High potential and gifted education

Chifley College Dunheved Campus is a place where every learner’s potential is our top priority. We recognise that many students have high potential, and we are dedicated to nurturing this potential into something powerful. Our teachers are committed to identifying and supporting students to be the best they can be across four key domains: creative, intellectual, physical, and social-emotional.

We challenge our students daily to think critically, create innovatively, lead confidently, and grow personally. Our school celebrates diversity and provides a welcoming environment where every learner belongs. We foster a culture of high expectations and equitable excellence, ensuring all students—regardless of background—have access to opportunities to transform their potential into talent.

Our diverse range of programs and opportunities engage and challenge every student, with a strong focus on talent development for high potential and gifted learners. High potential and gifted education is integrated throughout the school—in-class, school-wide, and department-wide—supported by a variety of targeted programs and resources to help each student thrive.

Chifley College Dunheved Campus is proud to be part of the HPGE Partner School Program. This involves significant upgrades to facilities to expand learning opportunities for high-potential students. These upgrades will encompass enhancements to the school's frontage, Creative and Performing Arts classrooms—including a recording studio—upgraded woodwork and metalwork rooms, a modernised hospitality kitchen, and the addition of a new science laboratory. While specific programs are still being rolled out, the school is committed to providing a challenging and supportive environment to help students achieve their potential in various domains. Through this program, we also have access to schoolwide expert HPGE support and tailored resources. Our teachers are equipped with the latest strategies to challenge and inspire every student, ensuring they thrive and consistently achieve their educational potential.

Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

Image of a staff member standing behind / assisting two students working at a desk

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.

Teacher and two students sitting playing the guitar

Rich opportunities and activities

Students can take part in opportunities to develop their talent in the arts, sport, leadership and more.

Three students standing together holding basketballs on a basketball court

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.

In our classroom

We are committed to recognising and nurturing high potential and gifted students, ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive, with classroom practices that support and extend their learning.

We offer explicit teaching of critical thinking and problem solving strategies.
Differentiated movement tasks and skill refinement in PDHPE.
Safe learning environments that encourage confidence and perseverance.

Across our school

Our school recognises that every student is unique and provides a variety of opportunities for growth and learning both inside and outside the classroom.

Debating- Premiers Debating
STEM and coding programs - CSIRO - Generation STEM, Macquarie University National Indigenous Science Education Program and Minecraft Club
Music ensembles- Music Open Studio
Visual Arts showcases - Chifley College CAPA Exhibition
Creative writing groups - Story Factory
Performance - based movement groups - Open Dance Studio, Aboriginal Dance , Haka Warriors and Pasifika Dance
Student leadership- students develop confidence, empathy, and strong communication skills. By cultivating self-awareness and positive relationships, our student leaders contribute to a caring and supportive school community.
Wellbeing programs - Life Coaching, Perfect Presence
Participation in whole school inclusion and wellbeing initiatives
Community and Transition - University and TAFE Partnerships, Centre for Diverse Learning - Transition to Work program
Stage 4 Talent Identification Program for Sports program - Court Sports, Rugby League, Dance
Cultural immersion activities

Across NSW

We provide access to local, state and national competitions and events to help students explore and extend their talents

Premiers Debating Challenge

STEM Enrichment Partnerships with industry and universities
Premier’s Sporting Challenge
Representative Sport Pathways - Netball NSW Schools Tournament
Participation in state-wide dance ensembles - Pulse Alive, Synergy Dance Festival

Chifley College Dunheved Campus HPGE Flyer.pdf

Talent Identification Program For Sport- Stage 4.pdf

Our Year 7 Extension class

Learn, Discover, Inspire
At Chifley College Dunheved Campus Extension Class, we nurture every student’s high potential by fueling intellectual curiosity and creativity. Through challenging projects and tailored learning, students think critically, solve problems, and grow as confident, lifelong learners ready to make a difference.

Vision Statement

Our extension class is dedicated to nurturing the high potential of every student by fostering their intellectual curiosity and creativity. It empowers every student to Learn, Discover, and Inspire by providing a challenging and stimulating environment where they think critically, solve complex problems, and express ideas innovatively.

Students develop critical thinking, empathy, and collaboration through rich, authentic projects and flexible learning. We tailor opportunities to each student’s readiness and interests, stretching thinking, sparking imagination, and building confidence. This prepares them to grow as resilient learners and thoughtful contributors to both our school and the wider community.

Through inquiry, authentic projects, and tailored support, the extension class prepares students with the skills, knowledge, and dispositions for lifelong learning and future success. Grounded in our whole‑school commitment to high expectations and equity, the program ensures every student has access to opportunities that ignite potential and foster achievement.

Contact the school

For more information about the extension class, please contact the school directly.

Phone: 9623 6600
Email: dunheved-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au

Chifley College Dunheved Campus Year 7 Extension class 2026 Information Flyer. pdf

Image infront of Macquarie University sign two students and two staff members

The science faculty have had a long standing relationship with Macquarie University to provide talent development opportunities for students with an interest in or potential for a future in STEM. Students have the opportunity to develop their scientific and STEM skills as well as their leadership skills though the delivery of STEM lessons as part of the Macquarie University NISEP program and the Girls to Graduates program. The students work with university professionals and undergraduate students to learn about a range of science and STEM experiments and projects. They then have delivered lessons to the younger students at CCDC as well as delivering lessons at local primary schools. The students have reported an increased interest and engagement in their Science and STEM subjects as well as a greater confidence to collaborate with their peers and share their knowledge and experience with others, developing both their intellectual and social-emotional potential.

We are thrilled to celebrate the outstanding achievements of Genesis Tamala whose dedication and talent have shone brightly in both athletics and team sports this year. Representing our school at Sydney West and State levels, Genesis achieved an incredible 2nd place silver medal finish at the CHS State Athletics Championships, a testament to his hard work, determination, and athletic excellence. He continued on to NSW All Schools Athletics Championships where he achieved 3rd place and a bronze medal. In addition to his individual success, he also played a key role in our flag football team’s championship victory, was selected in the Chifley College Buckley Shield team and was an intergral part of the Dunheved Panther Trophy team demonstrating exceptional teamwork and leadership on the field. His accomplishments are a source of great pride for our school community, inspiring others to strive for excellence in both sport and spirit.

This year, students at Chifley College Dunheved Campus in Stage 4 and Stage 5 have been involved in the Premier’s Debating Challenge. Students have developed their teamwork skills, public speaking skills and have had the opportunity to understand the overall structure and guidelines of debating. Students were involved in debates based on topics related to education, law and order as well as Australian society. Congratulations to all students involved in debating!

A special mention to our Stage 5 debating team who were crowned the Zone Champions after being undefeated in the first three debates. This enabled students to proceed to the knockout stage of the competition where they became Quarter Finalists! Within the finals students showcased their impressive persuasive skills against Quakers Hill High School, Kingswood High School, Sefton High School and North Sydney Boys High School.

This is an extraordinary achievement and we are so proud of the team! Well done to Kirsten Pedersen, Elijah Brybag, Noorulain Ishtiaq and Leura Hinton. Thank you also to Benice Tinga and Lilly Corliss for assisting in some of our debates. We are so proud of you all!

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.

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