High potential and gifted education
St George Girls High School is a supportive learning environment that empowers high potential learners to explore their talents and achieve both academic and personal growth within a culture of high expectations.
We value high impact teaching and collaborative practice to build self-regulated, reflective and resilient learners.
Our approach:
High Expectations
At St George Girls High School, we believe in every student. Our community understands that students who experience high expectations at school are more likely to have improved learning outcomes, increased interest and motivation in lessons, better attendance and more positive school behaviours. For this reason, we hold high expectations for all of our students.
Data Use
We use a range of qualitative and quantitative data to identify individual learning needs across the four domains of potential, differentiate teaching accordingly, and rigorously evaluate the effectiveness of our programs. We draw on both formative and summative assessments, alongside student voice, to ensure programs are responsive and continually refined.
Equity
At St George Girls High School, high potential and gifted students from all backgrounds have access to quality learning opportunities. Our teachers use culturally responsive teaching methods, recognising that cultural backgrounds influence students' ways of knowing, thinking and communicating. Our commitment reflects best practice in ensuring gifted education is accessible and inclusive, regardless of background.
Evidence-based
Our school is informed by current evidence into what works best. Our co-curricular Dragon PRIDE Program complements the explicit teaching that takes place in the classroom by systematically building students' self-regulation and meta-cognitive skills, which research identifies as key predictors of long-term success.
Safe and Supportive Learning Environment
St George Girls High School is a thriving community of diverse learners. We work collaboratively with students, parents and the community to support wellbeing, growth and achievement.
Professional Learning
Staff at St George Girls High School engage with current research and collaborate in professional learning communities to embed best practice across classrooms. This allows us to continually refine our practice and ensure we meet the needs of our diverse learners. We use student data to identify the professional learning most likely to deliver measurable impact for our students.
Continuous Improvement
We undertake rigorous self-assessment to ensure we effectively extend and support high potential and gifted learners. We benchmark our progress against evidence-based standards and seek feedback from students and parents to ensure continual growth.
Our commitment to evidence‑based practice ensures that high potential and gifted learners at St George Girls High School are not only challenged but supported to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally.
Hear what our students have to say about HPGE at St George Girls High School
Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?
Recognising potential and developing talent
At St George Girls High School, our students’ diverse potential is recognised, nurtured, and celebrated. We encourage every learner to explore a wide range of endeavours and to strive for personal excellence.
Tailored lessons
Every student has unique abilities. Teachers at St George Girls High School are skilled at designing optimal levels of challenge for high potential and gifted learners. We engage students in deeper, more abstract learning, while offering structured extension and enrichment opportunities. This reflects best practice in gifted education, ensuring challenge is matched to readiness and ability.
Rich opportunities and activities
Our students pursue their passions beyond the classroom through a wide range of opportunities in the arts, leadership, sport, science, and charity. These extra‑curricular programs foster self‑efficacy, agency, and leadership skills, consistent with evidence showing that these attributes are critical for lifelong success.
Opening doors to wider experiences
Students at St George Girls High School regularly participate in state‑wide and national programs that extend learning, broaden perspectives, and enrich potential across academic and extra‑curricular domains. These authentic, real‑world experiences are a hallmark of best practice in extending gifted learners.
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.
Classrooms at St George Girls High School are safe and supportive spaces where all students are challenged and encouraged to thrive.
Lessons are purposefully designed to provide optimal challenge across the four domains of potential: creative, intellectual, physical, and social‑emotional.
Tasks are differentiated through pace, complexity, and higher‑order thinking, ensuring students are stretched without being overwhelmed.
Student autonomy is promoted through the explicit teaching of critical thinking, problem‑solving, and collaborative skills.
Learners are encouraged to take risks and view setbacks as a necessary step towards excellence.
Effective feedback and goal‑setting guide students towards achieving their personal best.
Student voice and choice, real‑world tasks, and flexible grouping promote deeper engagement.
Teachers strategically use formative assessment to gather timely insights into student growth, and students have the opportunity to undertake accelerated learning pathways.
We provide a diverse range of co‑curricular and extra‑curricular opportunities for students to develop and demonstrate their passions and strengths.
Student Leadership
Students are encouraged to pursue leadership across the school and are provided with both formal and informal opportunities to advocate for themselves and their peers, including Prefect Body, Student Representative Council, Dragon PRIDE Ambassadors, Enviro Council, Sports Captains, Library Monitors, Peer Support Program, and extra‑curricular clubs.
STEM
We are passionate about promoting women in STEM and provide diverse opportunities to engage in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, including Talented Mathematics Day, Coding Club and Competitions, Robotics Club, and TAFE courses.
Community Service
Students are supported to give back to society through initiatives that develop compassion, empathy, and inclusivity, such as Food 4 Good and the Intergenerational Program.
Humanities
By engaging with our humanities programs, students develop reasoning and communication skills through Public Speaking and Debating.
Sports and Physical Activities
Students can pursue sporting potential through after‑school teams (badminton, cycling, volleyball), knockout competitions (netball, soccer, cricket, volleyball, touch football), and programs such as the Duke of Edinburgh.
Creative and Performing Arts
Giftedness in the creative and performing arts is celebrated, nurtured, and extended, building confidence and self‑expression. Opportunities include the Visual Arts Competition and Exhibition, Music Ensemble Program (Orchestra, Stage Band, Concert Band, Acapella, String Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble), Drama Showcase Evening, State Drama, Bollywood Dance Troupe, Lego Competition, Inspired TAS Showcase Evening, and the SGGHS Yearbook.
Our students participate in a range of state‑wide programs that extend and enrich potential.
- Schools Spectacular celebrates the talents, diversity, and creativity of students across NSW public schools.
- Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) promotes whole‑school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and professional learning.
- Representative School Sport Pathway, PSSA, and CHSSA events enable students to trial and compete at regional, state, and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment, and collaboration.
- Premier’s Debating Challenge, NSW Public Schools Poetry Slam, Plain English Speaking Award, and Model United Nations Assembly (MUNA) build logical reasoning and confidence in public speaking.
- Students also challenge themselves through national competitions including the Australian Mathematics and Science Competitions, Newcastle University Business Plan Challenge, Titration Competition, Olympiads (Mathematics, Science, Computational Linguistics), and the Da Vinci Decathlon.
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.