High potential and gifted education

At Bonnyrigg High School, we are committed to recognising and celebrating the achievements, efforts, and personal growth of all students. Our positive rewards system aligns closely with the Department of Education’s High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) Policy, which aims to engage, challenge, and extend every student in every classroom. This approach reflects our belief that all students are capable of achieving personal excellence when provided with appropriate opportunities, support, and encouragement.

The HPGE Policy identifies four key domains through which students can demonstrate high potential: Creative, Intellectual, Social-Emotional, and Physical. At Bonnyrigg High School, we provide a wide range of programs, learning experiences, and enrichment opportunities across these domains. These may include academic extension and enrichment programs, leadership and mentoring initiatives, performing and visual arts opportunities, and sporting excellence pathways. Through these experiences, students are encouraged to pursue their interests, develop their talents, and achieve their full potential.

Recognising and rewarding student success is an important part of our school culture. Bonnyrigg High School places a strong emphasis on positive reinforcement as a key driver of motivation and engagement. Students who demonstrate consistent effort, positive behaviour, and commitment to learning are acknowledged through various reward systems, including Positive Postcards. These postcards are sent home to celebrate students who exemplify our core school values and expectations, reinforcing the strong partnership between home and school in supporting student achievement.

Our CHEER values form the foundation of our school culture and guide the way students, staff, and the wider community interact. CHEER stands for Connections, Honesty, Empathy, Excellence, and Respect. These values underpin all aspects of school life and reflect our collective commitment to creating a safe, inclusive, and respectful learning environment. Students who demonstrate these values in their daily interactions and learning are regularly acknowledged through formal and informal recognition programs.

In addition to our values, Bonnyrigg High School promotes the 5 P’s of classroom expectations: Prompt, Prepared, Productive, Polite, and Patient. These expectations are reinforced across the school to ensure that every student contributes to a positive and effective learning environment. The 5 P’s encourage students to take responsibility for their learning, demonstrate respect towards others, and engage positively in classroom activities.

High expectations are promoted consistently throughout the school community. We believe that by fostering a culture of encouragement, support, and recognition, students develop the confidence and resilience needed to thrive academically, socially, and personally. Positive reinforcement plays a vital role in this process by celebrating effort as well as achievement, and by encouraging students to set and pursue meaningful goals.

Through our commitment to the HPGE policy, our CHEER values, and our positive rewards systems, Bonnyrigg High School continues to build a learning environment that is inclusive, engaging, and focused on student success. By recognising and nurturing the potential in every student, we help them grow into confident, capable, and compassionate individuals who contribute positively to their school and community.

• The Premier’s Debating Challenge helps our students to build logical arguments and confidence in public speaking.

• Our STEM Enrichment Partnerships with industry and universities deepen our students’ intellectual curiosity while developing innovation and collaboration.
• The Schools Spectacular is an iconic performing arts event that celebrates the talents, diversity and creativity of students from across NSW public schools.
• Participation in state-wide dance ensembles develops our high potential and gifted Stage 5 dance students’ technical skills, performance presence and physical expressiveness.
• Participation in DreamYard, an international poetry exchange program led by Caroline Kennedy, fostering global connections and creative expression through the shared power of poetry.