HPGE Extension Class

Erina High School’s HPGE Extension Class fosters talent development in the intellectual and social-emotional domains through innovative, challenging and relevant learning experiences. Underpinned by differentiated curriculum and HPGE practices, the class develops critical, confident and empathetic learners who are equipped to lead, collaborate and thrive.

Initial Expression of Interest Open Now – Initial Erina High School Extension 2027 Expression of Interest (EOI)

Further information will be released in Term 2 2026.

Key Messages for the Yr7 Extension Class (from 2027)

• The Extension Class will replace the Elevate Class

• The Extension Class caters for local students with high potential in the intellectual and social-emotional domains.

  • Intellectual domain - refers to natural abilities in processing, understanding, reasoning, and the transfer of learning.
  • Social-emotional - refers to natural abilities in self-management and relating to and interacting with others.

• The Extension Class offers local families a high-quality alternative to enrolment in non-government schools.

• The remaining classes in our school will continue as mixed ability classes with purposeful and flexible grouping.

• Domains of potential often overlap, and evidence suggests that grouping students who excel in different domain areas can support learning outcomes.

High Potential Gifted Education: Supporting parents and carers

Teaching and Learning in the Extension Class

1. Our Extension Class provides a differentiated learning environment that challenges students across the intellectual and social-emotional domains through high expectations, explicit teaching, purposeful extension, and opportunities for deep thinking beyond the standard curriculum.

2. Students in the Extension Class engage in rich learning experiences that include independent research, advanced problem solving, collaborative inquiry, and real-world application, allowing them to extend their knowledge, reasoning and interpersonal capabilities.

3. Learning is designed to support both achievement and wellbeing. In line with research on High Potential and Gifted Education, the Extension Class combines academic challenge with opportunities to build resilience, self-management, empathy, collaboration and a strong sense of belonging.

4. At Erina High School, the Extension Class reflects our broader school vision of high expectations, student wellbeing and excellence in learning, with teaching programs designed to engage, challenge and support students to maximise their potential.

5. Teachers working with the Extension Class are committed to evidence-informed practice and ongoing professional learning in High Potential and Gifted Education in the intellectual and social-emotional domains, so that students experience both appropriate challenge and targeted support.

6. Assessment and data are used as part of Best Practice in the Extension Class to inform teaching, monitor growth and ensure students are provided with learning experiences that are appropriately paced, challenging and tailored to their needs.