High potential and gifted education
At North Sydney Boys we understand talented boys. Our boys have exceptional talents in a range of areas and this creates and demands a unique teaching and learning environment; one that promotes challenge and creativity.
As a school community, we aim to develop the gifts of each student, so he can realise his potential. We build on our students' talents, interests and learning needs and encourage them to persevere in their endeavours.
Extensive research in the area of gifted education consistently reveals the need for specialised teaching and learning in order to achieve the best for each individual. We continue to evolve our programs to meet the needs of our students and teachers.
We offer a broad curriculum and co-curricular program designed to explore and meet the above average abilities and diverse interests that gifted and talented students typically have.
We offer challenging and enriched classes. Students at North Sydney Boys have considerable opportunity to explore their subject areas in depth and pursue extension activities relevant to the syllabus. Classes are designed to be challenging, encourage higher order thinking and advanced problem solving. Students in Years 11 and 12 study English at the Advanced level. Extension English, Languages, Maths, History and Music are also offered in Year 11 and Year 12 for students seeking further challenge beyond the standard courses.
We encourage students to participate in intellectual pursuits. Competitions, challenges, forums and Olympiads are offered across a broad range of subjects including maths, science, English and information technology. Our teachers encourage and support the boys' participation in these activities offered by external companies, government authorities and associations. Specialised Olympiad training is offered and we are fortunate to have a number of our students compete internationally.
Our boys are also involved in robotics and chess which are popular amongst the students. A chess club operates on a weekly basis after school.
North Sydney boys have a breadth of opportunity open to them through the extension programs offered in every subject. Competitions, challenges, workshops, camps, extension classes, performance showcases and Olympiad training are offered.
Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?
Recognising potential and developing talent
Our teachers find potential and nurture our students to be the best they can be.
Tailored lessons
Each student has different abilities. Teachers respond to each student’s ability by providing extra challenges and extension activities to keep learning exciting and engaging.
Rich opportunities and activities
Students can take part in opportunities to develop their talent in the arts, sport, leadership and more.
Opening doors to wider experiences
Our students can participate in a wide range of state-wide opportunities that aim to extend and enrich student potential.
What is high potential and gifted education?
High potential and gifted education (HPGE) is how our school supports students with advanced learning needs.
We do this through:
- effective teaching strategies like enrichment, extension and acceleration
- tailored support during lessons that stretch, challenge and inspire
- access to a wide range of opportunities both within and beyond our school.
Our high potential and gifted education opportunities
Our students engage with HPGE education in the classroom, in our school, and across NSW.
- Our supportive classroom environments promote a sense of belonging and encourage exploration, creativity and collaboration.
- Students take lead roles and feedback is strengths-based with clear goals and self-assessment.
- Explicit teaching provides students the ability to learn from tasks that promote problem-solving, authenticity, and critical and creative thinking.
- Students are extended and have the opportunity to access advanced pathways.
Our school recognises that every student is individual, and we provide flexible and diverse opportunities for students to explore and grow their strengths outside the classroom.
- All our students have the opportunity to take on leadership roles through our many student leadership groups.
- Opportunities to explore STEM pathways are extensive and include our engineering courses, robotics team, mathematics and science enrichment programs including Olympiad training.
- Student talent in the creative and performing arts is extended through participation in music ensembles, vocal ensemble and drawing and photography programs. The annual CAPA Expo and Musicale celebrate our students’ extraordinary talents in the arts.
- Participation in the Premier’s Debating Challenge, public speaking competitions and creative writing competitions sharpen voice and argument.
- Many of our students participate in our extracurricular sporting programs in basketball, volleyball, table tennis, orienteering, squash, taekwondo, tennis and badminton. This provides not only skills in the sport of their choice, but also teamwork, camaraderie and the opportunity to take on coaching and umpiring, which develops their leadership skills and the social and emotional skills.
Our students can participate in a wide range of state-wide programs that aim to extend and enrich student potential.
- NSBHS students participate in weekly sport at grade level and combined high schools knock out competitions leading to selection through to zone, regional and state carnivals.
- NSBHS students participate in a broad range of competitions across all subjects, including invitational only Olympiad competitions.
- The Premier’s Debating Challenge provides students with an opportunity to develop their confidence in public speaking, teamwork and thinking analytically. Our teams consistently achieve outstanding results.
- Our Music Ensembles provide a rich program that develops students’ musical skills and promotes camaraderie and commitment, which is reflected in their success in state-wide competitions.
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 and activities
Discover the opportunities our students have at our school.
Learning
Find out about our approach to learning and supporting students to progress