High potential and gifted education

Some students learn faster and more easily than others. These students may shine in creativity, thinking, leadership or sport.

At our school, we recognise and nurture these strengths early. We support advanced learners with great lessons and activities to help them grow and thrive.

Please see the Department of Education website for more information.

Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

Recognising potential and developing talent

Our teachers find potential and nurture our students to be the best they can be.

Tailored lessons

Each student has different abilities. Teachers respond to each student’s ability by providing extra challenges and extension activities to keep learning exciting and engaging.

Rich opportunities and activities

Students can take part in opportunities to develop their talent in the arts, sport, leadership and more.

Opening doors to wider experiences

Our students can participate in a wide range of state-wide opportunities that aim to extend and enrich student potential.

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

Our students engage with HPGE education in the classroom, in our school, and across NSW.

In Our Classrooms

Explicit Teaching focused on laying a strong foundation of learning that is built upon every lesson.
Development of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Ongoing assessment to track progress and inform instructional adjustments.
Enhanced learning routes that offer acceleration or condensed material, teaching students at their own point of need.
Adaptive grouping strategies to promote teamwork, creative thinking, and presentation skills.
Encouraging learning settings that foster exploration and self-evaluation.
Feedback and goal-setting approaches that highlight students’ strengths.
Classroom opportunities that promote student leadership roles.
Secure and encouraging environments that build confidence, support risk-taking, and nurture perseverance.

Across Our School

Opportunities across all four (4) High Performing and Gifted Education Domains (Intellectual, Creative, Physical and Social Emotional)
Big Write - Creative Writing Days
Grade and Stage competitions
Visual Art showcases
Performing Arts showcases
Mentoring programs
Curriculum-aligned and stage/grade-determined excursions and incursions
Student Leadership
Wellbeing Programs
Inclusion Initiatives

Across NSW

The Premier’s Spelling Bee promotes our students’ vocabulary development and attention to detail in competitive settings.
The Premier’s Debating Challenge helps our students to build logical arguments and confidence in public speaking.
The Premier’s Sporting Challenge (PSC) promotes whole-school participation in physical activity with leadership pathways and professional learning.
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.

Intellectual Domain

Newcastle Permanent Mathematics Competition
Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) opportunities and groups.
- Integrated Technologies
- Coding
- Robotics
- Virtual Reality
- 3D printing and design
- Teamwork, collaboration and problem-solving skills
Central Coast Academy of STEM Excellence
Blue Haven School Public Speaking Competition
Central Coast Public Speaking Competition
Inter-school Debating Competition
Premier's Debating Challenge
Gardening Club (Environmental awareness)
Children's University

Creative Domain

Infants Dance Group
Primary Dance Group
Central Coast Dance Festival Infants and Primary (when selected)
School Choir
Central Coast Choral Festival (festival runs biennially, in odd calendar years)
Drama group working with Belvoir Street Theatre
Blue Haven Public School’s Creative and Performing Arts Concert (runs biennially, in odd calendar years)
Annual Young Archies Art Competition and Exhibition
Artist of the month Competitions (K-2 and 3-6)
L.J.'s Art Competition
Applications to the Cultural Calendar (3 successful students in 2025, showcased in the 2026 calendar)
Aboriginal Cultural and Language Activities
Yidaki Group for Aboriginal boys (Didgeridoo)
Sista Speak for Aboriginal Girls
Dedicated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander performance group
Student Leadership Team, storyboarding and filming weekly videos and online content for community access

Physical Domain

School Sport, Athletics and inter-school competitions
Carnivals: Swimming, Athletics and Cross Country
Primary School Sports Association (PSSA) Competitions: Netball, Soccer, Oz-Tag, Rugby League and Basketball
Public School’s Swim Scheme
After School, Sporting Activities and Clinics

Social Emotional Domain