Inspire – High potential and gifted education at Crookwell High School
Crookwell High School is proud to embrace the NSW Department of Education’s Inspire – High potential and gifted education (HPGE) Policy, recognising that students demonstrate high potential in diverse ways across the intellectual, creative, physical, and social–emotional domains.
We are committed to identifying and nurturing these strengths early through inclusive and differentiated learning environments that provide challenge, choice, and meaningful feedback. We support our staff with targeted and meaningful professional learning to help identify students with high potential and provide impactful and engaging learning experiences and opportunities.
Through extension and enrichment programs, ongoing assessment, wellbeing-focused practices, and authentic learning experiences, students are supported to build engagement, resilience, and achievement. Guided by evidence-informed teaching, strong leadership and entrepreneurial learning practices, Crookwell High School ensures equitable access to opportunities, strong community partnerships, and the embedding of HPGE practices into whole-school planning and culture, empowering students to grow, thrive, and reach their full potential within a supportive regional community.
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?
Inspire – 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.
HPGE in the Classroom
In classrooms, teachers identify and support high potential students through differentiated teaching, assessment choice, and explicit feedback. Learning experiences are designed to challenge students, promote deep thinking, and support growth across the intellectual, creative, physical, and social–emotional domains.
This includes:
- Differentiated curriculum and choice in assessment tasks to allow students to demonstrate depth of understanding
- Extension courses in Mathematics, English and Science
- Opportunities for draft submissions and mid-task feedback to support improvement and independence
- Flexible learning groupings based on learning needs
- Explicit feedback through reporting, goal setting and individual learning conversations
- Creative and literacy extension embedded within curriculum programs
These practices ensure that students with high potential are identified early and supported consistently in everyday classroom learning.
HPGE Across the School
Across the school, CHS provides a wide range of enrichment, leadership, creative, sporting, and wellbeing programs that allow students to apply their strengths in authentic contexts.
These include:
- Creative and performance programs such as VibeFest, GCOPS initiatives, Art Gallery exhibitions, creative writing workshops, sound and lighting teams, LEGO Club and design-based learning
- Leadership and wellbeing opportunities including Peer Support, SRC initiatives, mentoring programs, Positive Vibes Week and community service learning
- Physical and sporting pathways including specialist coaching, representative sport, mentoring and officiating roles, Show Teams, ski trips and inclusive sporting events
- Academic enrichment programs including Australian Business Week competition, Chess Club, Debating, ThinkTank, Science and Engineering Challenge, and H2 Car Challenge.
These whole-school opportunities promote confidence, leadership, collaboration, and excellence beyond the classroom.
HPGE Beyond the School
CHS actively supports students to access state-wide, inter-school and external HPGE opportunities, ensuring equitable access regardless of location or background.
These opportunities include:
- Participation in Aurora College, Virtual STEM Academy, and Orbispace
- Involvement in inter-school academic and STEM competitions, including titration competitions and engineering challenges
- University Open Days, Careers Expo, STEM mentoring days and career incursions
- Strong partnerships with the Country University Centre (CUC)
- Targeted invitations, communication and career conversations to support and encourage student participation
- Community, cultural and wellbeing partnerships including Aboriginal Cultural Camps, community art programs and exhibitions, and mental health advocacy projects
These experiences support students to connect learning with future pathways and develop aspirations beyond school.
Student Leadership team
Opportunities for leadership allow students to develop skills in the Social-Emotional domain, including communication, collaboration and positive influence. As part of the student leadership team, students lead the Student Representative Council, run weekly assemblies, welcome official visitors to the school, take a leadership role in school events and represent the school in the community at events including ANZAC Day and Remembrance Day.
Science Extension
This image shows a Science Extension student engaging one-on-one with an academic in a university laboratory, supporting high potential in the intellectual domain. Opportunities to study extension courses provide challenge, autonomy, and experiences beyond the classroom which can inspire students to broaden their awareness of possibilities post-school.
Creative
Students using their imagination and influences from their own world through various creative and expressive forms in art. Here students are using their fine motor skills to develop their skills in plein air painting.
Learning in Mathematics classes
Learning activities in classes challenge students to think critically to solve problems. Students with high potential in the Intellectual domain are given opportunities and agency to deepen their understanding through extension activities and pathways, encouraging HPGE students towards Advanced and Extension Mathematics subjects in their senior schooling.
