Inspire – High potential and gifted education

In our classroom

Kindergarten – Year 2 (Turtles Class)

High potential learners in Kindergarten to Year 2 at Fernleigh Public School experience a dynamic and enriched learning environment, which includes:

• Differentiated literacy and numeracy tasks that cater to individual needs and strengths.
• Enrichment for early readers and writers, offering opportunities to extend their learning beyond the curriculum.
• Open-ended mathematics and inquiry challenges, encouraging critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Flexible grouping for targeted extension, allowing students to work with peers at different levels to enhance their learning.
• Early STEM and science investigations, sparking curiosity and hands-on exploration in these key areas.
• Learning linked to real-world experiences, including exciting excursions and incursions to bring learning to life.
• Leadership and social-emotional opportunities, such as buddy roles, to develop confidence and responsibility.

In addition to these rich learning experiences, we are proud to offer:

• Personalised learning through small class sizes, allowing for more targeted attention and early identification of high-potential students.
• Access to individual devices to support independent learning, allowing students to engage with digital resources and explore their interests.
• Tailored resources that are specifically designed to meet the diverse needs of each student, ensuring they receive the right level of challenge and support.
• Opportunities for independence, encouraging students to take ownership of their learning and develop valuable self-management skills.

At Fernleigh, we aim to create a supportive and enriching environment where high-potential learners can thrive and reach their full potential.

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Years 3 – 6 (Whales Class)

High potential learners in Years 3 to 6 at Fernleigh Public School experience a rich and challenging learning environment that supports depth, creativity and independence. Learning opportunities include:

• Deep curriculum investigations with advanced literacy and numeracy tasks that promote higher-order thinking.
• Project-based learning and extended research, allowing students to explore topics of interest in depth.
• Mathematics extension groups focused on abstract reasoning and complex problem-solving.
• Check-in assessments used to identify extension needs and inform targeted teaching.
• STEM, robotics and design challenges that encourage innovation, collaboration and critical thinking.
• Creative arts, performance and writing enrichment, supporting creative expression across a range of disciplines.
• Leadership opportunities, including participation in SRC and leadership roles in school events.
• Targeted pathways in representative sport, supporting students with advanced skills and commitment.

Additional features of our Years 3–6 program include:

• Access to individual devices, enabling students to research, create, collaborate and work independently.
• High-quality, tailored resources designed to meet individual learning needs and extend student thinking.
• Strong focus on student independence, with learners encouraged to take responsibility for their learning, set goals and reflect on progress.
• Flexible and responsive teaching, with learning adjusted in real time to stretch, challenge and inspire our older students.

At Fernleigh Public School, we support our high potential learners in Years 3–6 to grow as confident, capable and motivated learners, prepared for future learning success.

Across our school

High potential education at Fernleigh extends beyond the classroom. Whole-school opportunities include:

• creative arts experiences, including drama, music and whole-school productions
• art and writing showcases
• General Knowledge Day
• Book Week and Book Parade
• chess and draughts competition
• Spelling Bee
• STEM and environmental projects
• Fun Run challenges
• Sporting Schools programs
• athletics, cross country and swimming programs
• Grip Leadership and buddy programs
• enrichment days with neighbouring small schools

Our small rural setting provides personalised opportunities and a strong sense of belonging — ideal conditions for talent to grow.

Term 1 – Foundations, Challenge & Early Extension

Intellectual Domain

• General Knowledge Day – extending reasoning, world knowledge and curiosity.
• Early enrichment in literacy and numeracy groups (K–2 and 3–6).
• Project-based learning linked to weather, environment and science.
• Targeted formative assessment to identify early high potential across classes.
• Learning support consultations that enable differentiation for advanced learners.

Creative Domain

• Beginning-of-year writing and art units with open-ended tasks.

Physical Domain

• Small Schools Swimming Carnival
• Headlands District Swimming Carnival
• FNC Zone Swimming
• Sporting Schools Program
  (ideal for students with strong physical ability and coordination)

Social-Emotional & Leadership Domain

• Student leadership roles established for the year.
• Buddy program between older and younger students begins.
• Small Schools Principal and Collegiate Collaboration Days – group learning and shared enrichment.

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Term 2 – Creativity, Critical Thinking & Community Connections

Intellectual Domain

• School Photography writing and ICT inquiries.
• Check-in assessments for diagnostic extension planning (3–6).
• Problem-solving and inquiry units in maths, science and sustainability.
• World Turtle Day – environmental learning and science investigations.

Creative Domain

• CTIPS Arts Day – enrichment in visual arts, dance and music.
• Creative writing and poetry units.

Physical Domain

• Small Schools Cross Counry Carnival
• District and FNC Cross Country — advanced pathway for talented runners.
• Ongoing Sporting Schools and PE extension.

Social-Emotional & Leadership Domain

• GRIP Leadership Conference (Years 5 and 6).
• Small Schools Principal and Collegiate Collaboration Days – group learning and shared enrichment.

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Term 3 – Big Thinking, Performance & Extension Pathways

Intellectual Domain

• 3–6 Check-In Assessments (Reading, Numeracy, Writing)
  (Used to identify extension pathways and track advanced achievement)
• Sport Incursion – physics, focus, technique and challenge.
• Byron Writers Festival – high-level literary exposure.
• Book Week + Book Parade – creative interpretation and oral language development.
• Public Speaking Nomination & Preparation
• Maths enrichment and problem-solving projects.

Creative Domain

• Drama, storytelling and costume design during Book Week.
• Art units tied to literature and festival themes.

Physical Domain

• Small Schools Athletics Carnival
• District and FNC Athletics Carnival — advanced pathway for talented athletes.
• Swimming Program

Social-Emotional & Leadership Domain

• Buddy reading partnerships grow deeper.
• Daily leadership opportunities within classes and assemblies.
• Collaborative work with neighbouring small schools.

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Term 4 – Talent Celebration, Transition & Future Pathways

Intellectual Domain

• Chess & Draughts Program and competition
• Writing festivals, end-of-year projects and inquiry showcases.
• Enhanced problem-solving and independent research.

Creative Domain

• Rehearsals, performance tasks and artistic displays.
• Dojo creative rewards and project celebration days.

Physical Domain

• Fun Run – fitness, goal setting and challenge events.
• Ongoing PE extension and games requiring strategy, agility and coordination.

Social-Emotional & Leadership Domain

• Transition programs for new Kindergarten students.
• Year 6 leadership celebrated through special roles in assemblies and events.
• Year 5/6 Interrelate Program building social-emotional understanding.
• End-of-year Presentation Assembly recognising high achievement and effort.

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How this supports high potential learners

Across all four terms, students at Fernleigh experience:

• deeper thinking
• personalised challenge
• opportunities to perform, lead and compete
• experiences designed to stretch curiosity and confidence
• access to specialist programs inside and outside school

Our small size allows us to know students deeply and provide extension the moment potential is demonstrated.

Across NSW

Students at Fernleigh Public School can access statewide opportunities including:

• Opportunity Class and Selective High School pathways
• Arts Unit programs (dance, drama, music, visual arts, public speaking)
• Premier’s Reading Challenge and Premier’s Spelling Bee
• STEM enrichment programs and state challenges
• NSW School Sport representative pathways

We support families with information, applications and preparation to ensure equitable access.