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Gifted and High Ability Program

Oxley offers the SPARK program for Secondary students who exhibit high ability or exceptional motivation in their studies.

Our Approach

At Oxley we are committed to helping every student discover and develop their innate talents. Individuals who are considered gifted can be described as having advanced ability compared to that of their same aged peers across one or more disciplines. In this context, we can say that a gifted student is one with high academic ability.

All students have strengths and areas of challenge.  At Oxley, we aim to celebrate and nurture students’ strengths as well as support and develop areas they find more challenging.  Our SPARK program is one such way.

Sharon Sandison, Head of Learning Enhancement

GATE & ASPIRE

A Dual Program Model

High-ability and aspiring scholars benefit from a variety of learning and challenging learning experiences that pursue whatever is true, good and beautiful. Our Gifted and High Ability program, affectionately known as SPARK, supports participants to exercise deep thinking skills, encountering complexity with meaningful outcomes. SPARK incorporates two programs, GATE (Gifted and Talented Education) and ASPIRE.

Through these programs students:

1. Think critically and creatively

2. Engage with complex, real-world problems

3. Work with greater independence and autonomy

4. Develop resilience, curiosity and a thirst for truth

Both programs have relevant extension within regular classes and enrichment beyond the classroom.

Gifted Policy
GATE
Aspire

GATE

GATE

Scholars who are formally identified as high ability are challenged through this stream. Formal identification is a combination of academic data, cognitive testing and teacher recommendation to ensure each student's learning needs are met.

  • Excellence
    Encounter challenging intentional extension projects across core subjects that promote deeper thinking through alternative assessments and criteria, rather than merely more tasks.
    • Project-Based Learning
      Students tackle global issues, improving their analytical skills and creating solutions. This turns theory into real world problem-solving.
    • Acceleration
      For students demonstrating significantly advanced ability, acceleration allows for tailored learning pathways, including fast tracking individual subjects or where appropriate, whole year levels.

  • Enrichment
    Scholars broaden their horizons through competitions, special interest classes and excursions that inspire curiosity and engagement.

Aspire

Aspire

Motivated scholars who demonstrate emerging high ability or strong interest in particular subject areas.

Through a tough but rewarding journey, they are nurtured to pursue their aspirations.

  • Extension
    Students are provided with higher-level content in specific subjects to extend their abilities to the level they aspire to. This rigorous learning will take time and effort to achieve.
  • Pathways & Opportunities
    We offer opportunities for students to stretch themselves intellectually, developing their strength and building up fortitude. Participants may use Aspire as a pathway into further extension and enrichment opportunities and, where appropriate, future GATE participation.
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