Empowering The Gifted Student

With 19 primary and secondary Catholic schools in the St George network of schools, Sydney Catholic Schools is dedicated to providing an unparalleled education for the gifted student.

The network advantage allows for collaboration across our schools, from primary to secondary. Our gifted education teachers network to upskill and share ideas and resources, ensuring students benefit from a wide variety of gifted education strategies and across-school opportunities.

Gifted students are identified at an early age and are nurtured throughout their learning experience, allowing for a seamless transition from primary to secondary school.

The Newman Selective Gifted Education Program

Exclusive to Sydney Catholic Schools

The Newman Selective Gifted Education Program is our unique way of supporting gifted students. We focus on the whole child: their ability, creativity, character, and faith — not just their academic achievements.

The program offers:

  • Challenging and personalised learning in the classroom
  • A range of enrichment opportunities across all areas and subjects
  • A strong focus on social and emotional growth, so students thrive in all areas of life

Our goal is to help every gifted student reach their full potential, no matter their background.

Why Newman is different

Unlike Opportunity Classes, the Newman Program doesn’t just look at academic achievement.

We recognise that giftedness can show up in many ways — intellectual, creative, social, emotional, or physical.

How students are selected

We use a range of assessments, including ability and achievement tests, as well as teacher and parent input. All gifted learners are supported including:

  • Twice-exceptional students (gifted students who also have a learning or developmental disability)
  • Students from diverse cultural and language backgrounds (EAL/D)
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students
  • Students who may be underachieving

Opportunities for students

Newman students benefit from:

  • Personalised learning pathways that extend and challenge them in their strengths
  • Flexible grouping so they can work with like-minded peers
  • Specialist workshops, competitions, and projects that go beyond the standard curriculum.

Specific Learning Support

Through expert support and resources from Sydney Catholic Schools, we collaborate and deliver personalised plans for students who have cognitive or developmental disorders, sensory disability, autism, physical disability, and speech, language and communication disorders. These plans focus on specific educational goals and adjustments related to areas such as curriculum, communication and social skills.

Reading Recovery is a short-term preventative early literacy intervention that provides extra help to Year 1 students who are identified as the lowest achievers in literacy. It helps students catch up to the average reading and writing level of their class and become independent readers and writers. Reading Recovery is delivered by a specially trained teacher.

Students learning English for the first time are supported by dedicated staff within our school with programs for new arrivals.

We are committed to working in partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students and their families to ensure students obtain a high-quality education as a platform for achieving their full potential.