Wakehurst Public School

Friendship, loyalty, learning

Telephone02 9451 1812

Emailwakehurst-p.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Selective high school

Enrichment opportunities

Students across our school have opportunities to participate in an enrichment program within school. This program caters for a different group of students each term and focuses on a wide range of critical and creative thinking challenges. Gifted students are those whose potential is distinctly above average in one or more of the following areas of ability at school - intellectual, creative, social and physical. Our gifted and talented program provides these students with learning opportunities on top of the normal curriculum.

Our policy is to encourage all students to excel in areas of personal interest and talent. Emphasis is on the inclusion rather than exclusion of students in a variety of programs designed to extend the special talents of individual students from Kindergarten to Year 6.  All children are encouraged to feel good about themselves; all children are encouraged to strive to achieve their personal best and to feel talented and special. The needs of academically gifted students are normally accommodated by the provision of open ended classroom activities and far reaching extension programs and teaching strategies. A wide variety of programs has been developed to extend the gifts and talents of individual students. Such programs include: band, choir, debating, PSSA inter-school sports program, zone trials for a wide variety of sports, dance group, external competitions (mathematics, science, spelling, ICT, writing, art, etc.), extension programs in the area of technology and regional dance ensembles. Selected Stage 3 students also participate in enrichment and extension programs at Balgowlah Extension Studies Centre (Year 6) and Davidson High School (Year 5).  Students also have the opportunity to be involved in small group extension programs throughout the school year.

Opportunity classes

Certain schools across NSW offer opportunity classes for high-achieving, academically-gifted students in Years 5 and 6. To be considered for enrolment, students must sit the opportunity class placement test in Year 4. The test is held between late July and early August and application packages must be made in May. 

Selective high schools

Selective high schools cater for the specific needs of high achieving gifted students who may otherwise be without sufficient classmates at their own academic and social level. Selective schools help gifted and talent students to learn by grouping them with other gifted and talented students, teaching them in specialised ways and providing educational materials at the appropriate level. To apply for a selective high school you need to complete an application in Year 5 and students must sit the selective high school placement test in March of Year 6 to be considered for enrolment. Some selective high schools accept students for entry into Years 8-12. Applications are available in June and must be made directly to your preferred school.

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