Inspire – High potential and gifted education

At Fern Bay Public School, high potential and gifted education (HPGE) is a core part of our daily teaching and learning. We recognise that many students demonstrate advanced abilities, and we are committed to nurturing these talents so they can develop into meaningful and lifelong achievements.

Teachers identify individual learning needs in the classroom and use evidence-based strategies to extend and challenge students at their point of readiness. A range of learning pathways are available, including enrichment opportunities and extension activities. Students may be identified by teachers, with input from families encouraged, as having high potential or giftedness in the cognitive, creative, physical or social-emotional domains. This information is shared across the school to ensure consistent support for every learner.

• Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking​.

• Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning​.
• Advanced learning pathways, including accelerated or compacted content​.
• Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
• Opportunities for abstraction, inquiry, and curriculum depth​.
• Tasks that promote choice, authenticity, and critical and creative thinking​ including cross-curricular projects.
• Flexible grouping for collaborative ideation and presentation​.
• Differentiated movement tasks and skill refinement in PDHPE​.
• Targeted learning goals for coordination, agility, and control​.
• Opportunities to take on lead roles in physical demonstrations or team strategy​.
• Supportive learning environments that enable exploration and self-assessment.
• Strengths-based feedback and goal setting.​
• Opportunities for leadership within the classroom​.
• Structured peer collaboration and reflection.​
• Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance​.

At Fern Bay Public School, we provide a wide range of programs to support and enrich Inspire – High potential and gifted education (HPGE) students within our school and the wider community. Our initiatives are designed to nurture talents across multiple domains and create pathways for students to extend their learning beyond the classroom.

Students have access to:

• Creative arts opportunities including choir, drumming and guitar groups
• Combined schools performances that allow students to collaborate and showcase their talents
• Representative sports pathways
• School sporting teams that promote physical development, teamwork and resilience
• Leadership development through the Student Representative Council
• Participation in the Junior AECG
• Public Speaking programs to strengthen communication skills
• Debating programs to enhance critical thinking
• Coding opportunities
• A range of academic competitions to extend intellectual growth

At Fern Bay Public School, we are committed to offering rich and varied HPGE experiences that empower high potential and gifted learners to thrive across all areas of their development, both within our school and the broader community.

• The Premier’s Spelling Bee promotes our students’ vocabulary development and attention to detail in competitive settings.
• 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 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 opportunities such as Starstruck.