High potential and gifted education

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.

Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

Intellectual Domain

We extend students’ thinking through rich, challenging learning experiences that promote problem-solving, creativity, and critical reflection.

In class differentiation
International Competitions and Assessments for Schools (ICAS)
Project-based learning
Public Speaking

Physical Domain

We provide opportunities for students to develop skill, coordination, and perseverance through active participation in sport and movement.

PSSA Gala Days
Inter-school sport opportunities
Wentworthville/Seven Hills PSSA Representation
Sydney West Regional Representation
NSW PSSA state representation
Athletics, Swimming and Cross Country carnivals

Social-Emotional Domain

We build confidence, empathy, and resilience by supporting students to understand themselves and work positively with others.

School leadership (school captains and prefects)
Student Representative council (SRC)
Student-led initiatives and planning teams
Sports House captains
Mentoring roles though buddy programs
Whole school assemblies led by students
Community impact projects

Creative Domain

We nurture originality and innovation by encouraging students to explore ideas, take risks, and express themselves in diverse and imaginative ways.

Choir
Junior and Senior dance groups
Student-led choreography
Cultural dance group
Fully funded whole-school dance programs biannually
Representative dance experiences through BFOPA (Blacktown Festival of Performing Arts) giving students opportunity to participate in performances beyond the school
Community events and performances
Drama and performing arts
A vibrant Music program, enabling students to develop their creative voice

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.

In our classroom

At Bert Oldfield Public School, every child is known, valued and cared for. Our teachers use evidence-informed practice and a deep understanding of each learner to tailor instruction; challenge thinking and extend potential across all Key Learning Areas. Daily classroom practice includes differentiation, goal-oriented feedback, and opportunities for students to demonstrate their strengths through inquiry, collaboration and creative problem-solving.

Support is embedded into everyday learning. Adjustments, targeted interventions and personalised pathways ensure students with additional needs are supported to meaningfully access the curriculum. Likewise, students who are ready for greater challenge engage in enrichment tasks, academic stretch activities and extension opportunities designed to deepen knowledge and strengthen higher-order thinking.

Classrooms at BOPS are welcoming, inclusive spaces where students feel safe to take risks, express ideas, think creatively and build the confidence needed to thrive as independent learners.

Across our school

Our school is rich in opportunity, reflecting the diverse strengths, cultures and talents of our students. Across Bert Oldfield PS, students can participate in a wide range of programs that nurture creativity, curiosity, leadership, wellbeing and connection.

Students have access to a broad suite of enrichment and extracurricular opportunities including:

Junior Dance Group & Senior Dance Group – developing performance skills, teamwork and creative expression
School Choir – providing opportunities for vocal performance and cultural celebration

Gardening Club – fostering environmental awareness, responsibility and hands-on learning

Library Monitors – student-led support roles that build responsibility, communication and organisation

Student Voice & Leadership – including the Student Representative Council (SRC), school captains, house captains and event leadership

Community Hub Programs – offering playgroups, family workshops, wellbeing activities and opportunities that strengthen school–community partnerships

Play Support & Inclusive Social Programs – helping students develop friendships, social skills and positive peer connections

Interschool Sport & Representative Pathways – enabling students to compete, collaborate and strive for excellence at local, zone and regional levels

Academic Competitions & Challenges – including ICAS, public speaking, spelling bees, and various academic challenge opportunities

Sporting Challenge Programs – promoting physical activity, teamwork and personal fitness goals

These opportunities ensure students are able to grow across the four domains of potential — creative, intellectual, physical and social-emotional — while also strengthening confidence, belonging and self-leadership.

Our Community Hub further enhances this by connecting families to programs, services and culturally responsive initiatives that build community, wellbeing and engagement.

Across NSW

As a NSW public school, our students benefit from state-wide opportunities that extend and enrich learning beyond the school gate. Students can participate in:

Premier’s challenges (e.g., Premier’s Spelling Bee, public speaking opportunities, multicultural public speaking)

ICAS and other nationally recognised academic competitions

Regional and zone sport carnivals, gala days and representative trials

Department of Education enrichment programs, arts events, leadership initiatives and learning festivals

We support students with preparation, reflection and ongoing feedback so that each experience strengthens learning and personal growth.