Resources
- Guide to identifying high-ability students – this resource is designed to assist schools and teachers in identifying high-achieving and high-ability students to inform planning. It includes a list of subjective and objectives measures that can be used. It also includes a checklist of characteristics and behaviours for use by teachers in determining if a student is potentially high-ability
- Adjusting the learning for extension, challenge, and enrichment – this resource details approaches that teachers can use to adjust and adapt learning sequences and classroom tasks to support high-ability students. This includes strategies to promote high-order thinking, collaboration strategies, and annotated resource list
Illustrations of practice
Videos
- Hear from classroom teachers talking about high-ability and why they enjoy working with them.
- Hear how this school undertakes the process of identifying high-ability .
- Hear how this school supports and extends a twice-exceptional .
- Hear how this school offered greater challenge for a student with high ability in the social .
- Hear how this school supports high-ability students to manage their social and emotional .
- Learn more about and the impacts it has on high-ability students.
- Learn more about how the can offer academic and social supports for high-ability students.
- Hear how this school uses interdisciplinary units of teaching and to offer challenge and enrichment for high-ability students.
- Hear about culturally responsive pedagogies and to help make instructional choices that support students from different cultural backgrounds.
Professional learning opportunities
The Centre for Higher Education Studies
The Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) was established as a ‘centre of excellence’ and is a statewide provider of professional ; building the capability of teachers in government schools to meet the needs of their high-ability students. Sessions delivered by CHES feature insights from leading academics and practitioners.
Professional learning opportunities are promoted directly to high ability practice leaders (HAPLs) as well as through the regular School Update and through the CHES webpage.
Webinars on the Student Excellence Program
Regular after-school webinars are held for HAPLs, school leaders and teachers on the Student Excellence Program. Sessions feature insights and guidance from Virtual School Victoria (VSV), facilitators of the Victorian High-Ability Program (VHAP), and providers within the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES).
Professional learning are promoted directly to HAPLs as well as through the regular School Update.
Additional enrichment and extension opportunities
- Tech – provide free high-tech STEM programs to local students, who remain enrolled in their local secondary school
- Science and mathematics specialist – a network of 6 specialist centres offering students the opportunity to engage in contemporary, authentic science, technology, engineering and mathematics learning experiences
- Centre for Higher Education – a series of semester-long electives designed as foundational courses for select VCE subjects, offering enrichment and extension beyond the school curriculum. Students complete 2 to 3 hours of virtual and/or in-person learning (termed hy-flex) across 15 weeks in subjects such as Critical Thinking for Creative Minds and Introduction to Algorithmics
- School Sport – interschool sport and representative school sport for schools and students in Victoria
- Victorian State Schools – an annual event providing students in the performing arts with opportunities to showcase their talents
- The Victorian Student Representative – a student-led organisation offering opportunities to extend leadership, collaboration, and communication skills
- Virtual School – a provider of online teaching and learning, enabling high-ability students to access a wide range of subjects at advanced levels where appropriate
- Koorie Academy of – the Koorie Academy of Excellence is an out of school hours program supporting young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students to develop a connection to culture, leadership skills and their academic capabilities
Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children
The Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented (VAGTC) is a parent and educator-led not-for-profit organisation that advocates for high-ability students. They offer a range of seminars, resources, and publications to support the education of high-ability learners.
Reviewed 12 August 2025