Inspire – High Potential and Gifted Education

7M and 8M students attended a HGPE specific excursion at Bobbin Head National Park. Students undertook a series of challenges that are focused on defining what makes a good team and developing personal teamwork skills such as listening, clear communication, decision-making, inclusion, compromise and much more.

HPGE Students took the stage at EDUTechAU standing up for student voice and innovative ideas. Students presented two proposals - prioritising public speaking and bringing gardening into schools - they led a powerful panel discussion about why young people must have a seat at the table in education.

Every young person who walks through our gates brings unique potential, often in ways that aren’t immediately obvious. At Marsden High School, recognising and nurturing that potential through a strengths-based approach lies at the heart of our mission.

We begin with what students can do. Instead of focusing on deficits, our teachers identify individual strengths whether intellectual, creative, social-emotional, or physical and build upon them. We pay close attention to how each student thinks, questions, and solves problems. Potential is not fixed; it unfolds when students are truly seen, encouraged to aim high, and given strong, consistent support.

High potential and gifted learners demand genuine challenge. Without it, they risk coasting and underachieving. At Marsden, we consistently expect more from these students: faster-paced work, greater complexity, and deeper intensity than typically expected for their age. This is achieved through differentiated classroom teaching, alongside our Pinnacle and Horizon programs, enrichment opportunities, and carefully tailored acceleration - all fully aligned with the NSW Department of Education’s Inspire – High Potential and Gifted Education policy.

Why choose us for your high potential or gifted child?

A Whole-School Commitment to Excellence

High potential and gifted education at Marsden is not confined to a single classroom or program; it permeates everything we do throughout the school year.

Every Marsden teacher is a teacher of high potential and gifted learners. Across all subjects and year groups, our expert staff deliberately plan for challenge, embedding it into the curriculum rather than leaving it to chance. We extend questioning, encourage higher-order thinking, and tailor content, process, and products so that capable students consistently work at the edge of their abilities.

Beyond the classroom, students thrive through competitions, enrichment activities, extension tasks, and carefully tailored acceleration. This allows them to stretch where their strengths naturally emerge - intellectually, creatively, socially, or physically. Our entire approach is underpinned by expert teaching, ongoing professional development, and a dedicated HPGE team collaborating closely with faculties to ensure high expectations are uniform, regardless of which class a student may be in.

Behind these programs is a passionate HPGE team committed to continual improvement. This year, we are sharpening the rigour of our assessments and fostering a seamless learning continuum with our partner primary schools through shared learning walks and expert-led professional learning. This ensures potential is identified early and nurtured consistently from primary years through to high school.

Pinnacle and Horizon Programs

Our Pinnacle and Horizon programs offer academically challenging learning environments specially designed for our highest-potential students. In addition to the differentiated learning provided within classrooms, the HPGE team implements a structured, year-long program that runs alongside regular studies. These programs are centred around key events each term, creating a consistent rhythm of challenge, collaboration, and personal growth.

• Term 1 – Connection & Problem Solving: Years 7 and 8 embark on an immersive outdoor experience at Gibberagong, while Years 9 and 10 tackle the Urban Challenge - fostering teamwork and addressing authentic, real-world problems.
• Term 2 – Design Thinking & Illuminate Challenges: Students develop skills in defining complex problems, generating bold ideas, prototyping, iterating and confidently presenting innovative solutions. Ingenuity, collaboration, and intellectual risk-taking are celebrated.
• Term 3 – Retreat: A purposeful step beyond comfort zones that stretches students personally and academically, building perseverance, resilience, and self-belief through tackling demanding challenges alongside like-minded peers.
• Term 4 – Conference: A student-driven culmination where students shape the agenda, exploring topics that matter to them. Alumni return to share their journeys, inspiring students with the possibilities that such thinking can unlock.

Entry into the Pinnacle and Horizon programs is through a formal application process.

Year 7 2027 Pinnacle Application Form

HPGE Application Form

The closing date for 2027 Horizon applications for existing Marsden students is Friday 13 November 2026 by 9:00 am. Students new to Marsden High School after this date may be invited to apply for the Horizon program if places are available.

Information on the Inspire – High potential and gifted education Program 2027 can be found here.

For further enquiries or assistance with the application process, please contact Ms Sarah Van der Kley.

Whole school high potential and gifted opportunities

Marsden High School also offers a range of whole school high potential and gifted opportunities, in addition to the programs listed above. We implement evidence-based programs, practices and procedures so that high potential and gifted students’ specific learning needs are identified and catered for.

The school staff includes a range of specialist teachers, including music, drama and languages teachers, to cater for high potential and gifted students across a range of domains.

The collaborative planning process enables the creation of differentiated learning programs which support the needs of HPG students. There is a strong focus across the school on promoting creative and critical thinking and rich and open-ended tasks, through the widespread use of project-based learning.

Academic Domain

Physical Domain

Social/Emotional Domain

Creative Domain