Inspire – High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE)
Inspire – High potential and gifted education (HPGE) is how our school supports students with advanced learning needs.
At Terrey Hills Public School, we proudly align with the NSW Department of Education’s Inspire – High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) policy, which acknowledges the diverse strengths of gifted students.
We are dedicated to creating an inclusive, supportive environment that challenges and extends all learners, ensuring they are engaged and able to reach their full potential.
Our programs identify and nurture giftedness across multiple domains, reflecting the Department’s holistic approach. By embracing this broad view, we foster excellence academically, creatively, physically, and socially, preparing students for lifelong success and wellbeing.
Our approach focuses on four key domains:
At Terrey Hills Public School, we are dedicated to implementing the NSW Department of Education’s HPGE policy by providing a comprehensive, student-centred approach that nurtures the potential of every learner across these four domains.
We provide opportunities for students to develop innovative thinking and artistic expression, encouraging originality and problem-solving through diverse creative activities.
- High School Partnerships
- STEM Programs
- Junior and Senior Dance ensembles - Our dance groups take part in performances and shows including the Sydney North Dance Festival.
- School Choir - Our school choir performance at assemblies and events. The choir has performed in the NSW School Spectacular televised event.
- Junior and Senior Band ensembles perform regularly at school events and host a band evening each term. Students have the opportunity to learn a range of instruments.
- Terrey Hills Talent Show - at the end of each year students have the opportunity to perform and showcase their talent to the whole school.
- Project Based Learning Programs
- School Magazine - student created, designed and produced their own school magazine, highlighting student issues and achievements.
- Art displays and competition opportunities.
We challenge students with enriched learning experiences that promote higher-order thinking, deep inquiry, and advanced knowledge across the curriculum.
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High Potential Maths groups - Students in Yrs 4-6 with particular talent in mathematics are given focused small group teaching and learning by a specialist teacher.
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Students across Stage 2 and 3 are given the opportunity to compete at their level in:
- APSMO Maths Olympiad
- APSMO Maths Games
- APSMO Maths Explorer
- APSMO Maths Quest
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K-6 Public Speaking challenges and opportunities - students have opportunities to present to their class and the wider school.
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Premier's Reading Challenge - all students from K to 6 have the opportunity to log their reading and complete the Premier's Reading Challenge annually.
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Premier's Spelling Bee
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Multicultural Public Speaking Competition - all students complete the competition in class and nominate whether they would like the opportunity to compete for a place in the local finals.
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Premier's Debating Challenge - our year 5s & 6s compete in the interschools debating competition.
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Year 6 Transition Programs
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STEM Programs
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Project Based Learning
Recognising the importance of physical development, we support students in enhancing their coordination, health, and physical skills through targeted activities and sports.
- Junior and Senior Dance ensembles - Our dance groups take part in performances and shows including the Sydney North Dance Festival.
- NSW Primary Schools Sports Association (PSSA) - THPS students participate in interschools competitions fielding teams in soccer, netball, teeball, softball and cricket.
- Sports Carnivals - All students participate in whole school athletics and cross country carnivals, with the opportunity to represent the school at zone, area and state carnivals.
- Swimming Carnival - Yrs 3-6 compete in an annual swimming carnival with our best swimmers going on to represent the school at the zone championships.
- PPSA Gala Days - THPS students
- K-2 Sports coaching - expert external coaches give our students the opportunity to try new sports, such as pickleball and tennis or NRL
- Premiers Sporting Challenge. - our whole school participates in getting active.
We prioritise the emotional wellbeing and social development of gifted students, fostering resilience, self-awareness, and positive relationships to help them thrive within our school community.
- Environmental Program - THPS students all participate in habitat restoration activities to support native plants and animals within our school grounds.
- Multicultural Public Speaking Competition - all students complete the competition in class and nominate whether they would like the opportunity to compete for a place in the local finals.
- Peer Support Groups - students participate across year groups in a well-being program.
- High School Partnerships
- Terrey Hills Talent Show - at the end of each year students have the opportunity to perform and showcase their talent to the whole school.
- Year 6 leadership roles - our School Captains, Sports Captains and CAPA Captains are role models to younger year groups across the school.
- Student Representative Council (SRC) - Years 2 to 6 nominate to be be on the SRC and drive issues of interest and fundraising ideas such as purple day or one can drive.
- Library monitors (Yrs 5&6) - our older students take on a leadership role assisting in the
- Project Based Learning
Terrey Hills Public School Inspire – High potential and gifted education Policy (PDF 810KB)
Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?
Recognising potential and developing talent
All students across Yrs 2-6 are tested using a range of data which examines student reasoning, critical and creative thinking and higher order mathematics skills.
Students across all stages engage in APSMO Maths challenges, participate in STEM activities, and take part in project-based learning.
Tailored lessons and support
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.
Students in Years 4–6 who are selected for the HPGE program benefit from small-group tuition in extension mathematics, advanced problem solving, and extended writing development.
Rich opportunities and activities
All students take part in project-based learning and school camps.
Our strong focus on academics is balanced with opportunities to build lasting friendships and connections
Project Penguin - an example of project based learning
Project Penguin is an environmental education and conservation initiative run by Northern Beaches Secondary College in partnership with Taronga Zoo and selected NSW schools. The program focuses specifically on protecting the local, endangered colony of Little Penguins that breed on the mainland around Manly.
The project involves:
- Cross-Age Mentoring
High school students (Years 9–10) trained by Taronga Zoo staff mentor Stage 3 primary students (Years 5 & 6), guiding their learning. - Hands-On Fieldwork
Students participate in habitat days at local beaches, conducting habitat assessments, pollution audits, and community surveys to support penguin conservation. - Community Awareness Challenge
Students design creative solutions to ensure threats such as dog attacks, foxes, habitat loss, and micro-plastic pollution and over fishing don't further reduce the little penguin population. Past projects include predator-deterrent prototypes, habitat protection and community awareness campaigns. including websites to educate the wider population.
The program wrapped up with an Expo Day at Taronga Zoo, where our stage 3 students' presented their awareness campaigns and conservation projects to the public.
Project Penguin transforms standard science and geography lessons into a real-world, lifelong lesson in community conservation. Students apply the design thinking process alongside their critical and creative thinking skills to develop innovative solutions aimed at preserving a local species.
Leaders in high potential and gifted education
Our school leaders proudly established and continue to host the Dee Why X Network for K-12 educators. This collaborative forum brings together Principals and teachers from across the Beaches, Forest and Pittwater Networks each term to share innovative ideas and explore the latest research on best practices for supporting our students’ learning and development.
Student opportunities and activities
At Terrey Hills Public School, we offer a variety of programs in the classroom and across the school to help students build new skills, make friends and explore new interests.
Learn more about our extra-curricular activities here.
Why choose us?
We offer a wide range of programs and experiences to help them thrive. From STEM and sport to the creative arts and more, our broad curriculum encourages curiosity and critical thinking.
Click the link to find out more.
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.