High potential and gifted education

At the core of our philosophy is the commitment to high expectations. We firmly believe that all students are capable of greater achievements when they receive both adequate support and appropriate challenges. In our classrooms, we are offering:

• Tasks that are differentiated to accommodate varying paces, levels of complexity, and higher-order thinking.
• Utilisation of formative assessment to track student growth and tailor learning experiences accordingly.
• Our teachers explicitly teach critical thinking and problem-solving methodologies.
• Creating a safe learning environment that fosters confidence, encourages risk-taking, and promotes engagement is essential to individuals' growth and development.
• Our teachers participate in ongoing professional development to effectively address the diverse needs of all students, including those with high potential and gifted abilities.

At Parkes High School, the High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) program is designed around the four core domains: Intellectual, Creative, Social-Emotional, and Physical development. This comprehensive approach aims to support and nurture our students' diverse talents, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience.

At our school, we offer:

• A specialised transition program is designed to support individual students as they move from Year 6 to Year 7, facilitating their progression into Senior School and providing guidance for post-school opportunities.
• We offer a streamlined approach to high-potential classes for students in Years 7 through 10, encompassing Pilot Marking and double marking for assessments achieving A grades. Additionally, we provide scaffolding and support designed to challenge students, enabling them to reach their highest potential.
• Students are strongly encouraged to participate in MADD (Music, Drama, and Dance) nights and showcase their talents at NAIDOC celebrations and the School Spectacular. Participation in these events offers valuable opportunities for personal and artistic growth.
• Students are invited to engage in the diverse range of clubs available during lunchtime, including but not limited to: Art Club, Chess Club, Writing Club, Book Club and Minecraft Club. Participation in these activities is highly encouraged to foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration among peers.
• We offer a diverse range of opportunities for students to participate in both individual and team sports. We actively encourage their involvement in competitions at the school, state, and national levels, where their talents and skills are recognised and appreciated.

Parkes High School provides access to local, state and national competitions and events to help our students explore and extend their talents, including:

• 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
• The Schools Spectacular is an iconic performing arts event that celebrates the talents, diversity and creativity of students from across NSW public schools; and
• Our partnerships with local industry deepen our students’ intellectual curiosity while developing innovation and collaboration.