Introduction
The Western Australian Department of Education and Training is committed to ensuring that all students in government schools are provided with the opportunity to access educational programs consistent with their needs and talents. Highly able students entering
Year 8 have access to an impressive array of programs that meet their specific needs and talents including Academic Talent, Special Arts and Languages Other Than English.
Rural and isolated students, may access some programs through ATP (Academic Talent Program) Online.
The Gifted and Talented Education program is offered for the purpose of providing gifted and talented students entering Year 8 in government schools access to a range of programs that meet their specific talents.
A number of senior high schools in the metropolitan area provide specialised programs in the following areas:
As well as the extension and enrichment work in a special program area; students follow a normal course of study in secondary schooling.
Placement in a Gifted and Talented Education program means that a student may attend an Gifted and Talented Education secondary school even though not resident in the school's local intake area. Parents are responsible for the transport of their children to the schools where the special programs are provided. Program participants attend the particular school on a full time enrolment basis.
A student may apply for more than one program, for example, the Academic Talent Program, the Special Music Program and the Special Visual Arts Program. Parents and students should consider proximity to the school and availability of transport at the time of application.
Country students who are offered places and who can arrange private board may attend any of the Gifted and Talented Education schools. Limited boarding facilities are available at the Swanleigh and the Rotary Residential Colleges.
Students are placed into an Gifted and Talented Education school through a rigorous selection process that typically involves testing and performance assessment. Applicants are assessed during Second Term and are notified of offers for placement in all Programs by the end of semester. The parents of all students assessed receive letters informing them of the outcome of the selection, irrespective of whether or not their children were successful in gaining places.
It is important to note that the placement procedure offers carry deadlines for acceptance. If deadlines are not met it will be assumed that offers for placement have been declined.
The placement procedure with successive rounds of offers will be completed by the beginning of Term 3.
Students in country areas are encouraged to apply for programs and participate in the selection procedures. Country students will need to find their own accommodation if they are successful and then choose to attend any of the Gifted and Talented Education metropolitan schools.
Students in rural and isolated areas who are selected and thus are eligible for placement in the Academic Talent Program may be able to access some of the programs through alternate delivery systems, such as ATP Online, from their local District High School or Senior High School.
^ Return to top of page.Residential College information
The Rotary Residential College provides boarding facilities for students attending Gifted and Talented Education schools. Parents of students who have been made an offer for placement in a program can obtain information on Bursaries and Scholarships from:
The Manager,
Rotary Residential College,
86 Kent St,
East Victoria Park 6101.
Tel: (08) 9470 4177
Non Government Schools
Parents of children currently attending Year 7 in a non-government school
may apply for these programs