High potential and gifted education

Achieving in the Intellectual domain

Future Problem Solving National Finals

Six students had the honour of attending the 2025 National Finals of the Future Problem Solving Competition at Knox Grammar last weekend. Kingston, Alaz, Jiesi, and Timothy made up our main team, with Flynn and Annabel supporting as reserves and participating as MAGIC students.

The MAGIC (Multi-Age Global Issues Competitors) team was comprised of reserve students from several schools, and we are thrilled to announce that this team won gold in their division. Congratulations to Flynn and Annabel on this outstanding achievement!

The Future Problem Solving Program requires teams of four to analyse a futuristic scenario, identify potential challenges, determine the most significant underlying problem, and then work creatively to generate possible solutions. Teams must evaluate their ideas against criteria before presenting a final action plan — all within a two-hour time limit!

Throughout the year, students have explored thought-provoking topics such as the agricultural industry and food security. They worked collaboratively, using critical and creative thinking to produce outstanding written documents that showcased their ideas.

At the National Finals both teams completed their Global Issues Booklet in two intense hours. They emerged with smiles of satisfaction, proud of their critical and creative thinking, teamwork, and time management. It was rewarding to see such self-determination and independence from these young learners.

The second part of the competition involved creating and performing a three-minute skit to present their final solution and action plan to a panel of judges. With only limited craft materials available, students showed great ingenuity in designing props and costumes. They also faced the additional challenge of incorporating two mystery props and a mystery quote into their performance. After two hours of preparation, both teams presented their skits with enthusiasm, creativity, and dramatic flair.

We are incredibly proud of the achievements and efforts of these exceptional young thinkers. Our future is in safe hands with the next generation of problem solvers!

Achieving in the Social-Emotional domain

The Social Justice Crew

The Social Justice Crew is a lunchtime extra-curricular opportunity designed for students who demonstrate high potential in the Social-Emotional domain. Throughout the year, these students engage in meaningful projects that uplift others and contribute to the wellbeing of the wider community. Their initiatives have included organising Mufti Day fundraisers for local charities, writing personalised greeting cards for elderly residents, and creating articles for Lindfield Lines to raise awareness about organisations supporting disadvantaged groups.

This term, under the guidance of Mr Reid, the Social Justice Crew is partnering with ‘One Meal’ to prepare Christmas hampers for underprivileged and homeless community members. One Meal’s mission is to advance the wellbeing, outlook on life, and independence of all people. Our students have shown exceptional empathy and leadership, working tirelessly to organise and promote this initiative. Their goal is to fill 40 hampers with non-perishable food items to support individuals and families in need during the festive season.

The Social Justice Crew advertising the ‘One Meal’ initiative

One Meal Christmas hampers

Achieving in the Creative domain

Featured Artist - School Spectacular

Can you imagine showcasing your talent to an audience of more than 20,000 people? That’s exactly the experience of Year 6 student Aaron, who has been selected to perform in the 2025 NSW Department of Education Schools Spectacular as a Featured Artist, performing a solo piano piece and another with the massed choir.

Aaron is a young man of exceptional ability across multiple domains, with his creative talent particularly outstanding. A gifted musician, he has been playing both the piano and cello from a young age and has been part of Lindfield Public School’s String Program since Year 1. He began in the ‘Mozart’ group, progressed through ‘Amadeus’ and ‘Vivaldi’, and is now a key member of the advanced ‘Ravel’ ensemble. His dedication and musical excellence have been consistently recognised by our Specialist Music Teachers and String Conductors.

Last year, Mr Adrian Mansukani, Director of Strings, recognised Aaron’s high potential and encouraged him to audition for the School Spectacular as a soloist. His performance was outstanding, earning him a solo piano feature in this prestigious event.

With strong support from his family and school, Aaron auditioned again earlier this year—submitting a video showcasing both his piano and cello talents. His versatility and enthusiasm earned him the rare privilege of performing in the 2025 Schools Spectacular, the only primary school instrumentalist chosen.

Aaron’s story is one of dedication, resilience, and creativity. He exemplifies the spirit of a high potential and gifted learner—motivated, persistent, and willing to work hard to achieve excellence. The Lindfield Public School community is incredibly proud of his remarkable achievements in the performing arts.

Achieving in the Physical domain

At Lindfield Public School, we are fortunate to have a 25-metre swimming pool—an invaluable asset funded and constructed by the P&C Committee in the 1960s. Students from Years 1 to 6 participate in weekly swimming lessons during Terms 1 and 4 as part of the PDHPE program, and the pool is also used before and after school for lessons and squad training. This consistent access enables our students to develop confidence, skill, and a genuine love of swimming.

When Maisie joined Lindfield Public School in Year 2, her family immediately embraced the extensive Swimming Program. She enjoyed her class lessons with expert coaches Larissa and Oleg and eagerly took part in after-school sessions. Although she loved being in the water, Maisie initially viewed herself as equally capable as her peers—not yet aware of the remarkable potential she possessed.

Maisie’s breakthrough came in Year 4 when she qualified for the Ku-Ring-Gai Zone Swimming Carnival. This achievement prompted her to set new personal goals and work purposefully on improving her speed and technique. A challenge arose in 2024 when she developed an illness during the school and zone carnival period, but Maisie’s resilience and determination shone through. Once recovered, she resumed training with renewed focus.

By 2025, Maisie was ready to push herself further. She began additional training at Carlisle Ryde Aquatic, complementing her school lessons with a demanding schedule of 2–3 hours of training, five days a week. Her dedication paid off when she broke the long-standing 50m Freestyle and 50m Butterfly school records at the school Swimming Carnival in February. This accomplishment fuelled her motivation even more.