Royal Easter Show Exhibit
The students' mental health display at the Royal Easter Show exemplifies the Department of Education and Training’s (DET) commitment to nurturing highly gifted and talented learners who are socially aware and compassionate. This impactful exhibit showcases students' creativity, empathy and leadership in promoting mental health awareness within the broader community. Through thoughtful design and powerful messaging, the display reflects the DET’s ideals of inclusive education, wellbeing and student voice. It highlights how our students not only excel academically but also use their talents to drive positive social change, embodying the values of resilience, collaboration and community engagement.
Science and Engineering Challenge
The Science and Engineering Challenge inspires students to engage with STEM through hands-on problem-solving and teamwork. It helps develop critical thinking, creativity, and practical skills that are essential for future careers. Additionally, the challenge fosters a passion for science and engineering by connecting students with industry mentors and real-world applications.
Open Boys Basketball
Open Boys Basketball team was coached by a community member specialising in basketball coaching. The team improved their skills through drills and training sessions held at the school by a local community coach.
Westwords Creative Writing
The Westwords creative writing group contributes to the HPGE domain of ‘creative’ by fostering students' imaginative expression and advanced literary skills through collaborative storytelling and writing workshops.
STEM Industry Partnerships
Industry partnerships with local STEM businesses provide students with real-world experience and insights into current technologies and practices. These collaborations help bridge the gap between classroom learning and practical application, enhancing students' skills and employability. Additionally, they foster networking opportunities that can lead to internships, mentorships, and future career pathways in the STEM sector.
Virtual STEM Academy
NSW Virtual STEM Academy (NSWVSA) is a STEM Enrichment program initiative, designed to provide innovative and high-impact STEM learning opportunities for students across NSW. Learning opportunities include biomedical science, forensic science, chemistry, physics, engineering and UN Sustainable goals. These courses inspires deep learning, critical thinking, and collaboration, connecting students with industry experts, researchers, and like minded peers.
Cattle Team
The Crookwell High School Cattle Team photo proudly captures our gifted and talented students who demonstrate exceptional skills in livestock management, teamwork and leadership. These students blend agricultural knowledge with practical expertise, showcasing their dedication and passion for the industry. Their commitment to excellence, responsibility and collaboration reflects not only individual talent but also the strength of our school’s agricultural program. The photo symbolizes the development of future industry leaders highlighting the synergy between academic learning and hands-on experience. It stands as a testament to how Crookwell High School nurtures and celebrates student potential in unique and meaningful ways.
Aboriginal Cultural Camp and mentoring Opportunities
The Aboriginal Cultural Camp allows our school to identify students' cultural knowledge and strengths through immersive and meaningful experiences. We support students by fostering a respectful environment that celebrates their heritage and encourages their cultural expression. The camp extends students’ strengths by deepening their understanding of Aboriginal culture, building confidence, and promoting leadership within their communities. The mentoring opportunities allow these students to share their knowledge and culture with primary students in our local region, developing knowledge and passion for their culture and into the next generation of students.
CHS Careers Expo – Grow Your Future
The Crookwell High School - Grow Your Future Careers Showcase highlights how our school actively identifies students’ strengths through personalised assessments and guidance. We support students by providing tailored resources, mentorship, and opportunities to explore career pathways aligned with their talents. Through this showcase, we extend students’ strengths by connecting them with local industry partners and inspiring them to pursue fulfilling careers in their areas of interest.
H2GP
The Hydrogen Car Grand Prix enables our school to identify students' strengths in engineering, problem-solving, and teamwork through hands-on design and innovation challenges. We support students by providing guidance, resources, and collaboration opportunities to develop their technical skills and creativity. This program extends students' strengths by offering real-world applications and fostering leadership, preparing them for future careers in sustainable technology and STEM fields.
Student Voice Forum
Students participating in the Student Voice Forum showed high potential in the Social-Emotional Domain by exercising social responsibility by sharing experiences and giving insights into positive aspects of school life and suggestions for improvements. Through the process, students collaborated and communicated effectively while advocating for their peers and the wider school community.
Orbispace Program
The Orbispace Initiative (TOI) is a future-ready education program equipping the next generation of female leaders with the STEAM skills, experience, and networks to thrive as innovators across future industries. TOI teaches technical capabilities alongside soft skills, such as confidence, creativity, and communication, empowering young women to envision and become their aspirations.
Help for your high potential child
If your child shows signs of high potential, contact us. We can share how our HPGE support can guide their learning journey.
Student opportunities and activities
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Learning
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