High Potential and Gifted Education

At Rutherford Technology High School, we are committed to recognising and nurturing the diverse talents of all students.

Our HPGE approach supports learners across the four domains of potential identified in the NSW Department of Education policy: Intellectual, Creative, Social-Emotional and Physical.

Our practice aligns strongly with our Positive Behaviour for Learning values:

• Respectful
• Responsible
• A Learner

These expectations underpin how we identify, support and extend high potential learners across the school.

Why choose us for your High Potential or Gifted Child?

Our Approach

Rutherford Technology High School provides a learning environment where high potential and gifted students are challenged, supported and inspired to achieve their best.

We do this through:

• Explicit teaching across all classrooms
• High expectations for every learner
• Differentiated instruction and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible grouping
• Purposeful extension and challenge
• A focus on growth, reflection and feedback
• Engagement in rich tasks and authentic learning experiences

Identification

We use a broad and inclusive range of evidence to identify students with high potential or gifts, including:

• NAPLAN, Check-In, GL Testing including: NGRT, NGST, CAT4
• Classroom assessments, work samples and pre/post data
• Teacher nomination and professional judgement
• Student behaviours such as curiosity, creativity, rapid learning and depth of thinking
• Student nomination
• Parent/carer insights and nomination
• Achievements in sport, leadership, creative arts or social-emotional pursuits

Our PBL Values in HPGE

Respectful

AtRutherford Technology High School, being respectful means recognising, valuing and celebrating the diverse strengths of every learner.

We demonstrate this by:

• Providing inclusive access to extension and enrichment opportunities
• Valuing and celebrating student achievement across intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical domains
• Creating classrooms that promote collaboration, respectful dialogue and shared learning
• Offering safe, supportive learning environments where students feel confident to take intellectual risks and express their ideas

Responsible

Being responsible at Rutherford Technology High School means ensuring learning is purposeful, equitable and responsive to student needs.

We do this by:

·         Using data and evidence to identify high potential learners and inform teaching

·         Maintaining open communication with students, families and staff

·         Providing structured opportunities for enrichment, leadership and acceleration where appropriate

·         Supporting students to develop independence, self-management and accountability for their learning

A Learner

At Rutherford Technology High School, being a learner means striving for growth, challenge and continuous improvement.

We support students to:

·         Engage in deep thinking, questioning and problem solving

·         Access differentiated and extended learning tasks that stretch understanding

·         Set learning goals, reflect on progress and respond to feedback

·         Develop resilience, persistence and a positive learning mindset

·         Understand how effort, strategy and feedback contribute to success

HPGE Opportunities at Rutherford Technology High School

Intellectual Domain

·         Advanced literacy and numeracy opportunities

·         STEM challenges and robotics

·         Inquiry-based HSIE and Science extension tasks

·         Debating and public speaking

·         Writing competitions and academic challenges

·         Premier’s Reading Challenge

Creative Domain

·         Drama productions

·         Visual Arts exhibitions

·         Film, digital media and stage crew (lighting, sound, tech)

·         Creative writing and arts-based enrichment activities

·         Dance opportunities

·         Music showcases

·         Tournament of Minds

Social-Emotional Domain

·         Student Representative Council

·         Peer mentoring and leadership roles such as Peer Support

·         Student ambassadors for school events

·         Wellbeing programs that build confidence, identity and interpersonal skills

Physical Domain

·         Representative sports pathways

·         Coaching and refereeing opportunities

·         PASS enrichment and health programs

·         TSP programs

·         School carnivals and physical development initiatives

Enrichment Beyond the Classroom

Students at Rutherford Technology High School have access to a range of additional opportunities, including:

·         Extension programs

·         Local community partnerships

·         Cultural, creative and sporting excursions

·         Community service and leadership activities

·         Exhibitions, performances and competitions

These experiences help extend ability, foster independence and connect students to the broader community.

Monitoring Growth

We track student progress through:

·         Formative assessment and feedback

·         Student self-reflection and goal setting

·         Data walls and class profiles

·         Learning conferences

·         Work samples and exemplars

·         HPGE surveys and staff professional learning

Our focus is on growth, development and achievement over time.

Building Staff Expertise

Rutherford Technology High School staff engage in ongoing professional learning to ensure HPGE is embedded across the curriculum.

This includes:

·         School-wide HPGE professional learning

·         Explicit teaching workshops

·         Training on differentiation and enrichment

·         Understanding underachievement in high potential students

·         Collaborative planning and sharing of rich tasks

What is High Potential and Gifted Education?

High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) is how our school supports students with advanced learning needs.

We do this through:

• effective teaching strategies like enrichment, extension and acceleration

• tailored support during lessons that stretch, challenge and inspire

• access to a wide range of opportunities both within and beyond our school.

Our High Potential and Gifted Education Opportunities

At Rutherford Technology High School, high potential and gifted education is embedded in classrooms, across the school and beyond, ensuring students are challenged, supported and extended at every stage of their learning.

Our students engage with HPGE in the classroom, across our school and through wider NSW opportunities.

Help for your High Potential Child

If your child shows signs of high potential Supporting parents and carers, contact us. We can share how our HPGE support can guide their learning journey.

Contact us