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?
At Holman Place School, we believe that every student has potential — and it is our role to identify, nurture, and extend that potential in ways that are meaningful, inclusive, and responsive to each learner’s strengths and needs.
Our approach to High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) is grounded in equity and opportunity. We recognise that high potential can be demonstrated across many domains — intellectual, creative, social–emotional, and physical — and that students may express their talents in different ways, particularly within a special education setting.
Our Commitment
We are committed to creating learning environments where students can:
· Explore their strengths and interests through personalised learning programs
· Experience challenge, choice, and creativity in their daily learning
· Build confidence through enrichment, extension, and leadership opportunities
· Develop their talents through inclusive, differentiated teaching and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles
How We Support High Potential Learners
· Individual Education Plans (IEPs) and strength-based goals identify and celebrate student capabilities and growth areas.
· Staff use the NSW Department of Education HPGE Policy and Talent Development Framework to plan explicit, high-impact teaching strategies.
· Our programs include a mix of academic, creative arts, wellbeing, and community-based projects that encourage curiosity, collaboration, and self-expression.
· Teachers and School Learning Support Officers engage in ongoing professional learning to recognise and nurture potential in all students, including those with complex support needs.
Celebrating Growth and Success
At Holman Place, we celebrate success in many forms — from a student mastering a new skill or leading a classroom activity, to creating artwork, performing music, or demonstrating leadership in a group project. We believe that recognising and celebrating growth builds self-esteem, motivation, and lifelong learners.
Our Vision
Through HPGE, we aim to ensure every student at Holman Place:
“Has the opportunity to shine — in their own way, at their own pace, and with the support of a community that believes in their potential.”
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.
Our classroom practices support and extend high potential and gifted students.
- Explicit teaching practices targeting individual needs.
- Aboriginal dance group
- Life skills program
Our school offers a range of whole-school programs that support student growth.
- HPGE talent identification, assessment and development
- ANZAC, Remembrance Day and NAIDOC assemblies
- Sports squads
- Art competitions
- TAFE partnerships
- Community partnerships
- Transition programs
Our students participate in a wide range of programs to extend their potential.
- Knock out sports
Academic support for High Potential and Gifted students
- Holman Place School identifies high potential and gifted students across intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical domains, including students working on Life Skills outcomes.
- Teaching and learning programs are differentiated and adjusted to provide appropriate challenge, extension and depth, while remaining accessible and inclusive.
- Students are supported through explicit teaching approaches, with clear learning intentions, success criteria and structured lessons to build strong foundational skills.
- Individual learning needs and strengths are documented through Personalised Learning and Support Plans (IEPs), ensuring targeted goals and adjustments are in place.
- Small-group and one-to-one instruction is used to provide extension, enrichment and targeted intervention in literacy, numeracy and key learning areas.
- Learning opportunities are designed to build critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity and independence, supporting students to reach their personal best.
- Strong collaboration with families ensures shared understanding of student strengths, goals and progress, with regular communication and review meetings.
- Academic support is provided within a safe, supportive and inclusive environment, recognising that high potential students may also require additional wellbeing, communication or regulation supports.
Sporting opportunities
These programs promote fitness, teamwork and a lifelong love of sport, helping students build confidence and achieve their personal best by participating in
- Small schools sports
- Cross country
- Athletic carnivals
- Ten Pin Bowling
- Riding for the Disabled
- Swimming
- Boccia
Music ensembles
- Weekly drumming lessons
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
Discover the opportunities our students have at our school.
Learning
Find out about our approach to learning and supporting students to progress