High potential and gifted education
At our school, every learner’s potential is our priority. We foster a culture of high expectations and equity in excellence, ensuring every student has opportunities to develop their potential into talent.
Through a diverse range of programs and experiences across the four domains of potential: creative, intellectual, physical and social-emotional, we engage, extend, and challenge every student. Our approach includes a strong commitment to identifying and fostering the talents of high potential and gifted learners.
What are the four domains of high potential and gifted education (HPGE)?
CREATIVE
INTELLECTUAL
PHYSICAL
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL
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.
At Epping West Public School, HPGE lives in everyday practice. In our classrooms, we identify each student’s learning needs and use evidence-based teaching to challenge and extend students. Through enrichment and extension opportunities, we create pathways for every learner to thrive. Our supportive classrooms foster belonging, creativity, collaboration, and the confidence for students to take risks in learning.
This may look like:
- Differentiated tasks that adjust pace and complexity.
- A range of activities that promote higher-order thinking.
- Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
- Targeted learning goals for coordination, agility, and control.
- Strengths-based feedback and goal setting.
- Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance.
Our school provides a wide range of whole-school and extracurricular programs that support student growth and engagement. All students are encouraged to participate in activities beyond the classroom. We celebrate and nurture student talent through opportunities such as:
- Debating
- School Musicals
- Visual arts and drama showcases
- Sports house competitions
- Peer mentoring
- Student leadership (SRC)
- Wellbeing programs
We provide access to local, state and national competitions and events to help students explore and extend their talents such as:
- Participation in creative and performing arts groups to hone our students’ musical skills, discipline and ensemble awareness.
- The Representative School Sport Pathway and PSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.
- Engagement in various leadership programs designed to cultivate, develop, and enhance student leadership skills.
- Participation in learning competitions where students have the opportunity to display their skills and knowledge.
Festival of Choral Music
Our senior band had the incredible honour of being selected as a featured ensemble at the 2025 Festival of Choral Music, at the iconic Sydney Opera House concert hall. This event was especially memorable, marking the first time our senior band students performed at this world-renowned venue. The performance was a proud celebration of their hard work and dedication, reflecting the countless hours of rehearsal and commitment they have invested. It was a momentous occasion that our students and community will cherish for many years to come as a highlight of their time at Epping West.
Primary Proms NSW Arts Unit Choir
The Primary Proms Choir, comprised of dedicated Year 4 students and led by our skilled music teachers rehearse every Thursday during lunchtime. As an auditioned ensemble, the choir members demonstrate great commitment and effort to master a diverse repertoire in preparation for their final performance. The experience is both rewarding and inspiring, building anticipation for the grand finale at Sydney Town Hall, where they join many students from schools across New South Wales. Performing on this prestigious stage alongside peers from across the state is a tremendous honour and a highlight of their musical journey.
‘Mural in a Day’
Our Year 5 students had the unique opportunity to participate in the ‘Mural in a Day’ workshop, collaborating with a professional visual artist to enhance their artistic skills and build confidence in creative expression. Guided by the artist’s expertise, the students were inspired to unleash their creativity as they contributed to painting a vibrant and meaningful mural featuring the powerful owl—a significant and iconic bird native to our local environment. This hands-on experience not only fostered teamwork and artistic growth but also deepened the students’ connection to their community and natural surroundings.
Halogen Young Leaders Conference - Excursion for 2025 School Leaders
Our new Year 6 student leadership team had the incredible opportunity to hear from four outstanding Australian leaders: Catherine Laga’aia, Emma McKeon, Anthony ‘Harries’ Caroll, and Thomas Duncan-Watt. Their stories and insights provided a truly inspiring experience for all the young leaders.
The Halogen trip was not only enjoyable but also highly educational. Listening to these influential speakers share their experiences on stage was motivating and provided valuable lessons in leadership. They believe the advice and insights gained will guide them throughout their leadership journeys. Inspired by these remarkable Australian leaders, they are committed to embracing and embodying their leadership qualities as they grow and develop.
National Reconciliation Week - Sea of Hearts Movement
This year, as a meaningful way to honour National Reconciliation Week, Epping West Public School embraced the ‘Sea of Hearts Movement,’ involving the entire school community—students and staff alike. Each heart was thoughtfully decorated to reflect what reconciliation means personally to each participant, fostering reflection, respect, and connection.
Our commitment to reconciliation extended beyond the school grounds through a collaborative initiative with Midson Road Childcare and our neighbouring West Epping PreSchool. Together, preschool and primary students shared their unique perspectives and creativity, producing hearts that beautifully combine early childhood and primary school designs. This collective effort not only celebrates the spirit of unity and understanding across generations but also highlights our shared responsibility to build respectful relationships and acknowledge the rich histories and cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Through the ‘Sea of Hearts Movement,’ our school community deepened its appreciation of reconciliation’s significance and reaffirmed its dedication to fostering an inclusive and respectful learning environment for all.
Amity College ‘Maths Cup’
Our students had an exciting opportunity to participate in the Maths Cup hosted at Amity College. This engaging competition challenged them to apply their problem-solving skills, teamwork, and mathematical knowledge in a fun and competitive environment. Throughout the event, our students embraced the spirit of friendly rivalry as they tackled a variety of creative and thought-provoking maths problems. They thoroughly enjoyed the experience, gaining confidence and enthusiasm for mathematics while connecting with peers from other schools. The Maths Cup was not only a valuable learning experience but also a celebration of the joy and challenge that mathematics brings.
Zone Carnivals
Our students take great pride in participating in zone carnivals across athletics, cross country, and swimming. We are fortunate to have a diverse group of gifted athletes who showcase their talents and dedication at these competitive events. Many of our students excel and progress to compete against other schools, demonstrating not only their skill and determination but also the strong sporting spirit of our school community. These carnivals provide valuable opportunities for our athletes to challenge themselves, build resilience, and celebrate their achievements both individually and as a team.
Multicultural Speaking Competition
Our school had the honour of hosting the Local Area Final of the Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition, with students from nine schools demonstrating incredible skill and confidence.
We were proud to see these students take the stage, showcasing their hard work and dedication in preparation for this event. Each speaker delivered captivating speeches on a range of multicultural topics, all designed to inspire and provoke thoughtful reflection.
Our own students admirably represented our school with grace and poise. It was a fantastic opportunity for our young orators to gain valuable experience and learn from their peers.
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