Learning Enrichment
Academic Enrichment
Gifted and Talented Programme (GATE)
At Great Southern Grammar, our Gifted and Talented Programme (GATE) nurtures exceptional learners by offering enriched academic experiences that go beyond the standard curriculum. Built on our strong foundation of quality teaching, GATE empowers students to reach their full potential in a supportive and stimulating environment.
A range of programmes that support the class programmes and give students opportunities to work independently on research tasks and develop high-order thinking skills are provided. Students are also encouraged to participate in a variety of external competitions and exams.
What GATE Offers:
- Differentiated learning tailored to individual strengths
- Opportunities for advanced thinking, creativity and problem-solving
- Participation in specialised courses, challenges and competitions
Our Aims:
- Foster a sense of belonging among high-achieving students
- Extend and challenge learners according to their unique potential
- Encourage innovation, leadership and 21st-century skills
- Celebrate academic excellence, curiosity and creativity
Identifying Gifted and Talented Students:
We define gifted students as those with high potential in areas such as literacy, numeracy, the arts, or sport. Talented students are those who demonstrate outstanding achievement. Our approach ensures that each student receives opportunities to grow, excel and be recognised.
GATE Pathways:
Students engage in a variety of enrichment activities, including:
- Challenges: Individual and group tasks linked to school, university, or industry
- Multidisciplinary Projects: Competitions in STEAM, engineering, space and more
- Construction: Hands-on learning using coding, science and maths
Investigations: Student-led inquiries that develop research and analytical skills
GATE EVENTS*
da Vinci Decathlon
Team-of-eight academic decathlon across ten disciplines, blending creativity, problem-solving and collaboration. davincidecathlon.com
FIRST LEGO League Challenge
Robotics + innovation challenge: design, build and program a LEGO robot and present a real-world Innovation Project. FIRST
ICAS
International, school-based assessments that recognise academic excellence across key subjects. ICAS Assessments
Australian Junior Science Olympiads
Staged science enrichment for highly motivated students in Years Seven to Ten; pathway to the senior Australian Science Olympiads. asi.edu.au
Australian Science Olympiads
National exams and enrichment in Biology, Chemistry and Physics for high-achieving senior students. Australian Science Innovations
Young Writers Collective
Termly workshops with award-winning authors for Years Six to Twelve, building craft and confidence in creative writing. thelitcentre.org.au
Write a Book in a Day
12-hour team writing and illustrating challenge that also raises funds for childhood cancer research. Write a Book In a Day
GovHack
Weekend hackathon where teams turn open government data into prototypes and insights across Australia and New Zealand. GovHack
Australian History Competition
National assessment of historical skills and source analysis . Australian History Competition - Schools+1htansw.asn.au
Australian Geography Competition
National contest assessing geographic knowledge and skills for secondary students, with recognition for excellence. geographycompetition.org.au
*Subject to change, depending on availability and the needs of students and cohorts - plus availability/operational needs.
Learning Support
The focus of the Learning Enrichment programme is to identify students with learning difficulties or those students who require extension and to provide teaching programmes to address these needs. An inclusive approach is valued and, at times, individual and small groups of students will be withdrawn for specific instruction.
In consultation with the Learning Support Coordinator, teachers provide modified learning programmes for students with individual learning needs.
The Learning Enrichment team uses an holistic approach by collaborating with allied health professionals, such as Speech Pathologists and Occupational Therapists, to integrate therapy targets into the school programme so learning outcomes are achieved. Additionally, students are referred to the School Counsellor for support, when necessary.
The role of the visiting School Psychologist is to help support teachers to design programmes of intervention. Additionally, they provide strategies for students who are dealing with social and emotional problems within the school context. Psychologists follow strict guidelines for professional conduct and client confidentiality. These codes are monitored by the Psychologists' Registration Board of Western Australia.
Great Southern Grammar acknowledges that the land upon which we learn, play and grow is Menang land, whose traditional custodians are the Noongar people. We pay our respects to elders past, present and emerging and acknowledge that their sovereignty was never ceded.