Gifted & Talented
Program
At ET Australia Secondary College (ETASC), our Gifted and Talented (GAT) Program supports students who excel in academic, creative, or artistic domains in comparison to their peers. These students often learn quickly, think abstractly, and solve complex problems. We recognise that each student has unique strengths, interests, and learning needs, with varying abilities and levels of achievement.
“A diverse program to help inquisitive minds.”
Patterns of higher ability in students’ results are identified through ETASC’s data analysis and teacher observation.
Student Identification
Students are monitored by the Gifted and Talented teacher to establish areas of strength.
Monitoring
Students and parents/carers are advised of potential talents, and students are invited to join and participate in ETASC’s Gifted and Talented program.
Program Participation
Action is taken to challenge students with extension programs designed to address their educational needs.
Enhanced Learning Adjustments
Student Identification
Patterns of higher ability in students’ results are identified through ETASC’s data analysis and teacher observation.
Monitoring
Students are monitored by the Gifted and Talented teacher to establish areas of strength.
Program Participation
Students and parents/carers are advised of potential talents, and students are invited to join and participate in ETASC’s Gifted and Talented program.
Enhanced Learning Adjustments
Action is taken to challenge students with extension programs designed to address their educational needs.
What Type of Student is This Program For?
Gifted and talented high school students demonstrate exceptional potential or performance in intellectual, creative, academic, or artistic domains compared to peers. They typically exhibit fast processing speeds, advanced reasoning, intense curiosity, and a need for complex, stimulating material, often requiring specialised curriculum acceleration or enrichment to thrive.
Students can be gifted and/or talented in one or more of the following domains:
- Intellectual/Academic
- Creative
- Leadership
The ideal student for ETASC’s Gifted and Talented program is highly curious, an abstract thinker and an independent learner. They are a student who would benefit from ability grouping, as well as extension and enrichment activities.
Program Structure
The program delivers personalised learning, with pace, challenge, and complexity tailored to each student. High-achieving students are supported through clearly defined pathways that extend their capabilities and respond to their individual learning needs.
Students engage in enrichment and extension opportunities that build problem-solving, creative, and critical thinking skills. Learning is connected to real-world contexts, encouraging students to apply and transfer their knowledge across subjects. Students may also have opportunities to participate in activities beyond the classroom, aligned with their interests.
Gifted and Talented students can focus their abilities on one or many of the following learning areas:
- English Ability Groups
- Mathematics Ability Groups
- Creative Writing Groups
- Project-Based Learning
- Key Learning Area (KLA) Extension Classes
- In Class Consolidation
- Excursion Opportunities
Progress Tracking
Our Gifted and Talented teacher identifies students’ capabilities and characteristics and documents their growth.
This includes, but is not limited to:
- Classroom observation by teachers
- Pre and post assessment reviews
- Creating learning goals using the SMART goal methodology (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Timely)
- Semester reports
Student Competencies
ETASC Gifted and Talented students are not only tested during standard in class assessments but are challenged to assess their abilities by entering state, national and international competitions with the support of their Gifted and Talented teacher.
These competitions may include:
Science/ Technology/ Engineering:
- Australian Mathematics Competition
- Maths Challenge
- Maths Enrichment
- Big Science Competition
- Science Olympiad
English/ Human Society and its Environment/ Creative Arts:
- Somerset Storyfest
- Somerset National Poetry Prize
- Premier’s Reading Challenge
- Write4Fun
- Central Coast Council Youth Art Project
- National History Challenge
Leadership:
- The IGNITE Business Launchpad
- MUNA (Model United Nations Assembly)
Our goal is to provide a focused and engaging learning environment that supports students to deepen their understanding, broaden their skills, and reach their full potential. With guidance and support, each student follows a personalised pathway suited to their development.
