High Potential and Gifted Education
All NSW public schools have a range of differentiated learning opportunities, enabling students to thrive and reach their potential.
At Awaba, foster a culture of high expectations and equity in excellence, ensuring every student, regardless of background, has opportunities to develop their potential into talent. Every learner’s potential is our priority.
High potential and gifted education is delivered in our school through a combination of in-class, whole school and system level programs, practices and procedures, which encompass the creative, intellectual, physical and social-emotional domains.
Why choose us for your high-potential or gifted child?
Our small school environment enables endless opportunities for students. Students across our K-6 setting play together, learn together and develop deep relationships with their teachers and peers. Students work with their teachers for 3-4 years in one classroom, and this is a driving force behind their success.
Recognising Potential andDeveloping Talent
We use objective, valid and reliable measures to assess and identify high-potential and gifted students’ learning needs.
- achievement tests
- performance-based assessments
- student self-nominations
- pre-testing and ongoing assessments
- teacher observations
- parental support
Tailored Lessons
We identify students' learning needs in the classroom and use evidence-informed teaching practices to challenge and extend students. We provide learning pathways, including enrichment, extension and acceleration.
All students have the opportunity to take part in learning activities and lessons across our classrooms, K-6. Teachers nurture classroom environments that promote a sense of belonging and encourage risk-taking, creativity and collaboration.
Rich Opportunities and Activities
Our school offers a range of programs that support student growth. Here are just a few:
- individual learning plans
- professional STEM kits/lessons
- languages
- buddy and leadership opportunities
- Public Speaking
- choir
- combined school sporting competitions/carnivals
- Creative Arts Camp
- Battle of the Brains
- Big Day Out
- Gardening Club
- Oz Harvest Cooking
Opening Doors to Wider Experiences
Our students participate in a wide range of statewide programs to extend and enrich student potential.
- annual swim school
- PSSA small school competitions
- external providers employed under the Sporting Schools Grants
- Premier's Sporting Challenge
- Premier's Reading Challenge
- Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition
- Community exploration and involvement
What is High-Potential and Gifted Education?
High-Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) is how our school supports students with advanced learning needs and the potential to build on strengths.
We do this through:
- effective teaching strategies: 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.
High-Potential and Gifted Education Opportunities
Our students engage with HPGE education in the classroom, in our school, and across NSW.
- differentiated lessons
- Individual Learning Plans and small group support
- acceleration and collaboration across K-6 classrooms
- fully integrated curriculum days
- structured peer collaboration and reflection
- tasks that promote choice, authenticity and critical and creative thinking, including cross-curricular projects
- STEM and coding
- lunchtime interest-based groups
- participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives
- peer mentoring
- critical thinking workshops
- frequent interest-based excursions
- Small School's Alliance collaboration
- The Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) promotes whole-school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and professional learning.
- mentoring programs connect our students with trusted adults, including school alumni, to build confidence, motivation, and interpersonal skills
- The Premier’s Spelling Bee promotes students’ vocabulary development and attention to detail in competitive settings.
- Seasons for Growth is a small group education program that supports children and young people to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes to understand and respond well to experiences of change, loss and grief.
Academic
Our small school environment allows us to deliver enriched and personalised academic activities that cater to each student’s unique learning journey. With smaller class sizes, teachers provide focused support and challenge, ensuring every learner can thrive. We offer a broad curriculum complemented by hands-on projects, group collaborations, and technology integration, encouraging critical thinking and creativity. This tailored approach helps build strong foundational skills and a passion for lifelong learning, preparing students to succeed both inside and beyond the classroom.
Oz Harvest Cooking Program
Our school is committed to providing a well-rounded education by incorporating high-quality extracurricular programs that support student development across multiple domains: academic, social, emotional, and physical. Including all students from Kindergarten to Year 6 through leadership groups is a great way to ensure inclusive participation and foster potential early on.
Annual Swim School
Participating in an annual learn-to-swim program for two consecutive weeks each year provides students with vital water safety skills and promotes physical development. Swim programs like this also contribute significantly to student wellbeing and confidence.
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.
Student Opportunities and Activities
- Small School's Alliance camps and sporting events
- inter-school excursions
- PSSA sporting events
- small school's friendly competitions
- Gardening Club
- rich Aboriginal Education Programs
- learning support with small group and individual instruction
- community support and inclusion
Learning
At our school, we embrace the advantages of a small school learning environment, where personalised attention and strong relationships create a supportive and inclusive community. Our small classes allow teachers to tailor learning experiences to each student’s strengths and needs, fostering confidence, curiosity, and a love of learning.
With collaborative leadership opportunities and diverse extracurricular programs, every student is empowered to grow academically, socially, and emotionally in a nurturing setting. Here, every child’s voice is heard, and every learner is valued.