High potential and gifted education

At Paddington Public School, HPGE lives in everyday practice. Many students have high potential, and we help that potential to grow into something powerful. We nurture potential across the four domains - intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical, ensuring every learner has opportunities to extend their strengths.

• Teachers identify students' learning needs in the classroom and use evidence-informed teaching practices to challenge and extend students. We provide learning pathways, including enrichment and extension programs.
• Our supportive classroom environments promote a sense of belonging and encourage risk-taking, creativity and collaboration.
• Groups are flexible, students take lead roles, and feedback is strengths-based with clear goals and self-assessment.
• Our teachers engage in professional learning to support the diverse needs of all students, including our high potential and gifted learners.
• Our school collaborates with external experts and local HPGE networks to provide extension opportunities beyond the classroom.

As every student is an individual, we offer opportunities that are flexible and diverse.

• Students enhance their strengths by engaging in public speaking, debating, competitions, emphasising critical thinking and participating in STEAM activities within the Makerspace and coding programs such as Code Club Australia.
• Talent is celebrated through events such as the Port Jackson Festival, Visual Art shows, choir, guitar group, drama and dance opportunities. These programs celebrate creativity and give students a chance to perform for authentic audiences.
• The Chess Club helps develop strategic thinking, problem-solving and concentration skills, while providing an enjoyable opportunity to compete against other schools and peers.
• Our school offers extension groups in Mathematics and Spelling. providing students with opportunities to engage in challenging, enriched learning experiences. Students work collaboratively with peers across the school, to extend their knowledge and develop higher order thinking skills. In 2026, these groups will expand to cover the whole of English.
• Leadership grows through participation in the Student Representative Council and buddy program, while wellbeing is nurtured through the Friendology program.
• Our Student Leadership Team confidently run weekly and whole-school assemblies, welcome visitors and new families by leading school tours, and supporting our youngest students during kindergarten orientation. They also represent Paddington Public School at community events. These opportunities help students build confidence, develop organisational and teamwork skills and grow as responsible, inspiring leaders.
• Daily life invites curiosity and belonging, with Open Library at lunch, and clubs like News club.
• Nurturing and extending sporting skills is supported through PSSA sport and PE programs.

Our students participate in a wide range of statewide programs to extend and enrich student potential.

• Students participate in opportunities such as DoE Game Changer Challenge, APSMO Maths Olympiad, DoE WriteOn, Premier’s Spelling Bee, Premier’s Multicultural Public Speaking, Dorothea Mackellar Poetry, ACF Wild at Art, Nagoya Sister City Art Exchange and NAIDOC poetry.
• Statewide and NSW Department of Education support is available for high potential and gifted students, and we assist with entries, preparation and reflection to ensure each experience contributes to individual student learning growth.