High potential and gifted education (HPGE)
Bowral High School is an HPGE priority partner high school. We receive additional resources to:
- upgrade specialist teaching spaces
- support talent development programs
- embed the High potential and gifted education policy
This program supports Our Plan for NSW Public Education, and its goals that every student:
- receives a high-quality education that enables them to excel
- achieves ambitious learning goals every year
Here at our school, we are strengthening our commitment to finding the potential, developing the talent and making the difference for your child.
We are doing this by:
- prioritising the right support and challenge for each student
- leveraging expertise amongst our team of accomplished teachers internally and state-wide
- consolidating student advocacy
For more information and project updates visit Bowral High School upgrade
Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?
We understand students learn at different rates and in different ways.
Our expert and skilled teachers are empowered to develop the whole child using a strengths-based approach to learning. Our team are guided by the four domains to find and develop potential. These domains often overlap and are highly influenced by one another.
We use talent development programs such as differentiation, enrichment and acceleration. We make deliberate adjustments to content, process, product and learning environment to meet the needs of our individuals.
Together we can nurture your child's complete growth across the domains. Facilitating student learning through stages of competency along a continuum of novice to mastery. Students learn skills like motivation, effort, resilience, perseverance and empathy alongside knowledge to prepare them for life, not just tests.
The creative domain refers to natural abilities in imagination, invention and originality.
Signs of high potential include originality, innovation and inventiveness in organising ideas, images, words, sound, movement and objects.
Learning in the creative domain occurs within and across a range of subjects, including mathematics, science, creative arts, English and literary arts, design and technology, social sciences and sport.
Benefits of creative development include self-expression, problem solving, risk-taking and experimentation, reduction in stress and anxiety and feelings of accomplishment and pride.
The intellectual domain refers to natural abilities in processing, understanding, reasoning, and the transfer of learning.
Signs of high potential include verbal, numerical, logic and spatial aptitudes, synthesis and evaluation, abstract thinking, use of long term and working memory, and problem solving.
Intellectual development assists students to be observant, intrinsically motivated and goal-driven, with creative, critical and independent thinking skills.
The physical domain refers to natural abilities in muscular movement and motor control.
Signs of high potential in the physical domain include power, speed (muscular), muscular strength, endurance, flexibility, speed (of reflexes), agility, coordination and balance.
High potential in the physical domain may be observed in a range of contexts, such as sport, dance, performance and hands-on activities such as building, cooking and visual arts practical design.
The social-emotional domain refers to natural abilities in self-management and relating to and interacting with others.
Signs of natural abilities include perceptiveness, empathy, social ease, tactfulness, influence, persuasiveness, eloquence, leadership, and charisma.
Social-emotional development and wellbeing of high potential and gifted students is supported by learning environments that enable them to connect, succeed and thrive.
Social-emotional development assists students to cope with stressors, manage behaviours, and effectively work with others, positively contributing to society.
Our current HPGE policy is for all students. It provides a framework for our school to ensure all students reach their potential. It's an inclusive approach, underpinned by research and proven practices to meet specific needs, moving beyond traditional giftedness to encompass broader areas of talent.
In essence, HPGE ensures that students showing advanced capacity in any area are not overlooked, receiving tailored support to maximise their growth and achievement.
Supporting student success
We offer bespoke planning in consultation and partnership with you and your child, providing student advocacy to ensure every student is known, valued and cared for. We are committed to maximising the right support and challenge that aligns to your child's needs.
What is HPGE?
High potential and gifted education 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 HPGE opportunities
Our HPG students optimise their growth and achievement with the support from our dedicated and enthusiastic staff.
