Helping gifted learners thrive

Sydney Catholic Schools takes an agile, nurturing, ‘best-practice’ approach to gifted education, built on a shared understanding of what makes a student gifted, talented, or both.

Our staff embrace Gagné’s Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent.

In this model, ‘gifted’ students’ natural abilities and ‘talented’ students’ performance place them in the top 10 percent of same-age peers in intellectual, creative, social and physical areas.

Sydney Catholic Schools’ Gifted Education Policy recognises the advanced learning capacity of gifted students, and outlines how they are supported to thrive.

Our Gifted Education Standards Framework and the NSW Education Standards Authority also inform gifted education at our schools.

Professional Support

Through comprehensive professional development, our primary and secondary school teachers learn how to identify and provide social and emotional support to gifted learners and ensure they are challenged at the correct level.

The Gifted Education Naturally Embedded (GENE) program supports schools to develop structures and practices that meet the needs of their gifted and talented students.

The Newman Selective Gifted Education Program

The Newman Selective Gifted Education Program is exclusive to Sydney Catholic Schools and is our unique way of supporting gifted students. We focus on the whole child: their intellect, creativity, character, and faith — not just their academic results.

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 public selective schools or Opportunity Classes, the Newman Program doesn’t just look at test results.  We recognise that giftedness can show up in many ways — intellectual, creative, social, emotional, or physical. To find out how the Newman Program operates at your school, please visit your school’s website.

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

Our Newman Schools

The Newman Selective Gifted Education Program is offered at 90 schools across the Archdiocese of Sydney listed below. For more information on the program, please contact your school.

  • All Saints Catholic College, Liverpool

  • Marist Catholic College, North Shore

  • St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School, Annandale
  • St Joseph the Worker Catholic Primary School, Auburn South
  • Father John Therry Catholic Primary School, Balmain
  • Christ the King Catholic Primary School, Bass Hill
  • St Gabriel’s Catholic Primary School, Bexley
  • Mater Dei Catholic Primary School, Blakehurst
  • John the Baptist Catholic Primary School, Bonnyrigg
  • Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Cabramatta
  • Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School, Caringbah
  • Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, Carnes Hill
  • Blessed Sacrament Catholic Primary School, Clifton Gardens
  • St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Como
  • St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Concord
  • St Ambrose Catholic Primary School, Concord West
  • St Aloysius Catholic Primary School, Cronulla
  • Holy Innocents’ Catholic Primary School, Croydon
  • St Therese’s Catholic Primary School, Denistone
  • St Mark’s Catholic Primary School, Drummoyne
  • St Paul of the Cross Catholic Primary School, Dulwich Hill
  • Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School, Earlwood
  • St Kevin’s Catholic Primary School, Eastwood
  • St John Bosco Catholic Primary School, Engadine
  • St Joseph Catholic Primary School, Enfield
  • St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Erskineville
  • Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, Fairfield
  • All Hallows Catholic Primary School, Five Dock
  • St James Catholic Primary School, Glebe
  • Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Primary School, Gladesville
  • St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Georges Hall
  • St Catherine Laboure Catholic Primary School, Gymea
  • Good Shepherd Catholic Primary School, Hoxton Park
  • St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School, Holsworthy
  • St Mary’s Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, Hurstville
  • Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Primary School, Kensington
  • Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School, Kingsgrove
  • St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, Lane Cove
  • St Fiacre’s Catholic Primary School, Leichhardt
  • St Columba’s Catholic Primary School, Leichhardt North
  • St Joachim’s Catholic Primary School, Lidcombe
  • St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, Meadowbank
  • Holy Family Catholic Primary School, Menai
  • Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, Miranda
  • St Aidan’s Catholic Primary School, Maroubra
  • St Brigid’s Catholic Primary School, Marrickville
  • St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School, Malabar
  • Our Lady of the Assumption Catholic Primary School, North Strathfield
  • Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, North Ryde
  • St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Oatley
  • St Francis of Assisi Catholic Primary School, Paddington
  • St Therese Catholic Primary School, Padstow
  • St Christopher’s Catholic Primary School, Panania
  • St Declan’s Catholic Primary School, Penshurst
  • St Catherine of Sienna Catholic Primary School, Prestons
  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Randwick
  • St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Riverwood
  • St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Rockdale
  • St Charles’ Catholic Primary School, Ryde
  • St Finbar’s Catholic Primary School, Sans Souci
  • St Raphael’s Catholic Primary School, South Hurstville
  • St Michael’s Catholic Primary School, Stanmore
  • St Martha’s Catholic Primary School, Strathfield
  • St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Summer Hill
  • St Patrick’s Catholic Primary School, Sutherland
  • Sacred Heart Catholic Primary School, Villawood
  • St Frances de Sales Catholic Primary School, Woolooware

