HIGHLY ABLE LEARNERS

JUNIOR SCHOOL

We identify students who are Highly Able Learners through:

• Ability testing – Acer General Ability Tests (AGAT) (verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning). Students take the AGAT at the beginning of the school year in Year 2, 4, and 6. The test takes around 40 minutes and results are confidential.
• Professional assessment – teacher nominations based on classroom observations and longer-term collaboration between teachers and students.
• Performance testing – in class assessments and student reports, and NAPLAN results in Year 3 and 5.
• Parent information – if your child has participated in outside testing, such as psychometric testing (IQ) or you have other relevant information regarding their development, please contact the Junior School. Alternatively, the College may request a meeting with you to learn more about your child.

MIDDLE AND SENIOR SCHOOL

We identify students who are Highly Able Learners through:

• Ability testing – Acer General Ability Tests (AGAT) (verbal, numerical and abstract reasoning). Students who are new to the College in Year 7 take the AGAT at the beginning of the school year and all students take the AGAT again in Year 8.
• Professional assessment – teacher nominations based on classroom observations and longer-term collaboration between teachers and students.
• Performance testing – Acer’s Progressive Achievement Tests in Reading, Mathematics, and Science. In class assessment and semester results, and NAPLAN results in Year 7 and 9.
• Parent information – if your child has participated in outside testing, such as psychometric testing (IQ) or you have other relevant information regarding their development (ie awards, scholarships), please contact the HAL Coordinator here.

ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Woodcroft College has a range of internal and external enrichment opportunities available for Highly Able Learners. Below is a snapshot of the clubs and activities currently* on offer. Further information can be found on the Clubs and Activities page.

Junior School

Middle and Senior School

*Please note that some opportunities are only offered when there is sufficient student interest.

The Nature of Giftedness according to Educational Research

In Australia, we model our approach to educating Highly Able Learners based on the contemporary research of Françoys Gagné and the Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent. In short, Gagné differentiates clearly between gifts which are natural aptitudes and talents which are systematically developed from gifts. Woodcroft aims to identify learners who are Highly Able to support them to develop their identified attributes into demonstratable talents.