Gifted and Talented Programs

We aim to foster the individual talents of all boys from Reception to Year 6.  Some boys have exceptional abilities and it is exciting to see the achievements these boys make.

The provisions that Prince Alfred College makes for boys with exceptional abilities are guided by Gagne’s Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (2003), which provides research based definitions of giftedness and talent as follows:

Gifted students are those whose potential is distinctly above average in one or more of the following domains of human ability: intellectual, creative, social and physical.

Talented students are those whose skills are distinctly above average in one or more areas of performance.

This means that there is a distinction between giftedness and talent.  Giftedness becomes talent as a result of training and practice.  A gifted person will not become talented without application.

In the first instance, the classroom teacher is expected to extend gifted learners within classroom to ensure they receive appropriate challenges.  This may include encouragement and support to take part in competitions such as Oliphant Science Awards, Public Speaking, Debating, various maths challenges and the Advertiser Writing Competition.

We offer two types of additional programmes for gifted students in the Preparatory School. Firstly, we offer two Multi-level classes for gifted students in Years 3 and 4, and Years 5 and 6 respectively. These classes reflect a mix of boys with similar intellectual, social and moral age and they are offered a diverse range of opportunities and learning experiences.  The Multi-level classes provide educational opportunities commensurate with the abilities and potential of gifted learners.

The second additional program is the REACH Extension/Enrichment Programme, which is offered in Years R-6 to boys not in the Multi-level classes. It comprises a weekly lesson of challenging activities which involve thinking skills and problem solving within a range of subjects including Mathematics, Science and Literacy.

Placement in either a Multi-level class or the REACH programme is determined by a brief psychological assessment, consultation with parents and referral by teachers.