High Potential and Gifted Education
At our school, we celebrate every child’s strength whether intellectual, creative, physical, or social-emotional. We create a supportive learning environment where each student is encouraged to grow and succeed. Using clear goals and tracking progress, we make sure every learner is challenged at the right level and given the support they need to reach their potential.
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. At Woodport Public School, we create a learning environment where every child can thrive. By nurturing individual talents and providing the right level of challenge, we empower students to think creatively, grow in confidence, and reach their full potential.
- We celebrate talents across intellectual, creative, physical, and social-emotional areas.
- Every child is supported and challenged through feedback, clear goals and tracking of growth.
- Teachers use explicit teaching and inquiry to spark curiosity, problem-solving, and creativity.
- Ongoing assessment helps us know what students already understand and where to go next.
- Enrichment groups give children the chance to dive deeper into their strengths and passions.
- With student voice, feedback, STEM, technology, and community partnerships, our learners are encouraged to innovate, become independent, and grow in confidence.
- Students are inspired to excel through programs such as STEM, in-school robotics competitions, music ensembles, and our Performing Arts Concert.
- Leadership is encouraged with roles such as Sport Ambassadors and the Student Voice Council.
- The Green Team, in partnership with Central Coast Council, promotes sustainability and environmental care.
- Student voice is valued, with children working alongside staff to shape school priorities.
- We celebrate diversity and inclusion through cultural programs, community partnerships, and Aboriginal perspectives, ensuring every child feels valued and supported.
- Academic extension: Students challenge themselves through programs such as the Da Vinci Decathlon, ICAS assessments, WriteOn competition, Premier’s Spelling Bee, and the Central Coast Public Speaking.
- Creative arts: Talents shine at the Central Coast Dance Festival, BandFest and Choral Festivals- building confidence and self-expression.
- Cultural programs: Identity and inclusion are strengthened through Aboriginal education initiatives, cultural performance groups, and close engagement with the Aboriginal Education Consultative Group (AECG).
- Sport: Students enjoy a wide range of opportunities including Sport in Schools programs, PSSA competitions, gala days, and representative pathways at local, regional, and state level.
Technology
We partner with Scope IT to deliver engaging, hands-on technology lessons that build essential digital skills across coding, robotics, and design thinking. Through these lessons, students explore how technology can be used creatively and responsibly — from developing basic coding logic to designing solutions that solve real-world problems.
Every second year, students in Years 3–6 participate in our exciting Robotics Competition, inspired by LEGO® FIRST and T4L STEM challenges. Working in teams, students program robots to complete a series of challenges, applying critical thinking, collaboration, and innovation. The competition not only celebrates creativity and problem solving but also builds teamwork and perseverance as students see their ideas come to life through technology. Meanwhile, our K–2 students take part in a fun-filled STEM Challenge Day, where they put their engineering skills to the test through hands-on team challenges.
Band
Students can apply to join our vibrant Training Band or Concert Band from Year 3. We proudly partner with TSA (Teaching Services Australia), who provide a range of high-quality instrumental tuition programs. TSA offers individual or group lessons before and during school hours and integrates band rehearsals into this program for a seamless learning experience.
Students receive a strong foundation in musicianship and technique, setting them up for years of success. Many of our band members have gone on to achieve outstanding musical growth and experiences, both at high school and beyond.
Our bands perform regularly at Performing Arts Night, Presentation Assemblies, Mother’s and Father’s Day Breakfasts, Bandfest, and the Central Coast Music Festival (held every second year). These events give students the chance to shine, build confidence, and share their passion for music with our school community.
Davinci Competition
The Da Vinci Decathlon is an annual academic competition held at Knox Grammar designed to celebrate the talents of gifted and high-potential students across ten disciplines: Engineering, Mathematics, Code Breaking, Art & Poetry, Science, English, Ideation, Creative Producers, Cartography, and General Knowledge. Inspired by the brilliance of Leonardo da Vinci, the competition promotes creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking — encouraging students to think both analytically and imaginatively as they tackle complex challenges under timed conditions.
Our selected Stage 3 team trains collaboratively in problem-solving, research, and creative thinking in the lead-up to the regional competition, where they compete alongside top schools from across New South Wales. Each task requires teamwork, innovation, and cross-disciplinary thinking — skills that mirror the attributes of real-world innovators and leaders.
Over the years, our school has achieved top 10 results in several categories including Geography, Cartography Poetry, and Drama, reflecting the strength and versatility of our students’ learning.
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