High potential and gifted education

Our multi-age classes are a particular strength, providing natural opportunities for students to engage with peers at different stages of learning. This structure supports personalised challenge, flexible pacing, and rich opportunities for peer modelling, leadership, and collaboration.

Our approach is grounded in differentiated learning that adjusts the pace, depth, and complexity of tasks, ensuring students are consistently challenged through higher-order thinking. Formative assessment remains central to our practice, enabling teachers to monitor progress closely, respond to student needs, and support continued growth.

We prioritise explicit teaching of critical and creative thinking, problem-solving, metacognition, and growth mindset habits, helping students understand how they learn and empowering them to take ownership of their progress. Flexible grouping structures encourage collaboration, shared ideation, and opportunities to present learning to peers.

Peer Support sessions and Circle Time further strengthen our learning culture by building relationships, promoting student voice, encouraging reflection, and supporting social-emotional development. These routines enhance students’ confidence, empathy, and sense of belonging-key conditions for high potential learners to thrive.

Students are provided with meaningful opportunities to lead-whether through guiding group strategy, demonstrating skills, contributing to whole-class discussions, or setting personal learning goals supported by strengths-based feedback.

Above all, our classrooms are safe, supportive environments built on trust, inclusivity, and high expectations. Students are encouraged to take risks, explore new ideas, reflect on their thinking, and persevere through challenge. Through these practices, we ensure every learner has the opportunity to thrive and extend their potential.

At Rankins Springs Public School, High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) is incorporated across the whole school with a focus on flexible, diverse, and meaningful opportunities that recognise the individuality of every student. Through multi-age classes, inclusive practices, and intentional whole-school programs, we ensure students have rich opportunities to extend their potential across the four HPGE domains—Intellectual, Creative, Social-Emotional, and Physical.

• SRC (Student Representative Council)
  Builds student voice, leadership, decision-making, and collaboration.
  Domains: Social-Emotional, Intellectual.
• STEM Learning
  Encourages inquiry, problem-solving, innovation, and higher-order thinking through hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics experiences.
  Domains: Intellectual, Creative.
• Small Schools Network: Creative Arts Collaboration
  Provides opportunities for visual arts, music, dance, and drama through shared programs with neighbouring schools, enriching creative expression and performance skills.
  Domains: Creative, Social-Emotional.
• Sporting Programs and Carnivals
  Offer opportunities for skill development, teamwork, determination, and physical extension at both school and network levels.
  Domains: Physical, Social-Emotional.
• Weekly Sporting Coaches Sessions
  Regular lessons with visiting sporting coaches develop physical skills, strategic thinking, confidence, resilience, and teamwork in a supported, high-quality environment.
  Domains: Physical, Social-Emotional.
• Collaboration with Griffith Theatre for Live Performance Experiences
  Enhances students’ confidence, creativity, communication, and understanding of the performing arts through authentic theatre engagement.
  Domains: Creative, Social-Emotional.
• Author Visits and Workshops
  Inspire creativity, deepen literacy skills, foster curiosity, and connect students with real-world creators.
  Domains: Intellectual, Creative.
• Pre-school Visits and Transition-to-School Opportunities
  Build early confidence, familiarity with school routines, social connection, and developmental readiness—supporting high potential from the earliest years.
  Domains: Social-Emotional, Intellectual.

Across NSW Rankins Springs Public School actively participates in a range of statewide initiatives that broaden students’ experiences, challenge their thinking, and extend their potential beyond the classroom. These programs provide authentic opportunities for students to engage with peers across NSW, build confidence, and develop skills across multiple domains.

• Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC)
  Promotes whole-school participation in physical activity while developing teamwork, leadership pathways, and professional learning for staff. Students build healthy habits, resilience, and a strong sense of personal achievement.

• Premier’s Spelling Bee
  Extends vocabulary development, spelling accuracy, and attention to detail in a supportive yet competitive environment. Students strengthen their language skills and gain confidence presenting under pressure.
• Premier’s Debating Challenge
  Builds students’ ability to construct logical arguments, think critically, listen actively, and speak with confidence. This challenge fosters respectful dialogue, collaboration, and high-level communication skills.
• Premier’s Reading Challenge
  Encourages students to engage with a wide variety of texts, broaden their perspectives, and develop a lifelong love of reading. Participation supports comprehension, imagination, and deep thinking.
• Representative School Sport Pathway & PSSA Events
  Provide opportunities for students to trial, train, and compete at regional, state, and national levels. Through these pathways, students develop discipline, commitment, sportsmanship, and high-level physical skills.