High potential and gifted education
At Gosford High School, High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) is embedded in our culture of excellence. As an academically selective school, we are committed to identifying, nurturing, and extending the diverse capabilities of our students across the intellectual, creative, physical and social-emotional domains. We recognise that some students learn more quickly or in more complex ways than others, and we respond to these needs through a comprehensive approach to talent development.
Our curriculum is designed to promote deep understanding, advanced critical and creative thinking, and the transfer of learning across a range of contexts. Students are encouraged to question, explore, and extend their knowledge through rich learning experiences that build independence, curiosity and academic rigor. Creativity, physical proficiency and social-emotional intelligence are also valued as essential components of holistic development. Purposefully designed learning activities and authentic cross-curricular opportunities allow students to collaborate, innovate and lead in ways that prepare them for the demands of a rapidly changing world.
Recognising potential and developing talent
Our teachers identify and nurture each student’s potential, supporting them to achieve their personal best.
Tailored lessons
Every student has unique abilities. Our teachers respond to these by providing additional challenges and extension activities that keep learning engaging, exciting and meaningful.
Rich opportunities and activities
Our students can explore and develop their talents through a wide range of opportunities in the arts, sport, leadership and other areas of interest.
Opening doors to wider experiences
We encourage our students to take part in a variety of state-wide opportunities that extend their learning and help them reach their full potential.
What is high potential and gifted education?
High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE)
A significant feature of HPGE at Gosford High School is our acceleration program, which provides students with pathways that match their learning pace and level of readiness. We offer academic acceleration in Year 10, where students have the opportunity to study a Stage 6 course while still completing Year 10. This allows high-achieving students to engage with senior-level content earlier, deepening their learning and enabling them to progress through their studies at a pace that aligns with their capabilities. For many students, this experience builds confidence, motivation and the capacity to take on greater academic challenge.
Beyond acceleration, we understand that high potential is not limited to academic ability. Students may demonstrate exceptional strengths in creativity, leadership, problem-solving or sport. Our HPGE framework ensures that these strengths are recognised early and that appropriate opportunities are provided to nurture them. Differentiated teaching practices allow teachers to tailor instruction to match students’ learning needs, ensuring that they remain engaged, challenged and supported. This personalised approach also acknowledges the wellbeing needs of high potential learners, helping them develop resilience, self-awareness and effective learning habits.
Talent development is further supported through enrichment activities, extension programs, leadership initiatives and co-curricular opportunities across the arts, sciences, humanities and physical education. These experiences connect students with like-minded peers, foster collaboration and encourage them to apply their abilities in meaningful and creative ways. Whether participating in academic competitions, group problem-solving tasks, performances or sporting pathways, students are motivated to stretch their capabilities and pursue excellence.
Guided by the values of excellence, integrity and diversity, Gosford High School empowers high potential and gifted learners to realise their potential and contribute positively to both the school and the wider community. In living our school motto, spectemur agendo—let us be judged by our actions—we affirm our belief that true excellence is demonstrated through what our students do, create and achieve. Through thoughtful curriculum design, differentiated support and opportunities for acceleration, our HPGE program ensures that every student is challenged, inspired and equipped to thrive as capable, compassionate and future-ready citizens.
Our high potential and gifted education opportunities
Our students experience HPGE learning every day — in their classrooms, through school-wide programs, and in opportunities offered across NSW.
- Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher order thinking.
- Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning.
- Advanced learning pathways, including accelerated or compacted content.
- Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
- Opportunities for abstraction, inquiry, and curriculum depth.
- Tasks that promote choice, authenticity, and critical and creative thinking including cross-curricular projects.
- Flexible grouping for collaborative ideation and presentation.
- Differentiated movement tasks and skill refinement in PDHPE.
- Targeted learning goals for coordination, agility, and control.
- 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.
- Opportunities for leadership within the classroom.
- Structured peer collaboration and reflection.
- Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance.
- Debating
- STEM and coding clubs
- Academic competitions
- Critical thinking workshops
- School musicals
- Music ensembles
- Visual arts and drama showcases
- Creative writing groups
- Sport squads
- House competitions
- Performance-based movement groups
- Peer mentoring
- Student leadership (SRC)
- Wellbeing programs
- Participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives.
- The Premier’s Debating Challenge helps our students to build logical arguments and confidence in public speaking.
