Inspire – High potential and gifted education

Inspire – High potential and gifted education (HPGE) at George Bass School

At George Bass School, we believe that every student has the right to be challenged and supported to develop their potential, regardless of their starting point.

While the NSW Department of Education’s Inspire – High potential and gifted education (HPGE) Policy often brings to mind traditional academic excellence, our implementation focuses on the core department principle of promoting excellence by maximising the learning outcomes for every student.

Our Perspective

The NSW Department of Education describes students demonstrating high potential as those whose potential exceeds that of students of the same age or stage. As a department of Education school, George Bass School provides teaching and learning programs that challenge and extend every student.

The policy identifies four domains of potential:

Intellectual

Creative

Socio-Emotional

Physical

We recognise that a student may show an increased aptitude or a ‘spark’ in one of these areas relative to their own learning profile. Our goal is to move beyond the label and focus on the growth.

While we may not have students meeting the psychometric criteria for ‘gifted’, we provide targeted pathways for those who demonstrate specific interests and/or aptitudes.

Implementation Across the Domains

Physical Domain

We pride ourselves on our inclusive sports programs that provide pathways from school-based fun to statewide competition. Select students compete in Bocce and Tenpin Bowling, allowing them to demonstrate precision and strategy.

We invest in specialist coaches for soccer and gymnastics, ensuring students receive expert instruction adapted to their individual abilities.

Creative Domain

High-level performance opportunities for students with a high aptitude for music and dance include participation in a group audition for Schools Spectacular. Each year students have been successful in passing the audition to perform in the D’Arts ensemble.

Students with interest and enthusiasm for drama and dance may participate in The Arts Unit’s Combined Schools Musical. Last year students participated in an adaptation of Shrek, and the musical for 2026 is Mary Poppins.

We balance this with inclusive participation through our Band and Choir programs which prioritise interest and sensory engagement over technical aptitude, ensuring every student has a voice and a choice.

Socio-Emotional Domain

Opportunities to develop leadership and self-advocacy skills are provided through serving as house or school captain. School captains for the primary and secondary years are voted in by all students and staff based on their ability to navigate social environments or support their peers.

Some senior students are selected to participate in a peer mentoring initiative where they are supported to assist younger peers in navigating playground transitions, reading or art activities and positive social interactions.

Intellectual Domain:

We offer opportunities for students to participate in work education and community programs to practise functional literacy, numeracy or problem-solving within their local environment. Programs are sought and selected which reflect students’ interests and strengths in different fields.