  • St Vincent’s College, Ashfield (Co-ed 7-12)

  • Trinity Catholic College, Auburn (Co-ed 7-12)

  • La Salle Catholic College, Bankstown (Co-ed 7-12)

  • Our Lady of Mercy Catholic College, Burraneer (Girls 7-12)

  • De La Salle Catholic College, Caringbah (Boys 7-12)

  • St John Bosco College, Engadine (Co-ed 7-12)

  • Domremy Catholic College, Five Dock (Girls 7-12)

  • Good Samaritan Catholic College, Hinchinbrook (Co-ed 7-12)

  • Bethany Catholic College, Hurstville (Girls 7-12)

  • St Ursula’s Catholic College, Kingsgrove (Girls 7-12)

  • Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Catholic College, Kensington (Girls 7-12)

  • Holy Spirit Catholic College, Lakemba (Co-ed 7-12)

  • Casimir Catholic College, Marrickville (Co-ed 7-12)

  • Corpus Christi Catholic College, Maroubra (Co-ed 7-12)

  • Aquinas Catholic College, Menai (Co-ed 7-12)

  • Mount St Joseph’s Catholic College, Milperra (Girls 7-12)

  • Marist Catholic College, Eastwood (Boys 7-12)

  • Marcellin Catholic College, Randwick (Boys 7-12)

  • De La Salle Catholic College, Revesby Heights (Boys 7-12)

  • Holy Cross Catholic College, Ryde (Boys 7-12)

  • St Patrick’s Catholic College, Sutherland (Co-ed 7-12)

  • Mary MacKillop Catholic College, Wakeley (Girls 7-12)

  • St Clare’s Catholic College, Waverley (Girls 7-12)

  • Clancy Catholic College, West Hoxton (Co-ed 7-12)

  • Marist Sisters’ Catholic College, Woolwich (Girls 7-12)

Newman Selective Gifted Education Program – FAQs

The Newman Program is centred on Gagné’s Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent and uses an award-winning identification process.

The program is reviewed by GERRIC, the gifted education centre at the University of NSW, to make sure it meets high standards. Newman teachers have extra training or qualifications in gifted education.

Public selective schools and Opportunity Classes mainly use one test and focus heavily on academics. Newman recognises many types of giftedness and also focuses on social and emotional wellbeing.

The Newman program is run in more than 90 schools across the Sydney Catholic Schools network. Individual schools must apply to become a Newman school and demonstrate over a period of time their commitment to gifted education. 

Newman schools must provide ongoing professional learning for staff. SCS also offers online courses and supports teachers doing postgraduate study in gifted education.

To join Newman, students are assessed using a mix of ability, achievement, and aptitude tests together with teacher and parent input. Learning is then personalised to suit each student’s strengths and needs.

Primary students may be nominated for the program by their teacher or parents can nominate their child by speaking to their teacher. The teacher will work with the Newman coordinator to arrange assessments. You can also provide other test results or reports.

Secondary school students or those preparing to start Year 7 at a Newman high school can sit the HAST (Higher Ability Selective Test) in Year 6 after enrolling in the school.

No. There is no extra cost to parents for the Newman Program.

The program runs as part of normal lessons, not separate from them. Teachers use strategies to extend gifted students within class, or group students flexibly so they can work with peers of similar ability. Other enrichment activities like competitions, workshops, or special projects may also be offered.

Yes. The program supports twice-exceptional students who have both a learning difficulty and a significant strength.