All Queensland state schools are committed to realising the potential of students who are gifted, talented, high ability, high potential or high achieving.
The P–12 Curriculum, assessment and reporting framework sets out the requirements for all Queensland state schools. Schools are required to use a whole school approach to differentiated teaching and learning and provide the curriculum in ways that meet the diverse needs of students.
Schools provide the Prep to Year 10 Australian Curriculum to all students, without exception. This includes the provision of extension (more depth) and enrichment (greater breadth) of the student's year level curriculum. Opportunities for extension and enrichment are drawn from the three dimensions of the Australian Curriculum: learning areas, general capabilities, cross-curriculum priorities.
If there is documented evidence against the relevant Australian Curriculum achievement standards that extension and enrichment of the student's year level curriculum is not meeting the needs of the student, then they may require an additional level of challenge, through the provision of Individual Curriculum Plan (ICP).
An ICP enables teaching, assessing and reporting against an achievement standard one or more years above the student's enrolled year level, in some or all learning areas and/or subjects.
An ICP is different to acceleration. It enables a student to access the Australian Curriculum alongside their similar aged peers with adjustments to make sure learning is at an appropriate level of challenge.
The ICP pamphlet (PDF, 1.8MB) provides information for students, parents and families about ICPs.
Schools can also utilise discretionary time in their timetable to provide value added programs that meet the needs of students who are gifted, talented, high ability, high potential or high achieving. Principals, in consultation with their school community, make decisions about offering programs that are best suited to meet the needs of their students.
An ICP may also lead to early entry to senior secondary studies in some or all subjects due to successful completion of Year 10 achievement standards, which may mean the student will be in class/es with different aged students. This may impact the student's engagement, wellbeing, personal and social development and continuity of learning.
The student, parents and school will need to consider the long term implications for the student's academic growth, success leading to their future pathways.
The Department of Education has many awards, programs and initiatives to recognise students who demonstrate outstanding talents and show potential in academic and extracurricular activities.
Queensland Academies
Queensland Academies are selective-entry schools for students who are high achieving.
Established by the Queensland Department of Education in partnership with Queensland's leading universities (The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University), the Academies offer unique study programs, learning opportunities and environments designed to maximise the potential of students and prepare them for university.
Queensland Academies offer the rigorous International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Program as their only senior years curriculum—an internationally recognised pre-university level qualification that allows subjects to be accelerated and graduating students to study at Australian tertiary institutes as well as overseas universities.
There are 3 Queensland Academies: