Gifted and Talented Programs

Supplementary Provision : Primary

Introduction

At the primary level, schools and districts (or service areas) are responsible for the selection and implementation of the organisational structures for supplementary provision for gifted and talented students.

Primary Extension and Challenge (PEAC) is a part-time withdrawal program for upper primary school Years 5-7 students. Identified gifted and talented students are selected to participate in differentiated programs offered in a range of delivery modes.

Delivery modes include:

• PEAC centres based within a district centre or office with a series of specialist courses or programs;
• co-ordinator/s who establish courses in a range of schools and/or other sites and teachers are released to teach these;
• allocation to schools and multi-age programs operate within schools;
• online delivery of programs.

Programs focus on:

• social interaction with gifted and talented peers;
• intellectual rigour and challenge;
• pursuit of excellence;
• development of higher order process skills;
• in-depth investigations of real problems;
• open-ended activities which encourage choice and negotiation;
• opportunities to interact with practising experts;
• students working at their own pace;
• self/peer evaluation and reflection of performance.

Monitoring the effectiveness of PEAC programs is determined by the outcomes that participating students achieve, and by the extent to which the program and courses meet the needs of students identified as being suited to PEAC supplementary provision. Contact should be made with your local District Education Office for more information regarding district based PEAC centres.