High potential and gifted education

Some students learn faster and more easily than others. These students may show natural abilities in creative, intellectual, physical, and/or social-emotional domains.

At our school, we recognise and nurture these strengths early. We support high potential students 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 The Forest High 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.

Our supportive classroom environments promote a sense of belonging and encourage risk-taking, creativity and collaboration.
Groups are flexible for collaboration and presentation, students take lead roles, and feedback is strengths-based with clear goals and self-assessment.
Students learn from tasks that promote choice, authenticity, and critical and creative thinking including cross-curricular projects.
When evidence shows a need for more, students are extended and have the opportunity to access advanced pathways.
We measure impact, not anecdotes, through student work, reflections and progress checks.

Across our school

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

All our students, including high potential and gifted students, are encouraged to take on leadership roles through student representative council leadership, peer support leadership and by joining our Interact Club.
Talent in the arts is celebrated and extended through our band program, MADD night, music ensembles, school musicals, choir and drama, supported by a student stage crew who run sound, lighting and production.

ICAS assessments, maths competitions and creative writing competitions

Across NSW

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

Our Forest Academy supports our high potential athletes through sessions focused on speed, agility, mindset, nutrition and goal setting.
The Forest High School continues to prioritise sporting participation in a multitude of competitions including gala days, combined high schools knock out competitions and selection through to zone, regional and state carnivals.
The Forest High School students participate in ICAS English, Mathematics and Science.