High potential and gifted education (HPGE)
At Lake Illawarra High School, our approach to High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) is grounded in the NSW Department of Education’s policy and informed by Gagné’s Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT). We recognise that students come to us with a wide range of natural abilities, and that true talent emerges when those abilities are intentionally developed through the right opportunities, supports, and learning environments. Our programs are therefore designed to provide challenge, structure, and meaningful pathways that help students transform their gifts into talents.
Our broader HPGE approach is aligned with the Department’s recognition of Gagné’s four domains of high potential:
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Creative: Students are supported to generate original ideas, take intellectual risks, and apply creative thinking across disciplines, particularly through enrichment tasks and inquiry-based learning.
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Intellectual: We extend students through high-order thinking, and opportunities for depth and complexity in each core subject.
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Physical: We recognise and nurture physical talent through specialised programs, sports pathways, and targeted development.
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Social-Emotional: We build students’ wellbeing, leadership, resilience, and self-understanding, acknowledging that personal growth is foundational to academic and creative success.
From 2026, our Year 7 HPGE class will incorporate enrichment across English, Mathematics, and Science. This will include both literacy and numeracy streams, allowing students to work in flexible groups that respond to their strengths, learning pace, and developmental needs. By integrating enrichment across the core subjects, we aim to create a cohesive, high-challenge learning environment that builds deep knowledge, critical thinking, and confidence.
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.
Our high potential and gifted education opportunities
Our students engage with HPGE education in the classroom, in our school, and across NSW.
At Lake Illawarra High School, we are committed to creating a culture where high potential is nurtured, and celebrated. Through the lens of Gagné’s DMGT and the expectations of the HPGE policy, we provide opportunities that challenge learners, develop their strengths, and support them to achieve excellence across all domains.
Our HPGE approach is aligned with the Department’s recognition of Gagné’s four domains of high potential:
- Creative: Students are supported to generate original ideas, take intellectual risks, and apply creative thinking across disciplines, particularly through enrichment tasks and inquiry-based learning.
- Intellectual: We extend students through high-order thinking, and opportunities for depth and complexity in each core subject.
- Physical: We recognise and nurture physical talent through specialised programs, sports pathways, and targeted development.
- Social-Emotional: We build students’ wellbeing, leadership, resilience, and self-understanding, acknowledging that personal growth is foundational to academic and creative success.
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