High potential and gifted education (HPGE)

At Penrith Selective High School, students learn alongside peers with similar abilities, interests, and aspirations. This enables teachers to use evidence-based, strength-focused approaches that extend and challenge students through deeper, more complex learning experiences.

Our programs are grounded in the principles of student agency and talent development, empowering students to take ownership of their learning and pursue their passions with confidence. Working alongside local and international experts, including specialists in twice-exceptionality (2e), our staff continually refine their practice to meet the diverse needs of our learners, ensuring every student is known, valued, and extended.

Students thrive both academically and socially in an environment that encourages curiosity, creativity, and collaboration. They describe the joy of learning with others who share their love of questioning, exploring ideas in depth, and embracing intellectual challenge.

Beyond the classroom, students have access to a broad range of co-curricular and enrichment opportunities mapped to the four domains of giftedness. These include sport, creative and performing arts, leadership, and special interest clubs which foster well-rounded development and personal growth.

Our approach aligns with the NSW Department of Education’s High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Policy, which promotes engagement and challenge for every student in every school. Through professional learning and evidence-informed practice, Penrith Selective High School continues to lead the way in nurturing the potential of high-ability and twice-exceptional learners.

Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

Recognising potential and developing talent

At Penrith Selective High School, our teachers identify each student’s strengths and provide support and challenge to help them reach their full potential. Students are encouraged to explore their talents and strive for excellence.

Tailored lessons

Every student has unique abilities. Our teachers personalise learning by offering extension activities and targeted challenges, ensuring lessons remain engaging, stimulating, and suited to individual strengths.

Rich opportunities and activities

Our students can pursue their passions beyond the classroom through a wide range of opportunities in the arts, sport, leadership, and co-curricular programs, developing skills and confidence along the way.

Opening doors to wider experiences

Our students can access state-wide and national programs designed to extend their learning, broaden their perspectives, and enrich their potential in a variety of academic and extracurricular pursuits.

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

Our classrooms are designed to foster a strong sense of belonging while encouraging students to take intellectual risks, think creatively, and collaborate meaningfully. Learning is active, student-centred, and grounded in curiosity and respect.

Supportive environments: Students feel safe to take risks, explore ideas, and engage deeply in their learning.
Flexible grouping: Collaboration and presentation opportunities are dynamic, with students often taking on lead roles.
Strength-based feedback: Feedback focuses on growth, clear goals, and self-assessment, helping students reflect and take ownership of their progress.
Authentic learning: Tasks promote choice, creativity, and critical thinking, encouraging students to connect learning to real-world contexts.
Advanced pathways: When evidence shows a need for greater challenge, students are extended through enrichment, acceleration, or specialised learning opportunities.
Measuring impact: We assess progress through student work, reflection, and learning data focusing on meaningful growth rather than anecdotes.

Across our school

At Penrith Selective High School, we recognise that every student is unique. We provide flexible and diverse opportunities for students to explore their strengths, pursue their passions, and develop leadership skills outside the classroom.

Student leadership: All students are trained and encouraged to take on leadership roles through a range of student voice groups and initiatives.
STEM pathways: Students can engage in extensive STEM opportunities, including STEM engineering courses, and enrichment programs in mathematics and science.
Creative and performing arts: Talent in the arts is celebrated and extended through a range of music ensembles, choir, dance programs, and performance opportunities.
Communication and critical thinking: Students develop their voice, reasoning, and argumentation skills through the Premier’s Debating Challenge, public speaking competitions, and creative writing competitions.
Sport and wellbeing: Our extracurricular sporting programs, including dance, basketball, cricket, tennis, cheerleading, and futsal foster skills, teamwork, and personal growth.

Across NSW

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

Penrith Selective 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.
Our students participate in many competitions across all subjects including ICAS, Olympiads, AMC.
The Premier’s Reading Challenge encourages whole-school participation in reading, fostering a love of literature and lifelong learning. Students reflect on and share their reading experiences, developing comprehension, critical thinking, and creativity. Through this challenge, students grow both academically and personally, strengthening their identity as readers and contributing to the rich learning culture of the school.