High potential and gifted education (HPGE)
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.
Our HPGE opportunities
Our students engage with HPGE in our classrooms, across our school and NSW. For information about our enrichment opportunities and programs see our WBHS HPGE Information Handbook.
Why WBHS for your high potential or gifted child?
Appropriate intellectual challenge and enrichment
We understand that HPGE children can learn faster and more deeply than their peers. Our school offers a broad and relevant curriculum, graded classes, differentiated instruction, advanced coursework and HPGE programs to help your child stay engaged, challenged and stimulated.
Supportive teachers and resources
Our teachers and counsellors are trained in working with HPGE students and understand the academic and emotional needs of HPGE learners. Our support system includes personalised academic advising, mentorship opportunities, and social-emotional guidance to help gifted students thrive in all areas.
Opportunities for social and emotional growth
Our school has a strong HPGE program that can offer strong opportunities for meaningful friendships and collaboration, fostering confidence and wellbeing.
Focus on creativity and critical thinking
Many HPGE children are not just fast learners but also original thinkers. Our school fosters creativity, problem-solving, and innovation through open-ended projects, interdisciplinary learning and whole school enrichment opportunities.
Opportunities for enrichment and leadership
Beyond the classroom, we provide a wide variety of enrichment activities and programs to help HPGE students pursue their passions and develop real-world skills.
Advanced learning pathways
Advanced learning pathways offer students learning experiences beyond age-based competency. The term covers a range of learning adjustments such as different forms of acceleration, mentorships, using virtual technology, enrichment and extension.
A peer community of high achievers
At WBHS your child will be part of a motivated, high-achieving student body that values learning. Our community fosters healthy academic competition, collaboration, and friendships with like-minded peers — essential for both personal and intellectual development.
Wellbeing support
Structured wellbeing programs promote mental health, self-regulation and positive social interactions. Our school provides access to wellbeing services, including counsellors, who can help with stress management and building of resilience.
Opportunities to excel the physical domain
At WBHS, our HPGE students enjoy many opportunities to develop and thrive in their sporting passions and endeavours with regional, state, national and international success.
Quality teaching
Quality learning
Quality relationships
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.
In our classroom
- Graded classes Years 7-10
- EEE Classes in Years 7 and 8
- Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking
- Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning
- Advanced learning pathways
- Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies
- Opportunities for abstraction, inquiry, and curriculum depth
- Tasks that promote choice, authenticity, and critical and creative thinking including cross-curricular projects
- Flexible grouping for collaborative ideation and presentation
- Supportive learning environments that enable exploration and self-assessment
- Strengths-based feedback and goal setting
- Opportunities for leadership within the classroom and across the school
- Structured peer collaboration and reflection.
- Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance
Across our school
- Debating
- Academic competitions
- Critical thinking workshops
- School musicals
- Music ensembles
- Visual arts and drama showcases
- Sports - regional, state and national
- House competitions
- Performance-based movement groups
- Peer mentoring
- Chess club
- Student leadership
- Wellbeing programs
- Participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives
Across NSW
- Our students participate in a wide range of statewide programs to extend and enrich student potential. Statewide/NSW Department of Education level support is available for our high potential and gifted students.
- We provide access to local, state and national competitions and events to help students explore and extend their talents.
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