Gifted and Talented Policy

The policy adopts definitions of giftedness and talent based on Gagne’s (2003) Differentiation Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT):

Gifted students are those whose potential is the top 10% of one of the following domains: intellectual, creative, social and physical.

It is through opportunities, experiences and development that these gifts are being realised into talents. Epping Boys' High School continually strives to work with these boys to realise their talents.

The Epping Boys' High School policy statement recognises that:

  • The school community has a responsibility to identify their gifted and talented (GAT) students.
  • The school community needs to foster collaborative home-school partnerships in order to support GAT students.
  • The school should provide a range of opportunities in both KLA’s and in the area of extra-curricula activities.  These programs need to be monitored and evaluated regularly.
  • Teachers, with support, have a responsibility to identify the GAT students in their classes.
  • Teachers have a responsibility to select and implement a variety of quality teaching strategies for inclusion in programs for the range of GAT students in their classes.
  • Epping Boys' High School has a responsibility to provide opportunities for staff development in the education of GAT students.

To support these principles at Epping Boys' High School we have:

  • Been developing differentiated teaching programs in all faculties to cater for the range of abilities, including GAT students.
  • Provided a number of extension-style classes in several KLAs, eg Writers Group, Year 10 GAT Science, Enviro Group, Web competitions, Programming Competition, Mathematics problem solving events.
  • Encouraged senior students to attempt courses at the highest level of which they are capable.
  • Established an academically selective class in both Years 7 and 8.
  • Opportunity for Year 11 students to complete distinction courses at both Sydney and Macquarie Universities.
  • Graded core subjects in Years 9 and 10 which, amongst other benefits, allow academically capable students to explore their potential.
  • Provided opportunities to participate in a number of external GAT days: Tournament of the Minds, MUNA, UNYA, Da Vinci Competition, Engineering Days, Sydney Uni Python Summer Camp ...
  • Provided extensive opportunities for talented sportsmen to trial for representative teams and participate in knockout competitions.
  • Provided a number of leadership opportunities, including prefects, peer support, SRC, house captains, sports captains and Network Café.
  • Organise and provide opportunities to participate in state and national competitions.
  • Opportunity to develop creative talents with extensive co-curricular music program, GAT art camps and drama ensembles.
7 Plus - Gifted and Talented Class