Inspire - High potential and gifted education
Purpose
Our moral purpose at Asquith High School (AHS) is our belief that every student deserves equitable access to challenge, extension, and enrichment opportunities that foster growth, curiosity, and achievement. Based on this, AHS provides rich opportunities within and beyond the classroom to ensure all learners from Years 7 to 12 are challenged, supported, and inspired to achieve their full potential through equitable, inclusive, and challenging learning experiences that foster excellence, curiosity, and compassion.
Our Commitment
At Asquith High School, we are committed to identifying, nurturing and extending students with high potential across the four domains of learning, intellectual, creative, social-emotional and physical.
Our Inspire - High potential and gifted education (HPGE) approach ensures that all students are known, challenged and supported to achieve personal excellence. We use a range of data sources and teacher professional judgement to identify students' potential and provide learning experiences that foster deep thinking, creativity and leadership.
Students are supported through:
- Differentiated and enriched classroom learning
- Extension and enrichment opportunities within and beyond the curriculum
- Targeted academic mentoring and leadership development
- Co-curricular programs, competitions and project-based learning
Through high expectations, strong well-being support and a culture of excellence, we empower our high-potential students to thrive and reach their full potential.
You can read the NSW Department of Education’s HPGE Policy (2021) here.
Our Approach
Classroom Practices
Our teachers use research-informed strategies to identify and cater for high-potential and gifted learners through:
- Formative assessment. Regular and purposeful assessment for learning to identify readiness, monitor growth, and adapt teaching accordingly
- Purposeful, flexible grouping to promote challenge and collaboration
- Differentiated tasks that adjust pace, complexity, and higher-order thinking
- Explicit teaching of creative and critical thinking and problem-solving strategies
- Opportunities for student agency and reflection, encouraging ownership of learning
Enrichment and Extension Programs
Year 7 Placement
Students are considered based on:
- Primary school recommendation
- NAPLAN results
- Check-in assessment data
- Enrichment Test (Term 2)
- Student portfolio
Holistic approach identifies both achievement and potential
Years 8-10 Annual Review
Panel includes:
Head Teachers, Classroom teachers, Year Advisors, Head Teacher of Teaching & Learning, Stage Deputy Principals
Panel considers:
- Academic growth and performance
- Commitment to learning
- Classroom engagement
- Social and emotional readiness
- Capacity to manage academic challenge
Placements for the following year are then determined.
Students in Enrichment Classes (Years 7–10) and in Stage 6 take part in learning that is accelerated and extended across subjects such as literacy, numeracy, STEM, humanities, science, mathematics, sport and the arts. Teachers adjust learning activities so students are both challenged and supported, helping them develop the skills and thinking needed for the future and a changing global world.
Asquith High School offers a diverse range of programs that extend learning beyond the classroom:
Academia
- Australian Maths Competition, Maths Olympiad
- National Youth Science Forum, Science EXPO, Science and Engineering Challenge, ICAS Writing Competition
- Mock Trials, Geography and History Competition, Economics and Business Studies Competition, Australian Business Week
- Premier's Reading Challenge
- Premier's Debating Challenge
- Game Changer Challenge
- Macquarie University Academic Challenge
- University of Sydney STEM Project
Creative and Performing Arts
- Annual Talent Fest,
- Biennial Musical Production,
- School Spectacular,
- Annual Dance Night,
- Drama Night,
- Annual Musicale,
- Lights Up Drama Festival,
- In the Spotlight Dance Festivals,
- State Drama & Dance Festivals,
- Showbiz Stage Production Crew,
- Stage Band, Combined Concert Band, Combined Wind Ensemble, Combined Jazz Combo,
- Vocal Ensemble
Sport
- Premier's Sporting Challenge
- Competitive teams
- Pathways to representative levels
Leadership and Voice
- Student Representative Council
- Peer mentoring
- Community projects
Global and Cultural Connections
- International partnerships
- Overseas study opportunities
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
Discover the diverse range of opportunities our students have available at Asquith.
Stories and Highlights
Explore the recent activities our students have participated in, and succeeded at.