From there, Maisie’s achievements continued to grow. She advanced from the Zone Carnival to Area and State levels, consistently recording personal best times and demonstrating strength, poise and competitive spirit. When Maisie earned a place on the NSW team for the School Sport Australia National Swimming Championships in Ballarat, the entire Lindfield Public School community rallied behind her. Maisie and her mother even ran early-morning raffles to support her journey, with students, families, and staff enthusiastically contributing.

At the National Championships, Maisie competed in six events: 50m Freestyle, 100m Freestyle, 50m Butterfly, the 200m Mixed Medley Relay, the 200m Medley Relay and the 200m Freestyle Relay. Her hard work and determination were rewarded when she progressed to the finals in every event. Maisie and her NSW teammates achieved outstanding results—fourth place in the Medley Relay, bronze in the Mixed Medley Relay, and an unforgettable gold medal in the 200m Freestyle Relay, where the team shattered the national record.

Maisie is a dedicated and motivated student who believes in giving her best every day. This commitment has allowed her potential across the Creative, Intellectual, and Physical domains to flourish, leading to impressive achievements academically, artistically, and in sport. She attributes her success to sustained effort, consistent practice, and setting achievable goals.

Lindfield Public School proudly celebrates Maisie’s exceptional talent and high potential. We look forward to supporting her as she continues to pursue her ambitions and strive for excellence in the years ahead.

In our classroom

We recognise that high potential can be exhibited in many ways and across all learners. Our approach to High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) is integrated into everyday teaching and learning, underpinned by formative assessment, evidence-based and purposeful adjustment to content, processes, products and learning environments to meet the diverse needs of every student.

Classroom teaching strategies to develop talent include:

Use of formative Assessment tools

Teachers use a range of assessments, observations, and student reflections to identify strengths and areas for growth. This information guides lesson planning and differentiation to support ongoing student progress and engagement.

Adjusted Learning Tasks

Learning is intentionally adjusted to meet the needs of high potential and gifted students across all aspects of the learning process.

• Processes
  Teaching strategies are modified to promote critical and creative thinking, multiple approaches to problem-solving, and inquiry-based learning.
• Content
  Learning content is adapted to include greater depth, complexity, and relevance through real-world connections.
• Products
  Students demonstrate their learning through a variety of traditional and digital formats, with opportunities to share their work with authentic audiences and receive meaningful feedback.
• Learning Environment
  Students engage in learning individually, in pairs, or in flexible groups based on their interests and abilities, fostering challenge, collaboration, leadership, motivation, and social growth.

High Expectations Embedded in Lesson Planning

Teachers set and communicate high expectations by designing learning intentions that promote higher-order thinking, creativity, and problem-solving. Students are encouraged to set individual Learning  Goals and reflect on their progress, fostering a growth mindset, resilience, and self-efficacy that lead to deeper learning and higher achievement.

Ongoing Professional Learning and Collaboration

Teachers continually participate in professional learning on HPGE strategies and collaborate to share best practices and design differentiated curriculum units, enhancing instructional quality and consistency to ensure all students benefit from effective talent development.

'Critical thinking and problem solving'

'Real-world learning on display: our student-designed “Race Around Asia” Geography board games'

Across our school

At Lindfield Public School, High Potential and Gifted Education is an integral part of our core activities. We recognise and foster each student’s unique talents by offering flexible, diverse, and enriching opportunities that promote growth across academic, creative, social, and physical domains.

School wide opportunities to develop talent include:

• Music program (band and  strings ensembles)
• Interschool sport competitions
• Representative sport pathways
• Student Representative Council
• Public speaking and debating clubs
• Dance groups
• Choirs
• Chess
• School camp (Stage 3 and Music camps)
• Gardening Club
• Social Justice Crew
• Book Club
• Library Monitor program
• Coding Club
• Energy Efficiency club
• Specialised PE programs
• Class performances at assemblies
• Wellbeing programs
• Curriculum aligned excursions & incursions
• Stage 3 Extension Class
• Stage 3 Enrichment groups
• Extension writing
• Stage 2 and 3 Maths Problem Solving Groups
• Buddies, Playmates and PALS programs
• School leadership program
• ‘LPS Archies and Wynnes’ art exhibitions
• In-school swimming lessons
• ‘Seahorses’ swimming lessons and Friday Night races

Additionally, we actively engage in statewide competitions and activities, giving students meaningful opportunities to challenge themselves and excel. Through this collaborative and enriched approach, we celebrate and nurture each student’s unique talents, ensuring they are recognised and developed to their full potential.

Robotics

The Junior Dance Troupe performing for Grandparents and Friends during Education Week.

Ravel Senior Strings, conducted by Mark Stevens performing at 3-6 Assembly

Across NSW

State wide opportunities to develop talent include:

• Game Changer Challenge
• School Spectacular
• NSW Premiers Spelling Bee
• Multicultural Perspectives Public Speaking Competition
• NSW PSSA School sport pathways
• Australian Problem-Solving Mathematical Olympiads (APSMO)
• Australian Maths Trust enrichment program ( Bebras, Kangarou Sans Frontiers, CAT and AMC)
• Future Problem Solving
• National History Competition
• Australian National Virtual Debating Competition
• ‘Full Steam Ahead’ STEM project at Lindfield Learning Village
• HPG Programs offered by Gibberagong Environment Centre, eg ‘Wild about Art’

Australian National Virtual Debating Competition

Game Changer Challenge teams