. This plan will ensure students are supported by designated mentors, engaged in appropriate and fulfilling activities to advance the development of student needs within the specific domain. Additionally, High Potential & Gifted Students are supported through informed differentiated teaching practice tailored to their maximum potential.

Opening doors to wider experiences

Our students can participate in a variety of state-wide opportunities that aim to extend and enrich student potential. These will be identified opportunities during the Individual Education Plan and supported by designated mentors throughout the school year.

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

We are committed to recognising and nurturing high potential and gifted students, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive at our school. At Northlakes High School every classroom supports and extends high potential and gifted students through Individual Education Plans target specific learning needs.

Across our school

Our school offers a range of whole-school programs that support student growth across the four domains;

Intellectual
Our school identifies and supports students with high potential through our AVID program, debating, iSTEM and access to enrichment programs such as the Illuminate Challenge.

Creative
Student talent is celebrated and extended through Central Coast Showcase, Art Club, Intensive drawing workshop, Dance Company, Choir, Entertainment crew, Band Development, Drum club, Grove recording studio, Northlakes’ Got Talent, NHS Dance Showcase, NHS Visual Arts Exhibition.
Hands-on creative learning through state-of the art technology resources, including student interest design projects, textiles, timber, metals/engineering, food technology and multimedia.

Physical
Our students can take part in Creating Chances TTP,

Rugby League Development Program and access a range of representative sporting pathways
Social Emotional

All our students, including high potential and gifted students, are encouraged to take on leadership roles through Student Representative Council leadership,

Junior Aboriginal Educational Consultative Group and Northlakes High School LEOs.

Across NSW

Students at Northlakes High School are supported and encouraged to participate in the following state-wide opportunities:

The Premier’s Debating Challenge helps our students to build logical arguments and confidence in public speaking.
Our STEM Enrichment Partnerships with industry and universities deepen our students’ intellectual curiosity while developing innovation and collaboration.
The Schools Spectacular is an iconic performing arts event that celebrates the talents, diversity and creativity of students from across NSW public schools.
The Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) promotes whole-school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and professional learning.
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.
Participation in state-wide dance ensembles develops our high potential and gifted Stage 5 dance students’ technical skills, performance presence and physical expressiveness.
Our mentoring programs connect our students with trusted adults including school alumni to build confidence, motivation, and interpersonal skills.