Our staff:
- foster a high-expectation mindset and provide the right support and challenge for all students to take their learning to the next level
- know, value and care for every student, delivering equity and ensuring every student can access high potential and talent development
- strive for excellence in learning and are committed to attaining a high performance culture in the classroom
- facilitate a safe and supportive learning environment to encourage risk-taking, exploration, resilience, perseverance and learning from mistakes with confidence
- provide a welcoming and inclusive culture
Our teachers strive to meet the needs of each student using:
- explicit teaching
- pre-assessment
- talent identification and assessment
- differentiated tasks that apply the nine adjustments of abstraction, authenticity, challenge, choice, complexity, creative and critical thinking, higher-order thinking, learning environment and pace
- acceleration
We offer curricular and extracurricular enrichment programs to develop high potential and talent, including:
- extension mathematics, English, history, and science in Stage 6 (Year 11 and 12)
- Year 7-12 Interact Rotary club
- Year 7-11 Student Representative Council (SRC)
- Year 12 prefects team of captains, vice captains, house captains and prefects
- public speaking and debating
- Writers Guild
- Stage 6 school holiday classes
- bi-annual musicals
- rock bands
- choir/vocal groups
- subsidised 1:1 musical tuition
- chess club
- TAFE partnerships
- school-based apprenticeships
- Smiths Cup
- peer mentoring and coaching
- Year 6 sports day (coaching, umpiring, officiating)
- careers expo
We support student success using:
- personalised learning pathways for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander students
- bespoke individual learning and support plans
Our school provides our HPG students the opportunity to access programs across the state with like-minded students, facilitated by industry experts. Resources and programs include:
- online selective school, Aurora College
- Game Changer Challenge - solving real-world problems
- Youth Council, leadership and social justice forums
- ASX competition
- Model United Nations Assembly
- mock trials
- chess competitions
- representative sport
- STEM Academy
- excursions and camps
- science and engineering challenge
- geography competition
- Hydrogen Powered Race Car competition
- Schools Spectacular
- Southern Stars
- Pulse
- Aboriginal dance company
Our students enjoy the best of both worlds. They learn in a beautiful, safe regional community, while we are dedicated to unlocking their full potential by providing the same high-quality enrichment programs as metropolitan schools. This commitment ensures your child has every opportunity to develop their talents into outstanding performance and achieve their best.
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.
Help for your high potential child
If your child shows signs of high potential, contact us. We can share how our HPGE policy, local procedures and programs can guide your child's learning journey. Request a deputy principal to discuss what we can do together.
Transition to high school, supporting HPG students
Starting high school is an exciting milestone for students and families. Moving from Year 6 to Year 7 can feel like a big change. We help every child feel confident, safe and supported during the transition to high school.
Find out more in the Getting ready for high school guide.
Our transition program
We collaborate with local primary schools to help students feel ready and optimistic with anticipation to continue their learning journey in a beautiful and safe secondary setting. Our transition to high school programs helps Year K-6 students get ready for Year 7. Activities may include and showcase our HPGE opportunities with:
- orientation days and school tours
- subject tasters and classroom visits
- peer support activities with older students
- parent information sessions
- parent and teacher conferences
- other community events
Students, parents and carers can join these sessions to learn about our HPGE opportunities. If you need any assistance or further information then contact our friendly team.
Bespoke transition for students seeking enrolment in Year 8-12
We work closely with families and students seeking enrolment in any year at our school. Together we plan a transition program for success. Student and parent feedback shows we make a difference.
Request a meeting with our principal or deputy principal to see how we can help via email or call us today to arrange an appointment.
Book a tour
We welcome a visit from you. Come and see our state-of-the-art facilities. Meet significant staff who can help your child. See first-hand what we have to offer.
Authorised host school for online academic selective classes
The department's Aurora College provides online selective high school classes for students enrolled at Bowral High School. Students in Year 7-10 join Aurora College’s online classes for English, mathematics and science. Two residential camps are held each year that include:
- practical face-to-face lessons
- specialist excursions
- opportunities for students to meet and socialise with their classmates.
Year 7 entry
Applications for entry into Year 7 in 2026 are now closed.
For important dates and information on how to apply for entry into Year 7 in 2027, please visit Selective High Schools: Year 7 placement
Year 8-10 entry
Applications for placement in 2026 are now closed.
For important dates and information on how to apply for entry in 2027, please visit Selective High Schools: Years 8 to 11 placement
Year 11-12 senior school
Students enrolled at both Bowral HS and Aurora College have the opportunity to select one or more senior subjects with the selective school.
Year 5-10 the young and deadly mob
Is a specialised offering for high potential and gifted Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students. This program focuses on deepening engagement, increasing retention and building community partnerships.
For more information contact our Aurora College Coordinator to discuss potential pathways.
Alternatively, contact Aurora College to ask a question.
"...This cohort is an impressive group and a fabulous example of what well rounded, interesting and compassionate humans can come out of our public education system. Thank you to both Aurora College and Bowral High School."
Kirstine McKay (17 December 2025)
"Our eldest son, now in his final year of schooling, has been a part of the collaborative education partnership of Aurora College and Bowral High School since year 7. He has had a very positive experience with both schools. Academically he has been able to be extended, his leadership qualities and passion to be a committed and connected citizen to the broader community has been fostered, and he has a strong, caring and inspiring social circle. We are so proud of the young man he is and of his peers at Bowral High School. This cohort is an impressive group and a fabulous example of what well rounded, interesting and compassionate humans can come out of our public education system. Thank you to both Aurora College and Bowral High School."
Kirstine McKay (17 December 2025)
Ready, set, enrol!
Enrol for success and spread the word. We are the best education money can't buy. We’re excited to welcome your family to our school community. To begin your journey, simply complete our online application form.