Sports high schools
Specialist schools for talented sportspeople or students with high potential in other physical pursuits.
What are sports high schools?
Our sports high schools are specialist school settings for high potential and gifted students in the physical domain.
These schools enable students to pursue sporting excellence while also studying the core curriculum. They offer flexible educational programs that are supportive of students’ training and competition commitments, while also providing specialised training facilities and fields.
List of sports high schools
Sports High Schools
Australian Olympic pathway schools
Learn about the 7 Australian Olympic pathway schools that the Australian Olympic Committee recognises for their development of olympian and paralympian athletes. These schools all have high quality sporting environments that include coaching and support services for athletes and pathways to high performance teams and sporting organisations.
Learn more at Australian Olympic Pathway SchoolsExternal link and read the news story linked at the bottom of the page.
How do I apply?
Parents and carers should visit the school's website (linked in table above) to learn about their individual application process and timelines.
You may be eligible to apply even if the school is outside your local enrolment area.
High potential and gifted education
Watch the video below (or read the transcript) to learn more about how we support high potential and gifted students in all NSW public schools.
Video – What do we mean by high potential and gifted students? (duration 2:30)
[Female narrator]
The High Potential and Gifted Education Policy applies to all NSW Department of Education school staff and teachers.
The department is committed to supporting all students to achieve their educational potential.
The policy recognises that high potential and gifted students require support to optimise their growth and achievement.
So what do we mean by high potential and gifted?
Professor Françoys Gagné suggests that potential exists along a continuum, where given optimal conditions, high potential can lead to high performance and achievement.
Gagné outlines that students may exhibit potential in one or more domains including intellectual, creative, social-emotional, and physical.
High potential and gifted students are found across diverse family, socio-economic, language, cultural backgrounds and different geographic locations.
So what's the difference between high potential and gifted, or even highly gifted students? Well?
High potential students are those whose potential exceeds that of students of the same age They may benefit from an enriched or extended curriculum and learning opportunities beyond the typical level of their age peers.
Gifted students are those whose potential significantly exceeds that of students of the same age. They typically develop talent and achieve mastery notably faster than their age peers.
Highly gifted students are those whose potential vastly exceeds that of their age peers. Highly gifted students may require specific and significant curriculum adjustments to meet their learning and wellbeing needs.
When teachers and school leaders recognise high potential, providing optimal learning conditions will make a difference in supporting the development of talent.
So let's – find the potential, develop the talent, make the difference.
[End of transcript]
