Gifted and talented students
Find out if your child may be considered gifted and talented. Explore how our schools meet the needs of gifted and talented students.
We support all our public schools to deliver learning programs that meet the needs of individual students. This includes the needs of gifted and talented students.
The ACT does not have select entry schools or schools only for high-achieving students.
All our public schools have a Gifted and Talented Liaison Officer (GaTLO). They work with families, students and teachers to achieve the best outcomes for your child.
If you think your child may be gifted, contact your school principal or GaTLO to discuss your child's needs.
How schools define gifted and talented
Australian schools commonly define gifted and talented using Francoys Gagné’s Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT 2.0). Visit the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented website for more on Gagné’s model and giftedness.
Giftedness is defined as having natural abilities or potential in at least one of these areas (top 10% of children their age):
- intellectual
- creative
- social
- perceptual
- muscular and motor control.
Talent is defined as outstanding performance or competency in at least one of these areas (10% of children their age):
- academic
- technical
- science and technology
- arts
- people services (for example, community service)
- management and business systems
- sports and athletics
- games (for example, chess).
The model shows how natural abilities (giftedness) can be turned into high-level skills (talent) through practise, learning and effort.
Our Gifted and Talented Students Policy aligns with the latest research on the development of talent.
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Supporting the needs of gifted students
Once a student has been identified as gifted, the school will develop strategies that enable them to reach their potential. These are backed by research and tailored to the student's needs.
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Twice exceptional students
Twice exceptional students are gifted students who also have one or more learning difficulties. These difficulties may impair performance and mask high potential.
Twice exceptional students are those who are gifted and may also have:
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- a learning disability such as dysgraphia, dyslexia and dyscalculia.
Twice exceptional students will have the same opportunities for programs and provisions as other gifted students. However, the level of support may differ. Read more about twice exceptional students [DOCX 131 KB].
Ways to support your gifted student
As the parent of a gifted and talented student, it's important you develop a good working relationship with the school.
You and your child's teachers will collaborate on appropriate strategies to keep your child engaged and learning at their pace. The Gifted and Talented Liaison Officer is usually your first point of contact if you need to discuss any issues happening at school or home.
Find out how to prepare for meetings and communicate effectively with schools [DOCX 91 KB].
Social and emotional needs
Gifted students' ability to think about abstract issues early is connected with a high level of emotion.
At an early age, you may notice your child's:
- emotional and moral intensity
- sensitivity to expectations and feelings
- perfectionism
- lofty goals and high standards for themselves and others
- deep concerns about societal problems.
If your child is displaying negative or disruptive behaviour, or you think they are struggling, contact the school's Gifted and Talented Liaison Officer.
Read more about supporting your child's social and emotional needs [DOCX 139 KB].