High potential and gifted education

At Coffs Harbour Public School we are committed to recognising and nurturing high potential and gifted students, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive at our school.

Teachers carefully identify students’ learning needs and use evidence-based informed practices to challenge, extend and enrich learning. We provide differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking​. Our supportive and inclusive learning environments promote a sense of belonging and encourage students to take risks, to collaborate and explore their own strengths.

Students engage in authentic tasks that promote critical and creative thinking. They are given opportunities for leadership within the classroom, making intentional choices in their learning and providing critical student voice. Groups are flexible, feedback is strengths-based with clear learning goals, and students are encouraged to reflect on their progress through self-assessment.

Our teachers engage in regular and ongoing professional learning to support the diverse needs of all students, including our high potential and gifted learners. At Coffs Harbour Public School, we are committed to ensure every learner receives a high-quality education that enables them to excel.

Here are some of the evidence-based teaching strategies used in the classroom to support all students:

• Use of formative assessment tools
• Differentiated Learning Intentions and Success Criteria
• Differentiated learning tasks and flexible groupings
• High expectations embedded in lesson planning
• Student leadership and student voice
• Ongoing professional learning and collaboration

At Coffs Harbour Public School, every learner’s potential is our priority. We foster a culture of high expectations and equity in excellence, ensuring every student, regardless of background, has the opportunity to develop their potential. Our school offers a range of opportunities across the 4 domains of potential: creative, intellectual, physical and social-emotional.

Here are some of the opportunities available to support the talent development of students at Coffs Harbour Public School:

• Curriculum aligned excursions & incursions
• Wellbeing programs, including The Anxiety Project
• Student Representative Council
• Kindergarten and Year 6 Buddy Leadership Program
• Public speaking and debating opportunities
• Interschool sport competitions
• K-6 Dance groups
• K-6 Signing Choir
• Chess Clubs
• School camps
• Student Sustainability Committees
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultural Room

The Plan for NSW Public Education (2024–2027) aims to ensure every student achieves ambitious learning goals every year, regardless of which public school they attend. Across NSW public schools, students with high potential and gifted abilities are supported through a variety of programs and learning opportunities.

At Coffs Harbour Public School we provide access to a range of local, state and national competitions and events. We value opportunities to support and extend students through collaborative engagement with primary schools and high schools in our local network, regional areas and wider afield.

Here are some of the opportunities available to support the talent development of students at Coffs Harbour Public School:

• The Premier’s Spelling Bee promotes our students’ vocabulary development and attention to detail in competitive settings.
• Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition encourages our students to explore ideas of multiculturalism in Australia while they practise their public speaking skills and improve their confidence.

• The Premier’s Debating Challenge helps our students to build logical arguments and confidence in public speaking.
• Australian Problem-Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO) provide our students with the opportunity to develop their mathematical thinking, creativity, reasoning and flexibility in solving complex problems.

• The Representative School Sport Pathway, PSSA and CHSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.
• The Coffs Harbour City Eisteddfod and the Lighthouse Community of Schools Concert enables students to showcase and extend their talents, receive expert feedback, build confidence through performance, and gain recognition beyond the classroom.