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?
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.
We have:
- Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking.
- Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning.
- 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.
- Differentiated movement tasks and skill refinement in PDHPE.
- Targeted learning goals for coordination, agility, and control.
- Opportunities to take on lead roles in physical demonstrations or team strategy.
- Supportive learning environments that enable exploration and self-assessment.
- Strengths-based feedback and goal setting.
- Opportunities for leadership within the classroom.
- Structured peer collaboration and reflection.
- Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance.
We have:
- Debating
- Chess Club
- Academic competitions (ICAS)
- Dance
- Music ensembles (3 bands)
- Visual art - Japanese Art Exchange
- Creative writing groups
- HZSS Teams
- Peer mentoring (Buddy CLasses, PALS, Playmates)
- Student leadership (SRC, School Leaders, Sports Junior and Senior Captains)
- Wellbeing programs
- Participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives.
- Hornsby Zone School Sports (HZSS) is a sports organisation intended to act as a pathway for HPGE (High Potential and Gifted Education) students in the physical domain. It allows students to demonstrate their skills and compete against fellow Hornsby Zone students. While a HPGE organisation, HZSS also ensures an encouraging and friendly sporting environment. HZSS Summer and Winter competition
We have:
- Multicultual Public Speaking Competition
- Enrichment Opportunities offered via Hornsby High School
- Participation in music ensembles (e.g. State Wind Orchestra, State Choirs) hones our students’ musical skills, discipline and ensemble awareness.
- The Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) promotes whole-school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and professional learning.
- The Representative School Sport Pathway and HZSS events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.
Academic competitions
Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO)
Hornsby Heights Public School has a proud tradition of participating in the Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO), a series of competitions challenging students aged 8 to 14 with age-appropriate mathematical problem solving. With four tests throughout the year, this program plays a key role in enhancing problem-solving skills. We also offer "Maths Games" which is another maths program within the APSMO family.
Year 6 Debating Program
All Year 6 students at HHPS engage in a challenging and rewarding debating program each year. Through this experience, our learners develop essential skills such as confident public speaking, effective body language, and polished presentation. They also cultivate logical reasoning, creative and critical thinking, while expanding their awareness of social issues and general knowledge. This program not only strengthens their debating abilities but also empowers them with valuable life skills that will serve them well beyond the classroom.
Band Program
The Band Program is a proud and cherished tradition at HHPS, offering a vibrant and enriching musical journey for our students through three distinct ensembles: the Training Band, Concert Band, and Performing Band. Our dedicated Band Committee leads this dynamic program with passion and commitment, ensuring a supportive environment for all participants. Our skilled Conductors, alongside a devoted team of tutors and parent volunteers, guide weekly rehearsals and provide individual tutorials, fostering each student’s growth and musicianship. Throughout the year, students have numerous opportunities to showcase their talents, including the annual Band Camp, music festivals, and collaborative events with local schools. These experiences allow our young musicians to shine, and as a result, our band membership continues to thrive and inspire.
Dance Ensemble
Dance Ensemble is a selective and creative group where students from Years 3-6 are given the opportunity to express themselves through the movement of dance. The Dance Ensemble group rehearse weekly with a professional dance teacher to develop two technical and advanced routines.
Choir
Students from Years 3-6 have the opportunity to join the Choir. They rehearse weekly during playtime. From learning new songs to performing at school events, our choir's singing has brought energy and heart to assemblies and school celebrations.
Japanese Art Exchange
The Nagoya Sister City Art Exchange is a program run by the Department of Education's Arts Unit. Artworks are submitted by NSW public school students from Years K-12 for consideration to be included in an international art exchange. Selected artworks are then transported overseas and exhibited in Nagoya, Japan. Artworks from Nagoya are sent in reciprocation to the participating school. The annual event encourages and demonstrates friendship and cultural exchange, which in turn promotes the further development of sister city relationships, strengthening our international community of learning. Each year we submit exceptional artwork.
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