Academic

Gifted & Talented

We understand that highly-gifted students have the capacity for higher-level learning and thought, and require a more challenging academic curriculum. We offer full and part-time Gifted and Talented programs in our Junior Learning Community, as well as a part-time program in our Senior Learning Community.

About Hillcrest Gifted & Talented

Hillcrest’s Gifted & Talented programs build upon the Australian National Curriculum, as the foundation into the higher-order thinking and cognitive domains. We embrace Professor Gagne’s model for gifted education, as well as understandings from key researchers and practitioners in the field such as Williams, Maker, Kaplan, Ryan, De Bono and van Tassel-Baska.

Provisions: Hillcrest also participates in competitions, assessments and initiatives for gifted students, which are offered by major educational organisations throughout the school year. Competitions and events may include, but are not limited to: The Readers’ Cup, the A.B. Paterson Public Speaking, ICAS, Maths Olympiads and Choral Excellence programs.

Junior Learning Community (JLC)

There are two main arms to the Gifted & Talented program in the Junior Learning Community:

  • Our full-time program known as Lumos
  • Our part-time programs known as Ignite (Prep - Year 2) and Flare (Years 3 - 6)

Ignite caters for Prep - Year 2 students who are demonstrating exceptional mastery of content and skills in particular subject domains, and provides extension work and investigations in core areas of study.

Flare caters for moderately-gifted students in Years 3 - 6 who display a high proficiency in a particular subject in the mainstream context, and the program provides a selection of short courses and condensed units of work across various subject areas. Flare uses a blend of problem and inquiry-based learning models, and engages students in real-world activities with intentional and measurable outcomes.

Qualifying students are referred to these short courses by their teacher, in consultation with parents, and will be able to participate in extension and enrichment activities in their particular area of interest.

Lumos is a full time extension program for highly gifted Years 3 - 6 students, with greater rigour, complexity and depth, embracing the higher cognitive domains of critical and creative thinking. Gifted students require a significantly different program to the set curriculum, and this is what Lumos provides.

Lumos classes are structured based on the students' needs and abilities within each cohort, and there are a limited number of places available each year. The program is broadly designed for students who demonstrate an Intellectual Quotient (IQ) that is 135 or above, and present highly-gifted characteristics. There are a set of selection criteria for entry into this program, and positions are offered with a one-year tenure.

Screening for the full-time Lumos program begins from the preparatory years, as student profiles are formed and developed through Years 1 - 2. New Hillcrest students who hope to commence in the Lumos program will be required to undertake a process of interviews and formal assessments, before any offer of placement is made. To be considered for the Lumos program, please contact our College Registrar to begin the application process.


Gifted Education in the Senior Learning Community (SLC)

NEW HORIZONS

We offer our New Horizons Program for very high-achieving senior students in Years 7 - 9, to help them accelerate their learning. Students in our Year 7 New Horizons classes study Mathematics and Science through Design-Based Learning.

As students select their pathways students may be able to study subjects or electives in higher year according to their talents and study pathway.

For more information about our Gifted & Talented programs, please contact the College on the link below.