High potential and gifted education

In our classroom

We strive to know our students to ensure that the full range of their abilities and needs is recognised. Our classroom practices support and extend high potential and gifted students. Our practices include:

• Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking​.
• Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning​.
• Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
• Tasks that promote choice, authenticity, and critical and creative thinking​ including cross-curricular projects.
• Targeted learning goals
• Supportive learning environments that enable exploration and self-reflection.
• Strengths-based feedback and goal setting.​
• Opportunities for leadership within the classroom​.
• Structured peer collaboration and reflection.​
• Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance​.

Across our school

Queanbeyan High School recognises that every student is individual, and we provide flexible and diverse opportunities for students to explore and grow their strengths outside the classroom. We offer a range of whole-school programs that support student growth and are responsive to the changing and growing interests of our students. Our clubs and groups are created with inclusivity at the centre, ensuring that we are supporting all students by recognising, respecting and valuing diversity. Opportunities for students to challenge themselves range across academic, social emotional, physical and creative domains. They include:

·         Aboriginal Leadership Team

·         Birrigai Cultural Education group

·         Chess Club

·         Future Teachers Club

·         Homework Club

·         House competitions

·         iSTEM

·         Japanese Club

·         Origami Club

·         Participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives

·         Peer Support

·         Performance based movement groups

·         Rainbow Club

·         Run Club

·         Show Team

·         Sports squads

·         Student Leadership Team (SLT)

·         Visual arts showcases

·         Wellbeing programs

Across NSW

Our students participate in a wide range of statewide programs to extend and enrich student potential. These include:

• The Representative School Sport Pathway and PSSA and CHSSA events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.
• Participation in the regional dance ensemble develops our high potential and gifted Stage 5 dance students’ technical skills, performance presence and physical expressiveness.
• Our mentoring programs connect our students with trusted adults including school alumni to build confidence, motivation, and interpersonal skills.