High potential and gifted education

At Glen Innes 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.

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, mentoring programs and peer coaching and leadership of major events including ANZAC, Remembrance Day and NAIDOC assemblies.

• The Stage 6 Night Library  provides targeted support and calm, well-equipped spaces that build confidence and sustained effort.

• Opportunities to explore STEM pathways are extensive and include The National  Science and Engineering Challenge, Science teaching  with a strong focus on engaging students through hands-on, practical, and innovative approaches.  This style of teaching integrates creative projects and experiments that encourage students to think critically and problem-solve, fostering curiosity and a love for learning. Annual Siding Spring Observatory Depth Study - a multi‑day immersive astronomy program at Siding Spring Observatory for senior science students, giving them real observational and astrophysical experiences.
• Our humanities students enjoy deepening their knowledge through immersive activities such as WW1 primary sources incursion and fieldwork which allows students to observe and interact with real-world phenomena, making abstract ideas more concrete.
• Glen Innes High School has previously hosted Bell Shakespeare performances and activities as part of its English and drama enrichment. Author visits and poetry workshops provide students with direct exposure to creative professionals and an opportunity to develop additional skills in this area.

• Talent in the arts is celebrated and extended through school ensembles, instrumental music, choir, dance, CAPERS, Talent Development Project, School Spectacular, Dance Spectacular, Dobell Drawing School and more, supported by a student stage crew who run sound, lighting, and production.
• Students have the opportunity to develop leadership, observation, and decision-making skills through participation in Show Cattle judging at local, regional, and state events.

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

• Glen Innes 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 Glen Innes High School competes annually in the Da Vinci Decathlon event which is a regional, state‑wide and national competition for students in years 7-10. The Da Vinci Challenge places an emphasis on interconnected thinking and academic creativity rather than standard tests.
• The Premier’s Sporting Challenge promotes whole-school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and collaborative learning. Students reflect and share their learning, so experiences build knowledge and character, contributing to the identity of themselves and their school.
• Our students participate in the Science and Engineering Challenge, where they collaborate in hands-on STEM activities and innovative problem-solving tasks designed to inspire and extend high potential in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.