What is selective education?
Selective education is one of the ways that the department supports students with high academic potential. Selective education includes our opportunity class.
Selective education has many benefits, including:
· Students learn alongside, and form friendships with, other high potential and gifted classmates.
· Special teaching methods allow students to learn at a quicker pace and in more detail.
· Research shows that students benefit both academically and socially when learning with classmates who have similar abilities.
Opportunity classes are not zoned so you can apply to ones outside your catchment area. The only opportunity class available in this area is at our school, South Grafton Public School.
What are opportunity classes?
Opportunity classes are offered in primary school from Years 5 to 6. Parents/carers apply when their child is in Year 4.
Is selective education the right fit for my child?
High potential and gifted students can be found across diverse family, socio-economic, language, cultural backgrounds and geographic locations.
Your child may have high academic potential if they demonstrate some of the following:
· enjoy learning
· have intense curiosity
· display a good memory
· ask complex questions
· enjoy learning new and often complex ideas or skills
· require fewer repetitions when learning new things
· are creative
· become intensely focused in their area/s of interest.
Note: Not all high potential and gifted students will display all of these characteristics, for example, due to disability, disadvantage or lack of opportunity.
Learn more about the department’s High Potential and Gifted Education Policy.
How do I apply for entry into an opportunity class or selective high school for my child?
Parents/carers should visit the selective high schools and opportunity classes website to learn more about opportunity classes and selective high schools and complete an online application.
At South Grafton Public School students are offered a range of extension programs including;
· Access to the latest technology.
· Inclusion into external competitions for mathematics, STEM and writing.
· Statewide science initiatives and competitions.
· Inquiry based learning to develop an understanding of global issues and environmental concerns.
· Open-ended problem-solving techniques are used consistently to develop strategies in creative thinking and to build resilience.
· Entry to the Game Changer Challenge.