- Our STEM Enrichment Partnerships with industry and universities deepen our students’ intellectual curiosity while developing innovation and collaboration.
- Involvement in the Game Changer Challenge empowers our students to solve future-focused problems using design thinking.
- The Schools Spectacular is an iconic performing arts event that celebrates the talents, diversity and creativity of students from across NSW public schools.
- Participation in (state/regional) drama ensembles promotes character exploration, storytelling and expressive freedom for our Stage 5 high potential and gifted drama students.
- Participation in music ensembles (e.g. State Wind Orchestra, State Choirs) hones our students’ musical skills, discipline and ensemble awareness.
- The Representative School Sport Pathway and PSSA and CHSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.
- Participation in state-wide dance ensembles develops our high potential and gifted Stage 5 dance students’ technical skills, performance presence and physical expressiveness.
- Our mentoring programs connect our students with trusted adults including school alumni to build confidence, motivation, and interpersonal skills.
Innovation and Creativity in Action
Our students have been putting their creativity, problem-solving, and STEM skills to the test through a range of exciting academic competitions this term.
ICAS Assessments
Many students proudly participated in the ICAS examinations, challenging themselves across a range of subjects and demonstrating excellence in critical thinking and applied knowledge.
M7 Bridge Building Competition
In the M7 Bridge Building Competition, students designed and constructed model bridges that combined strength, stability, and innovative engineering. The excitement built as teams tested how much weight their bridges could hold — a fun and hands-on way to apply design and structural principles.
UNSW Coding Cupcake Challenge
The University of New South Wales Coding Cupcake Challenge brought creativity and technology together. Students coded and designed digital cupcakes, showing off their programming skills while learning to problem-solve through logic and design.
Science and Engineering Challenge
Students also represented the school in the Science and Engineering Challenge, collaborating to build structures, solve engineering puzzles, and apply scientific concepts in real-world scenarios.
Geography Competition
In the Australian Geography Competition, students tested their knowledge of the world, exploring maps, environments, and global issues while developing their understanding of geography’s role in shaping our future.
These experiences celebrate our students’ innovation, teamwork, and curiosity — showcasing the many ways learning in TAS and STEM connects to real-world challenges and opportunities.
Gosford High School Instrumental Program
Gosford High School has a well-established and flourishing instrumental program. The program enables students to actively participate in an enriched musical experience, providing enjoyment and a sense of teamwork. We welcome all participants to the program and trust your musical experience will be both challenging and rewarding.
The instrumental program has several ensembles, suited to a diverse range of musical abilities, experience, and instrumentation. Each ensemble enjoys a range of performance opportunities throughout the year, at competitions, school functions, showcase concerts and in the wider community. All ensembles are supported by professional musicians/tutors with a wealth of experience.
Premier Ensemble
An advanced level concert band with an equivalent level of ability to grade 4 AMEB standard with the capacity to play scales up to 4 sharps and flats. The ensemble regularly perform at competitions and local concerts, with recent accolades including a Gold Award at the Australian Schools Bands and Orchestra Festival and Highly Commended awards at Bandfest.
Concert Band
An intermediate level concert band with the capacity to play scales up to 3 sharps and flats. The ensemble perform engaging and entertaining repertoire, with a focus on developing fundamental ensemble skills, explicit lessons in stage craft and musicianship. Students are well supported, and opportunities exist for students to develop their playing and advance ensembles throughout their school career, including participation in stage band.
Stage Band
A jazz big-band instrumentation performing jazz, funk and popular repertoire. Entry is limited based on instrumental positions and students are generally selected from Premier Ensemble membership. Options exist for non-concert band students to join the ensemble (e.g. piano, bass, drum kit), particularly if experienced in reading and performing jazz repertoire. Stage band rehearse Monday 3:10 to 4:10pm.
String Ensemble
Rehearsals work towards a range of small ensemble repertoire led by a string tutor. Rehearsals take place weekly on Thursdays 8:00 to 9:00am. Instruments include violin, viola, cello or double bass. We do have school instruments available for use for violin, viola, cello and double bass if needed (these are limited). All abilities welcome. Note: we are seeking interest for existing violin players to learn viola and play the part in the ensemble.
The ensemble regularly performs at school events and showcases.
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
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