High potential and gifted education

At laguna Street Public School, we recognise that high potential takes many forms across all learners. Our approach to High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) is integrated into daily teaching and learning practices. It is driven by a strong emphasis on formative assessment, evidence-based methodologies, and tailored differentiation to cater to the individual strengths and needs of every student.

Examples of evidence-based teaching strategies implemented in classrooms to support all learners include:

Use of Formative Assessment Tools
Teachers consistently employ diagnostic assessments, observational checklists, and student self-assessments to uncover strengths and areas for improvement across various learning domains. This ongoing data collection guides lesson planning and differentiation, promoting continuous growth and engagement for every student.

Differentiated Learning Activities and Flexible Grouping
Learning tasks are thoughtfully designed with varying levels of complexity, allowing students to work independently, in pairs, or in flexible groups according to their interests and abilities. This approach ensures suitably challenging tasks while fostering collaboration, leadership, motivation, and social skills development.

High Expectations Woven into Lesson Design
Educators explicitly set and communicate high expectations by crafting learning goals that encourage higher-order thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Students are motivated to set personal goals and reflect on their progress, nurturing a growth mindset, resilience, and confidence that lead to deeper learning and elevated achievement.

Student Leadership and Voice
Students assume leadership roles in projects, discussions, and school initiatives aligned with their interests. They actively participate in goal-setting and self-assessment processes, which cultivates responsibility, motivation, and leadership capabilities.

Continuous Professional Learning and Collaborative Practices
Teachers engage regularly in professional development focused on HPGE strategies. Collaborative planning and sharing of best practices strengthen instructional quality and consistency, ensuring all students benefit from responsive, differentiated curriculum design that supports talent development.

At Laguna Street Public School, High Potential and Gifted Education forms a vital part of our core business. We recognise and nurture the unique talents of every student by providing flexible, diverse, and enriching opportunities that support growth across academic, creative, social, and physical domains.

Here are some of the opportunities available to support the talent development of students at Laguna Street Public School:

• Interschool sport competitions
• Representative sport pathways
• Student Representative Council
• Public speaking and debating
• Dance groups
• Drama
• Choirs
• Chess
• School camp
• Wellbeing programs
• Science solar challenges
• Curriculum aligned excursions & incursions

We actively participate in statewide competitions and activities, providing our students with valuable opportunities to challenge themselves and perform at their best. Through this collaborative and enriched approach, we ensure every student’s unique talents are recognised, developed, and celebrated.

Here are some of the opportunities available to support the talent development of students at Laguna Street Public School:

• Dorethea McKellar Poetry Competition
• State Dance Festival
• Festival of Choral Music
• School Spectacular
• NSW PSSA School sport pathways
• Premier’s debating Challenge and Spelling Bee
• Australian Problem-Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO)