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, every learner’s potential is our priority. Many students have high potential, and we help that potential to grow into something powerful. We challenge our students to think, create, lead and grow every day. We foster a culture of high expectations and equity in excellence, ensuring every student, regardless of background, has opportunities to develop their potential into talent across the four domains: creative, intellectual, physical and social-emotional.
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.
Our classroom practices support and extend high potential and gifted students:
- 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 and extension programs and acceleration.
- Our supportive classroom environments promote a sense of belonging and encourage risk-taking, creativity and collaboration.
- Our teachers engage in professional learning to support the diverse needs of all students, including our high potential and gifted learners embedding opportunities for choice, higher order thinking, abstraction and authenticity into learning across the curriculum.
- We design and deliver differentiated, enrichment programs in English and mathematics through maths groups from Years 1-6 and enrichment literacy groups.
Our school recognises that every student is individual, and we provide flexible and diverse opportunities for students to explore and grow their strengths outside the classroom:
- Digital Technologies, STEM based weekly program: K-6
- Dance Groups – Year 1 – Year 6: Junior Jazz, Senior Jazz, Boys Hip Hop, Girls Hip Hop
- Chess Club
- All our students, including high potential and gifted students, are encouraged to take on leadership roles through student representative council leadership and peer support programs.
- Student talent is celebrated and extended through school musicals, drama groups, visual arts showcases, music ensembles and creative writing groups.
- Our students can take part in sports training squads, coaching sessions, house competitions and differentiated Physical Education programs.
Our students participate in a wide range of programs to extend their potential. We provide access to local, state and national competitions and events to help students explore and extend their talents:
- Game Changer Challenge (Years 5 & 6)
- Multicultural Public Speaking (Years 3-6)
- State Debating Competition (Years 5 & 6)
- APSMO Maths Quest, Explorer & Olympiad Problem Solving Program & Competition Teams (Years 1-6)
- Premier’s Spelling Bee (Years 2-6)
- ICAS academic competitions
- Regional Dance Ensemble & State Dance Representation (Years 5 & 6)
- Regional Choir programs and performances (Years 3-6)
- Regional & State Recorder Ensemble program & performance (Years 3-6)
- Film by the Northern Rivers (Years 5 & 6)
- Far North Coast Creative Arts Camp
- Music in Schools: Conservatorium of Music tuition in school hours
- PSSA sport competitions – local, regional, state: Swimming, Cross Country, Athletics, Tennis, Netball, Soccer, Rugby
Multicultural Perspective Public Speaking
The Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition provides HPGE learners with crucial benefits, including fostering cultural awareness, developing stronger critical thinking and communication skills, building confidence and empathy through the respectful sharing of diverse perspectives.
We congratulate Maisie, who recently became the Stage 2 Zone Champion in the Multicultural Public Speaking Competition. In August, she travelled to Macksville Public School to compete in the regional final, delivering both her prepared speech and an impromptu speech. Maisie came third and we are so proud of her achievements.
PSSA Sport
PSSA sport provides HPGE learners with opportunities to develop exceptional physical skills, experience high-level competition, and foster key qualities like discipline, teamwork, and resilience.
We have had students represent the school at state level in cricket, basketball, swimming, soccer, AFL, Athletics and Tennis during 2025.
Performing Arts Program
Our performing arts program benefits HPGE learners by cultivating creativity, self-expression and confidence. By participating in group performances and rehearsals, HPGE learners develop collaboration and communication skills.
At Bangalow Public School, HPGE learners have the opportunity to excel at the performing arts through our Compass Choir program, Festival of Instrumental Music program and school lead musical productions.
Dance
Dance provides an unique outlet for self-expression and innovation for HPGE learners. It fosters discipline and cultural understanding.
At Bangalow Public School, we provide weekly lunchtime practises learning choreography and routines in the lead up to the Far North Coast Regional Dance Performance. We cater for Junior Jazz, Senior Jazz, Girls Hip Hop and Boys Hip Hop dancers.
Four talented Year 6 senior dancers, Inika, Skylar, Tallulah and Ivy showcased a spectacular performance as part of the FNC Regional Dance Ensemble at the State Festival in Sydney during September.
Game Changer Challenge
The Game Changer Challenge is an innovative, design thinking competition that centres on discovering solutions for a real-world, wicked problem by applying classroom learning.
Bangalow Public School has participated in the Game Changer Challenge since 2023. We were state finalists in both 2023 and 2024, where our talented teams pitched their design solutions to a panel of industry expert judges.
Debating
Debating develops HPGE learners' critical thinking, problem-solving, research, and communication skills. It provides opportunities for HPGE students to work as a team where they must collaborate, negotiate, and resolve differences of opinion.
Bangalow Public School has a strong debating program. Our school were the North Coast champions in 2023 and the runner ups in 2024 and 2025. Our 2025 Bangalow Gold team competed against Macksville Public School in the regional finals.
Congratulations goes to Claire, who has been selected for her second consecutive year to represent in the North Coast team in the 2025 Primary Schools State Debating Championships. Her team will compete in Sydney in November, against teams from all the other regions in NSW.
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