Inspire – High potential and gifted education

At Narrabri Public School, we are dedicated to recognising and nurturing the unique talents of our high potential and gifted students. We integrate high potential and gifted education programs seamlessly into daily learning experiences, ensuring that every child’s strengths are developed across cognitive, creative, physical and socio-emotional domains. Our approach is inclusive and comprehensive, with a focus on providing challenging, engaging, and supportive learning pathways that empower students to reach their full potential.

Teachers at Narrabri Public School carefully identify and respond to each student’s learning needs through evidence-informed teaching practices. We offer enrichment opportunities, extension tasks, acceleration where appropriate, and flexible groupings designed to inspire creativity, critical and higher-order thinking skills, and collaboration. Our commitment extends beyond cognitive development to support growth across the creative, physical, and social-emotional domains as well. Family insights are encouraged and valued in the identification and support processes, ensuring a strong partnership in each child's learning journey.

Narrabri Public School is committed to fostering the whole child by embracing the principles of the NSW Department of Education’s high potential and gifted education policy. By supporting development across the intellectual, creative, physical, and social-emotional domains, and through broadly diverse and highly engaging targeted programs, we ensure that every learner is nurtured, challenged, and celebrated. We believe that when high potential and giftedness is recognised and supported in a holistic and inclusive manner, all students have the opportunity to thrive and achieve meaningful success.

Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

Intellectual (Cognitive) Domain

Students demonstrating advanced intellectual abilities are supported through tailored learning experiences that promote deep inquiry, higher-order thinking, and a love of learning. At Narrabri Public School, high-performing students access Literacy Enrichment Classes or other learning enrichment and differentiated programs featuring open-ended tasks, problem solving, and independent research. Students are further extended through school-based enrichment groups and external assessment pathways.

Creative Domain

Narrabri Public School nurtures creativity by providing rich opportunities for students to explore and express original ideas through visual arts, music, dance, and innovative thinking. Through programs such as the HPGE Creative Group, award-winning choir, Kamilaroi Dance Group, and a range of student-led clubs, learners are encouraged to take creative risks, develop their talents, and share their work within the school and wider community. Students’ achievements are celebrated through exhibitions, performances, community partnerships, and success in regional and state competitions.

Physical Domain

Narrabri Public School values physical wellbeing and skill development as a key element of high potential and gifted education. Students participate in targeted physical programs that build coordination, confidence, and resilience through sport and movement-based challenges. From advanced Fundamental Movement Skills in the early years to specialist coaching in athletics, swimming, and competitive sports in primary years, programs are designed to nurture physical potential across all stages.

Social-Emotional Domain

Narrabri Public School recognises that high potential and gifted learners require strong social and emotional support to thrive. Students are supported through wellbeing programs, leadership opportunities, and collaborative learning that build resilience, confidence, empathy, and communication skills. Through initiatives such as Culture Council, Student Representative Council, and the Year 6 Leadership Team, students develop cultural understanding, advocacy, and leadership capability while contributing meaningfully to the school and wider community.

What is high potential and gifted education?

Inspire – 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.

Opportunities across the school to participate in enrichment groups for literacy and numeracy are valued by staff, students and their families. Students have opportunities to work beyond the classrooms by participating in external assessment pathways including Newcastle Permanent Maths Assessment, Maths Olympiad, ICAS assessments, and Aurora class selective placement assessments.

At Narrabri Public School, our HPGE Creative Group, led by the talented Ms Lisa Marple, is a vibrant program where the artistic talents of our students truly shine. Students dive into both two- and three-dimensional artmaking—exploring painting, printing, drawing, sculpture and so much more. Our young artists are encouraged to think creatively and critically, developing their own unique styles and stories. In 2025, we were proud to have brought poetry to life by illustrating original poems written by students, and worked closely with our student Culture Council, to celebrate Indigenous art through meaningful projects, including a powerful NAIDOC Week art installation.

Our students have proudly shared their artwork through exhibitions at local events like the Narrabri Show, and the Narrabri CREATE Festival. We celebrate outstanding achievements including students being shortlisted and winning in the NERAM art competition, with some works becoming part of the gallery’s permanent collection—a truly remarkable honour.

Our award-winning school choir, led by the incomparable Ms Sharon Stoltenberg, provide opportunities to grow potential in the musical arena, with group and targeted tuition building identified student capacity to perform at school, local, and regional events.

Our community collaboration extends further with a colourful mural created in partnership with the Narrabri Shire Council, brightening and uplifting a local shared space for all to enjoy. Sharing creativity beyond our school, we also join with Narrabri High School on exciting projects, building connections and inspiring each other.

Our Kamilaroi Dance Group, led by the passionate Mrs (Aunty) Pattie Lettice, fosters student potential across K-6 in performing choreographed dance sequences under the tutelage of guest artists. Students represent their culture and community and have been celebrated for performances at school and regional, local Eisteddfods and community festivals. We also provide student-led opportunities for students with high interest and potential in contemporary and other forms of dance, chess, and croquet through our clubs during lunch breaks.

Infants and Primary HPGE physical programs focus on the advanced development of the Fundamental Movement Skills that lead to confident and efficient mastery of the diverse skills required to compete in a broad variety of sports. In the primary years, identified students work with specialist staff to enhance high potential skills across athletics, swimming, track, and competitive sport fields that are cyclically adjusted throughout the year to align to the current calendar.

Identified students’ in Stage 3 have the opportunity to participate in the Culture Council, developing skills and knowledge around culture, language and customs of our local Gamillaroi People. They collaborate with coordinating staff to explore through inquiry and experience, sharing their growing knowledge with their peers and mentoring younger students to strengthen their connection to culture and country.

Student leadership through the Student Representative Council builds students capacity to communicate, problem solve, and advocate for areas of interest and improvement, fostering in them an understanding of how to work towards collective goals that improve the community as a whole.

Our Year 6 Leadership Team comprises of 17 elected positions, with students developing their potential to nominate and advocate for themselves through an election campaign in Year 5, and then undertake increasingly challenging roles and responsibilities in Year 6. These students participate in GRIP Leadership and Young Leaders of the West programs, consultation forums with staff leaders, presenting speeches at school and community events, coordinating weekly assemblies, and representing the school across a range of platforms.

High potential and Gifted learners require strong social and emotional support to thrive. Our classrooms nurture emotional resilience, self-awareness, and positive social connections. We provide opportunities for leadership, collaborative learning, and self-reflection, helping students build confidence and empathy alongside their intellectual development. Programs including public speaking, debating, wellbeing programs, leadership development and other interpersonal development opportunities help foster potential in identified students.

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.

Contact us