High Potential and Gifted Education
At Warnervale Public School, we are committed to supporting and extending the learning of all students in line with the NSW Department of Education’s High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Policy. We recognise that every student has unique strengths, interests, and abilities, and we aim to nurture these through a balanced and inclusive approach that encourages every learner to achieve personal excellence.
Our school provides a supportive, engaging, and challenging learning environment where students are encouraged to take risks in their learning, think creatively, and strive for their best. We believe in developing the whole child - academically, socially, emotionally, physically, and creatively - so that every student is equipped to thrive both at school and beyond.
At Warnervale Public School, we identify and nurture high potential and gifted students across four key domains:
- Creative Domain: Students are provided with rich opportunities to think innovatively, express themselves artistically, and engage in imaginative and original projects that foster creativity and problem-solving.
- Intellectual Domain: Our programs challenge and extend students through deep learning, critical and creative thinking, and opportunities for enrichment across all key learning areas.
- Physical Domain: Recognising the importance of physical development, we support students in enhancing their coordination, health, and physical skills through targeted activities and sports. Our programs encourage students to set goals, challenge themselves, and celebrate their achievements across various sporting arenas.
- Social-Emotional Domain: We value the wellbeing and personal growth of our students, fostering resilience, leadership, empathy, and collaboration so they can build strong connections within our school and wider community.
At Warnervale Public School, we take pride in creating pathways for all students to discover, develop, and demonstrate their potential. Through the HPGE framework, staff networking and ongoing professional learning, we ensure that learning is challenging, engaging, and purposeful, helping every learner to shine in their own way.
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.
Learn more about HPGE here
Commitment to High Potential and Gifted Education
Warnervale Public School is proud to be an active participant in the Central Coast Teacher Network and APCI networks, collaborating with schools across the region to share innovative practice and explore current research in gifted education. Through these professional learning communities, our teachers engage in continuous development to refine their expertise and strengthen opportunities for high potential and gifted learners.
This ongoing commitment ensures that our school remains at the forefront of educational practice - fostering excellence, inclusion, and opportunity for every student.
Our high potential and gifted education opportunities
Our students can take part in HPGE opportunities in the classroom, in our school, and across NSW.
In our classroom
At Warnervale Public School, high potential and gifted education (HPGE) is embedded in our everyday teaching and learning. Many of our students demonstrate exceptional talents, and we are committed to supporting and developing these strengths into meaningful and lasting achievements.
Our teachers identify each student’s learning needs within the classroom and apply evidence-based strategies to extend and challenge their abilities. We provide a range of learning pathways, including enrichment programs, extension tasks, and, where appropriate, acceleration. Students are identified by teachers — with valuable insights from families — as having high potential or giftedness across the cognitive, creative, physical, or social-emotional domains. This information is shared collaboratively across the school to ensure consistent and effective support for every learner.
We aim to create classroom environments that nurture a sense of belonging and encourage creativity, curiosity, risk-taking, and collaboration. Gifted students, particularly within the cognitive domain, engage in open-ended learning tasks and enrichment opportunities designed to challenge their individual level of readiness.
Flexible grouping, leadership opportunities, and strength-based feedback with clear goals and self-reflection are key features of our approach.
Across our school and the community beyond
At Warnervale Public School, we provide a wide range of opportunities to support and enrich our High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) students both within the classroom and across the wider community. Our programs aim to nurture talents across multiple domains, offering pathways for students to explore their strengths, extend their learning, and excel beyond the school setting.
Our practices align with the NSW Department of Education’s HPGE Policy, which emphasises the importance of recognising and supporting giftedness across four key domains:
Creative Domain
• School Spectacular (det link)
• Central Coast Dance Festival (det link)
• StarStruck
• Central Coast Choral Festival (det link)
• State Drama Festival
• Primary PROMS – State signing choir
• Didgeridoo group
• Aboriginal dance group
• Warnervale Showcase
• Warnervale’s Got Talent
• Harmony Day cultural performances
• ANZAC & Remembrance Day choral performances
• Visual Arts enrichment class
• Guitar group
Intellectual (Cognitive) Domain
• Regional Gifted & Talented Camp
• STEM - Lego Club, Straw Tower Competition, 3D printing, Robotics
• Public Speaking
• Spelling Bee
• Debating
• Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition
• Extension Mathematics Program
• ICAS competitions
• Chess
• Writing workshop
Physical Domain
• Representative NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) https://app.education.nsw.gov.au/sport/School/FindZoneRegion
• Individual & team sports
• Gala days
• Knock out competitions
Social-Emotional Domain
• School student leaders
• Junior Ngara AECG Representatives
• Student Representative Council (SRC)
• Student Voice Project
• Community service projects
At Warnervale Public School, we are dedicated to nurturing the whole child by recognising and developing potential across the cognitive, creative, physical, and social-emotional domains. We are committed to providing rich, diverse, and authentic opportunities that challenge, inspire, and empower our high potential and gifted learners to thrive - both within our school and in the broader community.
Excelling in the Intellectual Domain
Ethan’s recent achievement in the 45th Newcastle Permanent Primary School Mathematics Competition is a strong reflection of the talent emerging through our High Potential and Gifted Education programs. Ethan earned a High Distinction, placing him in the top 1.5% of more than 15,000 students, and achieved a perfect score, ranking equal first across the Hunter and Central Coast region. Ethan is an enthusiastic participant in our Extension Mathematics Program. His accomplishment showcases the exceptional potential nurtured within our school.
Excelling in the Physical Domain
Braxton, one of our gifted young athletes, showcased his exceptional talent on the field by helping Sydney North secure the joint State Rugby Championship. His outstanding performance also earned him selection in the NSW Rugby Union squad. Braxton’s success highlights how recognising and nurturing the strengths of high-potential students, can lead to remarkable achievements beyond the classroom. His talent was first identified and supported in Year 4 through our school rugby league program, where he was selected for the school team that went on to win the NSW Rugby League Championship.
Excelling in the Social-Emotional Domain
Harper has demonstrated outstanding success across multiple areas of school life, embodying the qualities of a true leader. As School Captain, she leads with integrity, empathy and confidence, inspiring those around her through her positive attitude and inclusive spirit. Representing our school at the regional public speaking competition, Harper showcased her articulate communication skills and intellectual curiosity. Most recently, she vibrantly hosted the Central Coast Choral Festival, engaging an audience of over 1000 people with warmth and professionalism. Harper’s achievements highlight her growth across the HPGE domains of leadership, social and emotional development, and intellectual capability, reflecting her commitment to excellence and community.
Excelling in the Creative Domain
Our school Signing Choir has shared their talent and dedication through performances at school events, regional concerts, and as proud members of the State Signing Ensemble. Through their commitment to learning AUSLAN, students develop expressive and creative communication skills while gaining a deep understanding of language and inclusion. Collaborating with hearing-impaired students enriches their social and emotional growth, fostering empathy, teamwork, and respect for diversity. Their journey reflects excellence across the HPGE domains of Creative Arts, Social and Emotional Development, and Intellectual (Languages), showcasing the power of music and language to connect and inspire. Primary Proms link
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 clubs, sports and other activities your child can enjoy at school.
Our principal and staff
Get to know our principal and staff, who work together to create a positive school culture.