Inspire – High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE)

Creative domain

The creative domain refers to natural abilities in imagination, invention and originality.

• Signs of high potential include originality, innovation and inventiveness in organising ideas, images, words, sound, movement and objects (including digital media).

• Learning in the creative domain occurs within and across a range of subjects, including mathematics, science, creative arts, English and literary arts, design and technology, social sciences and sport.

• Benefits of creative development include self-expression, problem solving, risk-taking and experimentation, reduction in stress and anxiety and feelings of accomplishment and pride.

• Examples of students who have developed their potential:

  • Tahj’s high potential in the creative and physical domains is evident in his talent in dance and sport. Read more.
  • Tate’s high potential in the creative and intellectual domains is evident in his advanced spatial skills, problem solving ability and literacy. Read more.

Intellectual domain

The intellectual domain refers to natural abilities in processing, understanding, reasoning, and the transfer of learning.

• Signs of high potential include verbal, numerical, logic and spatial aptitudes, synthesis and evaluation, abstract thinking, use of long term and working memory, and problem solving.

• Intellectual development assists students to be observant, intrinsically motivated and goal-driven, with creative, critical and independent thinking skills.

• Examples of students who have developed their potential:

  • Anhaar's high potential in the intellectual and social-emotional domains is evident in her rapid mastery of new concepts. Read more.
  • Daniel’s high potential in the intellectual and social-emotional domains is evident in his vocabulary and interpersonal skills. Read more.

Physical domain

The physical domain refers to natural abilities in muscular movement and motor control.

• Signs of high potential in the physical domain include power, speed (muscular), muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, speed (of reflexes), agility, coordination and balance.

• High potential in the physical domain may be observed in a range of contexts, such as sport, dance and performance.

• Examples of students who have developed their potential:

  • Abby’s high potential in the physical domain was evident in her early interest in cricket. Read more.
  • Brooke’s high potential in the physical domain is evident in her aptitude for swimming. Read more.

Social-emotional domain

The social-emotional domain refers to natural abilities in self-management and relating to and interacting with others.

• Signs of natural abilities include perceptiveness, empathy, social ease, tactfulness, influence, persuasiveness, eloquence, leadership, and charisma.

• Social-emotional development and wellbeing of high potential and gifted students is supported by learning environments that enable them to connect, succeed and thrive.

• Social-emotional development assists students to cope with stressors, manage behaviours, and effectively work with others, positively contributing to society.

• Examples of students who have developed their potential in the social-emotional domain include:

  • Vaneeza’s high potential in the social-emotional domain is evident in her sense of compassion and empathy. Read more.
  • Ben’s high potential in the creative and social-emotional domains is evident in his inclusive behaviours and ability to create and problem solve design challenges. Read more.
  • Nazli’s high potential in the intellectual and social-emotional domains is evident in her optimism and enthusiasm about learning and social justice. Read more.

• In the Classroom:

  • At Manly West Public School, every student is taught with research evidence-based pedagogy, with expertly trained teachers who differentiate for each student.
  • Students are identified in all areas of the four domains at an early age and provided a wide variety of opportunities and talent development to inspire them to reach their full potential.
  • The student identification is added to the Class Profile of Student adjustments so that each year, this is reviewed and refined with each new class teacher and teachers.
  • Academic Maths Enrichment classes are provided for students who are identified.
  • Science and Music Specialist teachers and programs are provided for all our students.
  • inspiring High potential and Gifted education is an integral part of everyday learning. We challenge our students to think deeply, create innovatively, lead confidently and grow continuously. Our teachers use explicit teaching using Dr Lyn Sharratt’s Waterfall Chart aligned with explicit teaching strategies, differentiation and adjustments for students. Our Novice to Master rubrics support students to be invested in their own learning and aspire to new learning goals regularly.
  • Teachers assess individual student learning needs and apply evidence-based teaching strategies to challenge and extend their capabilities. We offer diverse learning pathways, including enrichment and extension programs.
  • Our supportive classroom environments foster a strong sense of belonging while encouraging risk-taking, creativity and collaboration.
  • Learning tasks are designed to promote student choice, real world relevance, creative and critical thinking skills and ownership of learning.
  • Our expert teachers engage in professional learning to support the diverse needs of all students, including our High Potential and Gifted learners

Across the school:

• Every student is individual, so opportunities are flexible and diverse, supporting growth across the Intellectual, Creative, Social-emotional and Physical domains.

