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?
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 Sofala Public School, we believe every student is unique and capable of great things. We’re dedicated to creating a caring, supportive environment with high expectations where students are valued and challenged—because when we work together, we’re stronger, and every learner can reach their full potential.
We cultivate talent across four important areas:
- Creative Domain: We encourage students to explore their imagination, express themselves through art and innovation, and develop problem-solving skills in fun and engaging ways.
- Intellectual Domain: Our learning experiences inspire curiosity and deeper thinking, challenging students to ask questions, explore new ideas, and reach higher levels of understanding.
- Physical Domain: We support students in building coordination, strength and skills through a variety of individual and team sports and physical activities. We foster resilience and teamwork in all activities to enhance wellbeing and a healthy lifestyle.
- Social-Emotional Domain: We prioritise emotional wellbeing and social growth, nurturing resilience, self-awareness, positive relationships, and a strong sense of belonging within the school community.
Our staff are engaged in ongoing professional development to ensure we use the most current research-based practices in our teaching. This commitment allows our students to benefit from high-quality learning experiences.
Students are able to engage in a variety of opportunities, including:
- Peer mentoring
- Student leadership opportunities and camps
- Participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives
- Virtual targeted support and learning specialist
- Sporting Schools programs with expert coaching in sports such as tennis, karate, golf, hockey, ten pin bowling
- Learn to swim
- Cultural activities including NAIDOC and Reconciliation
- Excursions and incursions
- Books in Home and artist video conferences
- Waste to Art
- Lunchtime and interest-based groups
- Student led indiviualised learning plans
- STEM based activities including robotics workshops
- Recorder performance opportunities
- Gardening and agricultural activities
Our enrichment partnerships with our Bathurst Small Schools and Lithgow Schools Networks deepen our students’ creative, intellectual, social emotional and physical, curiosity while developing innovation and collaboration.
Through the Representative School Sport Pathway and Primary School Sports Association events, our students represent our school and Bathurst Small Schools in various teams or individual sports at a district, regional, state, or even national levels. Taking part in these sports helps students learn important values like staying disciplined, being committed, and working well with others.
Participation in these sports activities helps students develop key values such as discipline, commitment, and effective teamwork.
- Participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives
- Small Schools Statewide camps in Creative Arts
- Bi-annual Creative and Performing Arts Festival
- Student leadership opportunities and camps
- Entries in Sofala Show
- Bathurst Small Schools sporting and Gala Days
- Bathurst Small Schools Camp- Sports, Leadership, Environmental
- Participation in Harmony Day, Do it for Dolly Day, Are you OK? day.
Creative opportunities
Creative opportunities allow students to think outside the box and explore new ideas in unique ways. When students are encouraged to use their imagination and creativity, they develop problem-solving skills, critical thinking, scientific skills and confidence.
Creative tasks help gifted learners stay engaged and motivated by challenging them to apply their knowledge in innovative ways. Providing these opportunities ensures that students not only achieve academic success but also grow as curious, flexible, and independent thinkers prepared for future challenges
Wellbeing and leadership
These are key elements in supporting high potential and gifted students at our school. Ensuring students feel emotionally supported and balanced helps us create a safe space where students can thrive both academically and personally.
Developing leadership skills empowers these students to take initiative, collaborate effectively, and positively influence their peers and community. We are committed to nurturing both the wellbeing and leadership potential of our gifted learners, helping them become confident, resilient, and responsible individuals.
Connecting with Community
We support creative talents through strong community involvement. Our partnerships with local artists, cultural organisations, and community groups provide students with unique opportunities to explore their creativity beyond the classroom.
By engaging with the community, students gain valuable experiences, inspiration, and mentorship that enrich their learning and help them grow their artistic skills. This collaborative approach ensures that our gifted learners are supported in nurturing their creative passions while building meaningful connections within the wider community.
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