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.

In our classroom

At Merimbula Public School, High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) is an integral part of our daily teaching practice. We encourage our students to think deeply, create confidently, lead with purpose, and grow continuously.

Our teachers assess students’ learning needs within the classroom and use evidence-based teaching strategies to challenge and extend their abilities. We offer a range of learning pathways, including enrichment and extension programs as well as opportunities for acceleration.

We foster supportive classroom environments that promote belonging and encourage risk-taking, creativity, and collaboration. Learning tasks are designed to offer choice, relevance, and promote critical and creative thinking.

Our staff engage in ongoing professional development to effectively support the diverse needs of all students.

At Merimbula Public School, our teaching follows the NSW Department of Education’s HPGE policy. This policy helps us support gifted students in four important areas:

Creative Domain: We help students come up with original ideas and express themselves through creative thinking, problem-solving, and art.
Intellectual (Thinking) Domain: We give students challenging tasks that help them think deeply, ask questions, and learn more.
Physical Domain: We encourage activities that improve students’ physical health, coordination, and skills.
Social-Emotional Domain: We support students to build confidence, understand their feelings, and have positive relationships with others.

Across our school

At Merimbula Public School, we understand that each student is unique, we offer a variety of flexible and diverse opportunities to support their individual interests and talents.

We support student artistic and creative talents with events like the Merimbula Public School Musical (held biannually), 'Merimbula's Got Talent' annual showcase, Dance troupe, Recorder, Music and Choir ensembles. These combined schools creative arts events, allow students to develop their artistic talents and collaborate with peers. Students also contribute by taking on roles in our technology and media teams.

Leadership skills are cultivated through involvement in the Student Representative Council, Year 6 school leadership roles, mentoring, peer coaching, and various other school leadership opportunities. Wellbeing is promoted through our PBL awards program.

For those with sporting interests, we offer PSSA school sporting teams and representative sporting pathways that encourage physical development and teamwork.

Across NSW

At Merimbula Public School, our students have the opportunity to participate in a variety of local and statewide programs that help to extend and enrich their abilities.

We take part in many activities, offering students valuable opportunities to challenge themselves and perform at their best. This approach ensures each student’s unique talents are recognised, nurtured, and celebrated.

Our key programs include:

Sapphire Coast Learning Community Performing Arts Festival - a bi-annual festival that aims to combine, develop and showcase the creative and performing arts talents of students and staff from public schools across the Sapphire Coast Learning Community.
Sapphire Coast Learning Community Music Camp - provides students from public schools across the Sapphire Coast opportunities to learn, rehearse and perform repertoire facilitated by professional musicians and coordinators.
The Premier’s Spelling Bee, which supports students in developing their vocabulary
Premier’s Multicultural Public Speaking Competition
The Premier’s Sporting Challenge
Representative School Sport Pathways and PSSA events offer students the chance to participate in trials and competitions across regional, state, and national levels, promoting qualities such as discipline, teamwork, and dedication.

Aurora College

Opportunity classes located in government primary schools cater for academically gifted Year 5 and Year 6 students with high potential - refer to Aurora College