Where Potential Meets Possibility
At the heart of academic excellence lies the ability to empower students to think critically, synthesise and integrate new information creatively, and develop the lifelong skill of ‘learning to learn.’
“Society will be enriched if young people can find opportunities to develop their gifts and put them at the service of the community…they can become ‘channels’ for God’s love and actively cooperate in building a better world.”
Pope Francis
Academic excellence embodies our vision of “a place of educational excellence with Christ at its centre,” equipping high potential gifted students to realise their capacities for innovation and societal change.
Through a system-wide approach, we identify and support the growth of high potential and gifted learners by providing tailored learning opportunities across the curriculum, ensuring continuous professional learning for staff, and offering support to families in understanding the unique needs of these learners, all grounded in the belief that education must honour the individual uniqueness, strengths, interests, cultural diversity, and varying learning characteristics present among students in our community. Recognising the vital role motivation plays in fostering achievement, our mission is to enable high potential and gifted learners to reach their fullest potential by implementing data and research-informed practices.
The student abilities, competencies, and skills nurtured not only support them during their schooling but also prepare them for future success in an ever-changing, information-rich world. By offering appropriate challenges through depth, breadth, and complexity, we aim to ignite curiosity and motivation in every student. Within our Catholic framework, we remain dedicated to nurturing learners who are equipped to thrive in a future defined by innovation, critical thinking, and personal growth.
Nurturing Excellence, Igniting Potential
We provide tailored learning opportunities across the curriculum.
Ensure continuous professional learning for staff.
Offer support to families in understanding the unique needs of these learners.
Hear from our parents
Hear from one of our Parents, Kim, about our High Potential Gifted Education programs.
Virtual Academy
The Virtual Academy is a unique innovation of the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle that aims to meet the needs of high potential and gifted students in targeted cohorts across all of our schools. The Virtual Academy is a supportive pathway that operates online, with students being supported by dedicated staff trained in the field of high potential and gifted education, with regular video conferences, and extension and enrichment opportunities.
The Virtual Academy enables students to be challenged and offers them learning that builds concepts and skills across subject areas. Subjects are interconnected by an overarching theme, allowing for a holistic learning experience in which students apply what they’re learning in a variety of contexts. Student learning embodies specific attitudes and mindsets that transcend beyond curricular and incorporate: Open-mindedness, Commitment to Lifelong Learning, Collaboration, Resilience and Adaptability, Global-mindedness, Reflectiveness, High Expectations, Ethical Responsibility, Real-World Problem-Solving, Inquiry and Innovation, and having a Student-centered Approach.
The Virtual Academy positions students along a positive trajectory and sees them achieve success academically, socially, emotionally, and spiritually. Students are challenged by a conceptual-based framework that focuses on the interconnectedness of skills and knowledge.
The Virtual Academy implements NSW Education and Standards Authority (NESA) Capabilities and priorities.
The capabilities encompass the knowledge, skills, attitudes and behaviours that assist students to live and work successfully
- Literacy
- Numeracy
- Digital literacy
- Critical and creative thinking
- Ethical understanding
- Intercultural understanding
- Personal and social capability.
The priorities develop students’ understanding of communities, contemporary issues and the world around them.
The priorities are:
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures
- Asia and Australia’s engagement with Asia
- Sustainability
- Civics and citizenship
- Diversity and difference
- Work and enterprise.
Hear from our students
Hear from some of our students and find out why they love the Virtual Academy.
Unlocking Brilliance, Shaping Futures
Our High Potential and Gifted Education programs are designed to meet the unique needs of advanced learners, empowering them to thrive academically and personally.
Why High Potential and Gifted Programs Are Essential
High Potential and Gifted students, require specialised education programs to ensure they are appropriately challenged and able to make continuous progress. These programs provide enrichment, acceleration, and tailored strategies within and beyond the regular classroom setting.
Acceleration
As a cornerstone of High Potential and Gifted Education, acceleration matches students’ advanced abilities with optimal learning opportunities. Backed by extensive research, it provides a proven pathway for high-achieving students to access challenging content and progress at a pace suited to their capabilities.
Curriculum Compacting
Curriculum compacting is a key strategy to modify or streamline the standard curriculum. By eliminating unnecessary repetition of previously mastered content, it creates opportunities for enrichment and acceleration. This approach enables students to move beyond the basics and engage in deeper, more meaningful learning experiences.
Grouping
Grouping students with similar abilities for instruction supports more advanced, targeted learning. This approach enhances student outcomes by providing rapid, in-depth instruction aligned with the skills and potential of gifted learners.
Identification
Effective identification of High Potential and Gifted students is fundamental to successful programming. Recognising that one size does not fit all, we apply a multi-criteria and multi-faceted approach and use diverse strategies and appropriate assessments to identify high potential and gifted learners, including those from underrepresented populations.
Competitions and Specialised Programs
Competitions and programs, specialised classes, and other tailored services offer high potential and gifted students additional opportunities to excel. Research highlights their effectiveness in raising achievement by providing access to advanced curriculum and experiences designed to meet their needs.
Teacher Training
Well-trained teachers are critical to delivering effective gifted education. Providing all educators with foundational training in recognising and supporting advanced learners ensures these students are identified and appropriately challenged in every classroom.
