High potential and gifted education

In our classroom

At Hunter River High School, we are dedicated to identifying and nurturing high potential and gifted students by providing supportive, inclusive classroom environments where every learner can thrive. Our teachers use evidence-informed practices to assess learning needs and offer tailored challenges through enrichment, extension, and acceleration programs. We foster creativity, collaboration, and risk-taking, while continuously enhancing our skills through professional learning to meet the diverse needs of all students.

What do we offer ?

• Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity and higher-order thinking​.
• Formative assessment to monitor growth and adapt learning​.
• Explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem-solving strategies.
• Opportunities for abstraction, inquiry, and curriculum depth​.
• Tasks that promote choice, authenticity, and critical and creative thinking​ including cross-curricular projects.
• Flexible grouping for collaborative ideation and presentation​.
• Targeted learning goals for coordination, agility, and control​.
• Opportunities to take on lead roles in physical demonstrations or team strategy​.
• Supportive learning environments that enable exploration and self-assessment.
• Strengths-based feedback and goal setting.​
• Structured peer collaboration and reflection.​
• Safe learning environments that encourage confidence, risk-taking, and perseverance​.

Year 7 High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Program: Preparing Our Students for Success

At Hunter River High School, we are proud to offer a Year 7 High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) class, designed for students who demonstrate exceptional abilities across a range of areas. Selection into this program is a carefully managed process that reflects our commitment to nurturing each child’s unique talents and learning needs.

Our Year 6 students are invited to apply by reflecting on their strengths in academics, leadership, sports, creative pursuits, and social-emotional growth throughout their primary years. Teachers support this process by providing detailed insights into each student’s achievements and classroom performance.

Following the application stage, candidates take part in an engaging selection day filled with specialised tasks and activities. These activities are thoughtfully designed to assess critical and creative thinking, literacy and numeracy skills, as well as leadership, teamwork, and interpersonal abilities.

Selected students then spend a full day experiencing secondary school lessons and activities. This opportunity allows them to build friendships, become familiar with the new environment, and make a smooth transition into secondary education with confidence and enthusiasm.

We believe this comprehensive approach supports our HPGE students to flourish both academically and personally, preparing them for a successful future.

HSC Extension Courses

As a school we offer the following:

• English Extension 1 and 2
• Maths extension 1 and 2
• History Extension Stage 6

High Performing Students Program Partnership with Newcastle University

The High Performing Students Program is an opportunity for high school students to try university-level courses while still in high school and upon successful completion, receive credit for future university studies.

For over ten years, the program has helped high school students in the region get a head start on university. The program builds critical thinking and independent learning skills to achieve their academic goals, explore future study and career options, and get to know the University of Newcastle.

Hunter River High supports students through the application process and throughout the course. Student considering these course should speak with Head Teacher Learning and Engagement (Katie Mason) and/ or their Deputy principal for further information.

Across our school

Students have many opportunities to participate in activities that nurture one or more of the domains including:

• Debating
• Academic competitions
• Music ensembles
• Visual arts and drama showcases
• Creative writing groups
• Sport squads
• Student leadership (SRC)
• Participation in whole-school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives
• Cattle Club/ Agriculture
• Indigenous Dance and Didgeridoo
• Academic extension class

School Initiatives in 2026

The Echo Program: Embracing Potential, Inspiring Excellence

The Echo Program at Hunter River High School is the dedicated initiative for high potential and gifted students in Years 8 and 9. Named after the dolphin, a symbol of intelligence, communication, and social connection, this program reflects the school commitment to nurturing the unique talents within our school community. Students have been selected after consultation with staff, considering their participation in activities within the school across all Key Learning Areas and their involvement in the wider community and extracurricular activities.

Just as dolphins use echoes to navigate and communicate with clarity and purpose, the program aims to help students discover their potential, amplify their strengths, and navigate their learning journeys with confidence and support.

The acronym ECHO stands for:

• Empowerment: Providing students with the resources and opportunities to take ownership of their learning.
• Creativity: Encouraging innovative thinking and problem solving that allow students to explore new ideas.
• Holistic Development: Supporting academic growth alongside social, emotional, and personal wellbeing in line with the HPGE policy.
• Opportunity: Ensuring equitable access to rich, challenging experiences that stretch potential and foster excellence.

The Echo Program embodies these principles to create an inclusive environment where high potential and gifted learners thrive, reflect their strengths back to the school community, and make meaningful contributions to society.

Year 10 HPGE Program for Manufacturing

Foundations for the Future empowers Stage 5 students with high potential in applied and practical learning domains by providing an alternative curriculum pathway that builds technical capability, employability, and community-minded citizenship. The program aims to prepare students for successful transition into VET pathways, apprenticeships, and trade-based Stage 6 programs.

Rationale

A growing number of students demonstrate strong aptitude and motivation for hands-on, project-based learning but may not fully engage with traditional academic structures. The HPGE framework recognises these students as high-potential learners in the intellectual, creative, physical, and social-emotional, capable of excelling in fields requiring creativity, problem-solving, and technical skill.

The Foundations for the Future program addresses this need by integrating Stage 5 core learning outcomes with targeted vocational experience in construction, landscaping, horticulture, and hospitality. Through collaboration with TAFE NSW, community partners, and local industry, students gain access to authentic contexts that develop their technical abilities, soft skills, and understanding of workplace expectations.

This program enhances student engagement, retention, and readiness for post-school pathways by equipping learners with nationally recognised micro-credentials, job readiness skills, and a strong portfolio of real-world project work. It also contributes to school–community partnerships and supports local workforce development.

Program Overview

Alternative Stage 5 curriculum for identified HPGE students.

• Focus areas: construction, landscaping, horticulture, cooking, employability skills, and community engagement.
• Delivery through applied, integrated, and contextualised learning linked to NESA syllabus outcomes.
• Students complete core academic subjects using project-based assessments.

Key Features

• Access to trade-based learning, including tool safety, design, horticulture practices, and food preparation.

• White Card, First Aid, and Safe Food Handling micro-credentials.
• Portfolio development including digital resumes and project documentation.
• Supported work experience placements in relevant industries.

Expected Student Outcomes

• Completion of Stage 5 requirements through contextualised and applied learning.
• Industry-recognised micro-credentials supporting apprenticeship readiness.
• Demonstrated proficiency in employability skills: communication, teamwork, initiative, problem-solving, and reliability.
• A comprehensive work portfolio including project work, community engagement, and skills evidence.
• Strong pathways into Stage 6 VET courses, SBATs, apprenticeships, and trade qualifications.

Across NSW

• The Premier’s Reading Challenge promotes our students’ vocabulary development and attention to detail in competitive settings.
• The Premier’s Debating Challenge helps our students to build logical arguments and confidence in public speaking.
• Our STEM Enrichment Partnerships with industry and universities deepen our students’ intellectual curiosity while developing innovation and collaboration.
• Star Struck is an iconic performing arts event that celebrates the talents, diversity and creativity of students from across the Hunter Region public schools.
• The Representative School Sport Pathway and NSWCHSSA(New South Wales Combined High Schools Sports Association) events enable our students to trial and compete in sports at regional, state and national levels, fostering discipline, commitment and collaboration.
• Our mentoring programs connect our students with a staff member to build confidence, motivation, and interpersonal skills.