St Aloysius is a Gifted Education Lead School in the Diocese of Maitland-Newcastle. Our focus is on identifying gifted learners and assisting with the process of developing talent by providing specific opportunities for learning, training and practise. We have high expectations for all students, with an increased focus on gifted learners and their needs.

St Aloysius has a Gifted Education Mentor (GEM) and a Gifted Education Committee to assist teachers with collating and analysing data, identifying the strengths and needs of students and providing appropriate strategies to meet their needs. We work closely with our cluster schools St Bede’s Catholic College, Chisholm and Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School, Tarro to collaborate and network to best cater for the gifted students across our cluster.

A key component of being a GEL school is all students sitting the Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT). CogAT is a group-administered K–12 assessment intended to estimate students' learned reasoning and problem-solving abilities through verbal, quantitative, and nonverbal test items. The CogAT is used with other school data to assess students' learning and to provide guidance around instruction, decisions and strategies.

Teachers here at St Aloysius have had opportunities for professional learning about the needs and characteristics of gifted learners as well as differentiating teaching and learning programs. Professional learning is a continual commitment as part of being a GEL school. 

Gifted Education is a priority in our system and is providing exciting opportunities for students in our school and we look forward to working with all the schools in the diocese during this exciting era of learning.