High potential and gifted education

At Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt Campus, we identify high potential and gifted students early — those who learn quickly or show advanced ability in areas such as creativity, leadership, problem solving or sport.

We recognise and nurture these strengths through engaging and challenging learning experiences that extend their thinking and encourage curiosity. Our goal is to ensure every student is supported, engaged and inspired to achieve personal excellence.

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?

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

At Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt, we are committed to the NSW Department of Education’s High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Policy, which ensures that students with high potential across all areas of ability are identified, supported and challenged to thrive. The policy recognises that students may demonstrate high potential – and the capacity for gifted performance – in one or more of four domains: intellectual, creative, social emotional, and physical.

In our classroom

At Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt, HPGE is part of everyday practice. We are committed to recognising and nurturing high potential and gifted students, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive at our school.

Our classrooms provide a supportive, stimulating environment that encourages creativity, critical thinking, collaboration, perseverance, and risk-taking. We implement high-quality differentiated teaching and explicit instruction across all subjects, enabling students to engage with challenging tasks tailored to their strengths and interests.

Learning experiences promote choice, authenticity, and deep inquiry, supported by strengths-based feedback and clear goal-setting. Peer collaboration and self-assessment are integral to building confident, independent learners.

Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt has a selective stream with 60 selective students in each year group, where students engage with a differentiated curriculum within a tailored learning environment.

All students have access to a broad choice of electives and complete two VIBE subjects in years 9 and 10. VIBEs are designed to engage participants in inquiry-based projects that develop extraordinary creativity, critical thinking, communication, collaboration, and reflective thinking skills.

Students at Leichhardt campus continue on to Blackwattle Bay campus for years 11 and 12, where an extensive curriculum is offered to meet the needs of all students.

Across our school

Our school recognises that every student is individual, and we provide flexible and diverse opportunities for students to explore and grow their strengths outside the classroom.

All our students, including high potential and gifted students, are encouraged to take on leadership roles through student representative council leadership, peer support leadership, mentoring opportunities, and fundraising and social justice groups.

Students are encouraged to discover a passion for STEM in years 7 and 8, when they may compete in the STEM showcases – opportunities to present STEM projects to their peers and school community. In years 9 and 10, this passion can be nurtured with extensive STEM elective options and partnerships with leading institutions that inspire innovation and curiosity.

The creative arts are celebrated through ensembles, exhibitions, drama productions, and performance nights supported by student-run technical teams. The Instrumental Music Program brings together students from all three campuses of Sydney Secondary College.

College Learning Plans, completed twice yearly with teacher support, provide structured opportunities for students to reflect on academic progress and set SMART goals.

Sports and physical activities promote well-rounded engagement and leadership development through inter-school competitions and house carnivals. The Talented Athletes Program provides a supportive and nurturing environment for elite athletes, offering specialised training, access to coaching and facilities, and personalised development plans to help them excel in their chosen sports.

Across NSW

Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt students have access to an extensive range of state-wide programs and competitions designed to extend potential.

Leichhardt students participate in debating and public speaking contests, the Premier’s Reading Challenge, and academic competitions including ICAS writing, English, science and mathematics competitions, the Australian Mathematics Competition, and the Australian History Competition.
Students can participate in a multitude of sporting competitions including gala days, combined high schools knock-out competitions, and selection through to zone, regional, and state carnivals.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award engages young people in the broader world through participation in a globally recognised program that supports participants to develop new skills, confidence, resilience, and leadership.
Students with talents in areas not offered at Sydney Secondary College Leichhardt are supported to compete in statewide competitions and events.

Our students thrive through participation in programs that promote excellence, resilience, and connection to the broader educational community across New South Wales.