High potential and gifted education

At Westport Public School, HPGE lives in everyday practice. We are committed to recognising and nurturing high potential and gifted students, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive at our school providing social, intellectual, physical and creative opportunities.

• Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking​.
• Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning​.
• Explicit teaching across the curriculum.
• Flexible grouping for collaborative ideation and presentation​.
• Differentiated movement tasks and skill refinement in PDHPE​.
• 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, with clear success criteria.
• Opportunities for leadership within the classroom​ (SRC).
• Learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance​.

Our school recognises that every student is individual, and we provide flexible and diverse opportunities for students to explore and grow their strengths in and outside the classroom.

• Year 6 Leaders and class SRC representatives support students’ social and emotional growth by leading key events like Anzac Day, Remembrance Day and NAIDOC celebrations, helping build community and respect.

• Our school provides comprehensive PSSA pathways to enhance physical development and foster teamwork, offering trials and advanced training in a wide range of sports such as soccer, touch football and netball, alongside engaging school carnivals including swimming, athletics,and cross country.

• Our school proudly fosters creativity through a variety of enriching opportunities:

  Students showcase their talents in visual and performing arts events such as Westport’s Visual Art Stroll and Performing Art Showcase, Operation Art, and the Wauchope Show.

  Our school choir performs at prestigious venues like The Glasshouse theatre, Sydney Opera House and participates in the Festival of Choral Music.

  Additionally, our school dance groups perform at the Lower North Coast School Dance Festival and Eisteddfod, while students also shine in the popular Westport’s Got Talent competition, celebrating diverse artistic skills across our community.

• Our school fosters intellectual growth through a range of engaging opportunities. Students participate in robotics and various competitions, including spelling, speeches, creative writing, poetry, and STEM challenges. We also encourage participation in ICAS Competitions and our annual Public Speaking Competition, supporting students to develop critical thinking, creativity, and communication skills.

Our students can participate in a wide range of state-wide programs that aim to extend and enrich student potential.

• The Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) promotes whole-school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and professional learning.

• Our school encourages intellectual growth through participation in the Premiers Reading Challenge, inspiring students to develop a lifelong love of reading and improve their literacy skills across all year levels.

• The Representative School Sport Pathway, PSSA and Inclusive Sport events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.

• Our mentoring programs connect our students with trusted adults including a Wellbeing Officer from the National Student Wellbeing Program and Kids Hope Australia to build confidence, motivation, and interpersonal skills.