Gifted and
Talented
Barrenjoey's charter is to be truly comprehensive by providing the best possible
education opportunities and outcomes for students of all abilities. Barrenjoey
encourages and extends gifted and talented students by providing them with
many opportunities. Along with a wide curriculum catering for the pursuit
of academic excellence, and teaching methods informed by current best practice,
the school also offers many extra curricular activities including a range
of sports, music, dance, drama, visual arts, public speaking and leadership
training for students gifted in these areas.
Barrenjoey has a high proportion of gifted and talented students whose abilities span all intelligence areas. Barrenjoey is proud of the range of opportunities, programs and support provided for these students. The process of identifying gifted and talented students at Barrenjoey occurs before they enrol, for example, by seeking information from primary teachers and parents, and throughout their school career, as some gifted and talented students develop/discover their talents later. For example, we have had several students who are gifted and talented in photography but this was not evident until Year 9. Similar stories can be told of students who have blossomed in music, sport, leadership and in a variety of subjects and areas.
At Barrenjoey we cater for gifted and talented students through:
- organisational structures, for example, extension classes. Extension classes are created in Years 8 -10 in English and science. Maths extension classes begin in Year 7 from term 2. In the senior school all extension courses are offered;
- providing a curriculum which provides opportunities for gifted and talented students in all intelligence areas;
- an extra-curricula enrichment program for students in Years 7 and 8. The students do an individual project on a theme and run a workshop day in which they teach lessons for students in from Years 5 and 6;
- teaching methods informed by current best practice, for example Barrenjoey has a highly qualified, experienced staff who are continuously trained in Quality Teaching and the school Quality Teaching focus is intellectual quality;
- extra-curricula programs, for example, Rock Eisteddfod;
- acceleration;
- using Pathways (ie part time enrolment) for talented students, for example, Chelsea Georgeson (surfing), Emma Howes (representing at state and national level in soccer) and currently Ben Hansen (state and national body boarding);
- involving community and outside expertise, for example, the Mock Trial team is coached by Chris Shaw ex-student and solicitor, the music tutor program and Barrenjoey Music Room;
- participating in opportunities provided by district, region, state and outside organisations such as the NSW Talent Development Project, state camps and state ensembles;
- providing and/or facilitating and supporting programs for individual and small groups of gifted and talented students, for example the Maths Olympiad, University of NSW programs, Mary Whitehouse Fashion Design School workshop scholarships, National Art School weekend programs and holiday workshops;
- work experience, career planning and portfolio development, for example the Mercedes Fashion Week;
- sport, for example the Rugby program, ski team and supporting individuals such as Scott Ridley who competes at national and international level in swimming;
- student leadership program which is seen at state level to be exemplary;
- testing of students in Year 7 and 8 for learning style;
- continuously evaluating students to identify gifted and talented students and providing opportunities for outstanding students to be recognised and accredited by external, reputable organisations, for example external competitions in maths, science, English, computing and languages;
- the effective transition between primary and secondary which involves close liaison whereby primary teachers pass on information about gifted and talented students;
- regular research to inform continuous improvement by surveying the students about aspects of their education such as learning environment, school culture, teaching practice and homework;
- Principal's Gold and Silver Awards which are given to students whose semester reports indicate academic excellence and commitment to learning; and
- the positive school culture which promotes aspiration to excellence, respect and recognition from the whole school community for achievement in all areas.
Enrichment Program organising team Year 8
S. Ridley - Pan Pacific Games competitor