• Intellectual challenge is fostered through opportunities such as extension and enrichment groups and like-minded activities.

• Creativity shines through showcases, with Music and Drama lessons provided for all students K-6.

• Leadership grows through Leadership opportunities across the school.

• Daily life invites curiosity and a strong sense of belonging.

• Diverse sport opportunities are provided that expands to State and National Level.

  HPGE opportunities: At Manly West Public School, we provide a diverse range of programs both in the classroom and throughout the school, designed to recognise students' talents, foster the development of new skills, and encourage exploration and growth to reach their potential. These programs offer a variety of activities that support High Potential and Gifted learners across the four key domains.

  Intellectual Domain

  Academic differentiation in all classes including regular formative and summative assessments to support High Potential and Gifted students.

  Academic Enrichment Programs with Mathematics and Writing.

  Think Tank opportunities for Year 5 and 6 students.

  Premier's Reading, Spelling and Debating Challenge including Zone, Regionals and State Levels.

  Explicit teaching and differentiation of English and Mathematics to support High Potential and Gifted Education students.

  Network Writing and Poetry Competitions and external.

  Technology Leadership Team. Coding projects and Competitions.

  Debating and Public Speaking Competitions –Bear Pit at Parliament House and Multicultural Public Speaking – Local, Zone Regional Finals.

  Projects such as Penguin Project, Influential Person, Sustainability projects, Book in a Bag Year 6 and Pedlars’ Parade –entrepreneurial experience in business.

  Social and Emotional Domain:

  Elite Leadership Programs –Student Representative Council; Leadership workshops; Leadership Network Days; Network Leadership Representative; Leadership hosting of assemblies.

  Leadership with Cultural and Environment Teams such as Harmony Day Leadership. Kitchen Garden, Sustainability and Green Team Leadership opportunities.

  Leadership as Library, Playground and Buddy systems monitors.

  Projects in groups that support Academic and Social and Emotional potential such as Sustainability and Influential Person, Project Penguin and Pedlars' Parade.

  Creative Domain:

  4 Bands –Training, Intermediate, Concert and Performance Band reaching all levels of competitions and Festivals such as Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival.

  Elite Dance for Junior, Senior Girls' and Boys' Groups with Arts Unit and State Opportunities.

  Elite Drama Groups with Arts Unit LightsUp and Pulse Festivals. State Opportunities.

  Choir: Girls' and Boys' choirs.

  Arts Alive, Reconciliation Art Challenges and Arts Unit opportunities.

  Arts Unit 2-day program -selected students.

  Chess and Chess interschool competitions

  Creative and Performing Dance Expo opportunities for all students.

  Cultural Activities including Aboriginal Dance and Drama Groups.

  Physical Domain:

  PSSA Interschool Sport in a variety of Sports.

  Elite programs for a wide variety of Sport, including Athletics, Swimming and Cross Country, Softball, Rugby Union and Rugby League, Touch Football Softball, reaching Regional, State and National Levels.

  School Excellence Framework: In schools that excel, all teachers are committed to identifying, understanding, and implementing the most effective explicit teaching methods, with the highest priority given to evidence-informed inclusive teaching strategies.

  Manly West has been endorsed at Excelling Levels with Teaching, Learning and Leading Domains by Department of Education.

• Our students participate in a wide range of statewide programs to extend and enrich student potential.
• Students participate in opportunities such as DoE Arts Unit Arts Alive, Dance, Drama, Choir and Band, DoE Arts Unit Pulse Alive, DoE Arts Unit Festival of Choral and Instrumental Music, The Australian School Band and Orchestra Festival, Premier’s Spelling Challenge, Premier's Reading Challenge, Premier’s Multicultural Public Speaking, Premier's Debating Challenge, Premier's Sporting Challenge, What Matters Writing Competition and Schools Reconciliation Challenge.