High potential and gifted education
At Toormina High School, we believe that meeting the diverse learning needs of every student is key to creating an inclusive, engaging and high-achieving school community. This belief underpins our commitment to supporting students with high potential and those identified as gifted across the four domains: Creative, Physical, Social-Emotional, and Intellectual.
Our approach recognises that high potential can emerge in many forms. For this reason, we provide a range of learning opportunities, enrichment pathways and targeted support to help students further develop their strengths. We know that when the right conditions are in place, a rising tide lifts all ships - and that high-quality, evidence-based teaching benefits every learner.
To achieve this, we implement a multi-faceted approach within our teaching and learning programs. This includes:
- Explicit, high-impact teaching practices that provide clarity, challenge and direction.
- Collaborative professional learning focused on strengthening literacy and numeracy outcomes for all students.
- Differentiated learning experiences and assessments tailored to the needs of high-performing, gifted and highly engaged students.
By embedding these practices across the curriculum and school culture, Toormina High School fosters an environment where students are encouraged to flourish, explore their potential, and strive for excellence. Our commitment ensures that every student has the opportunity, support and challenge needed to reach their highest potential.
The four domains of potential
The Intellectual Domain refers to natural abilities in processing, understanding, reasoning, and the transfer of learning.
Signs of high potential in this domain include:
- Capacity for greater analytical depth
- Fewer repetitions needed for mastery
- Greater capability for abstract reasoning
- Ease in making connections between disciplines
- Advanced reading ability and comprehension
- Knowledge in areas of passion
- Processing information in complex ways
- Enjoyment in hypothesising
- Thriving on complexity and seeing different points of view
- Thinking in analogies
Some of the programs and opportunities students can participate in for the Intellectual Domain include:
- Accelerated subjects
- Maths Enrichment Program
- Science and Engineering Challenge
- Debating
- Public Speaking
- Tournament of the Minds
- Competitions
- The Premier’s Reading Challenge
- Homework Centre
The Physical Domain refers to natural abilities in muscular movement and motor control.
Signs of high potential in this domain include:
- Subtlety in movement and control of the body
- Self-discipline
- Coordination, balance and confidence in physical activities
- Suitability of body build
- High energy
- Superior understanding of spatial relationships
- Endurance, stamina and persistence in physical activity
- Prowess
- Competitive natures
Some of the programs and opportunities students can participate in for the Physical Domain include:
- Representative Sports
- Combined High Schools Sports
- Dance
- Stronger Strides
- Surfing
- Sports coaching
The Creative Domain refers to natural abilities in imagination, invention and originality.
Signs of high potential in this domain include:
- Educational risk-taking
- Tolerance for ambiguity
- Making unusual associations between different ideas
- Creative thinking across different disciplines
- Novel thinking in written and oral expression
- Flexibility and divergence in thinking
- Unusual ability for expressing self through art, dance, drama, music
- Creating several solutions to a given problem
- Synthesising a variety of ideas in original ways
Some of the programs and opportunities students can participate in for the Creative Domain include:
- Small Art Group
- School Band
- Music Tuition
- Eisteddfod Dance
- Accelerated Dance
- CAPA Showcase
- Flourish
- Drama Workshops
The Social-Emotional Domain refers to natural abilities in self-management and relating to and interacting with others.
Signs of high potential in this domain include:
- Self-advanced organisation and management skills
- Advanced social and communication skills
- Emotional stability
- Empathy
- Leadership and decision-making skills
- Resilience and self-awareness
- Foreseeing consequences and implications of decisions
- Respect from peers
- Self-confidence
- Task analysis and backward mapping skills
- Social justice advocacy
Some of the programs and opportunities students can participate in for the Social-Emotional Domain include:
- Student Leadership Team
- Debating
- Public Speaking
- Tournament of the Minds
- Mock Trial and Mediation
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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