High achievers selective class

Kariong Mountains Academic Stream Selective Class offers a learning advantage for academic and motivated students, who would benefit from taking their learning beyond the mandatory curriculum and challenge themselves and their peers to perform at their best.

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Stage 4 Academic Stream - Course Information EOI - 2026 KMHS Stage 4 Academic Stream Teacher Support Statement - 2026 KMHS Stage 4 Academic Stream Student Application Statement - 2026 KMHS Stage 4 Academic Stream

The KMHS Academic Stream Class is for students who:

are academically motivated
thrive in a creative and rigorous learning environment
have a positive and persistent approach to their studies
are recommended by their current teacher.

Applications for 2026 due by 4 April

Course information and application forms can be downloaded via the links above. Additional information will be forwarded to applicants via email. Please contact the school on 4340 4026 if you have any questions.

Why Academic Stream?

The KMHS Academic Stream Selective School Values Program and High Potential and Gifted Education (HPGE) framework are designed to support opportunities for students who:

Have advanced learning potential and development compared to their cohort.
Perform strongly in particular areas of subjects and co-curricular domains.
Have high potential in a particular learning area - intellectual, creative, socio-emotional or physical.
Can benefit from additional challenge and extension in their learning.

Aligning personalised accelerated pathways with each individual student’s talents and aspirations.

As students are able to move to higher order thinking more quickly, there are increased opportunities to engage in deeper and more reflective learning, as can be experienced through more time on project-based learning and extension activities than in other classes.

Stage 4 Academic Stream Class

Students commence their learning in the Stage 4 Selective Class and undertake all of their classes as a single cohort. Although all students in NSW have to complete a mandatory curriculum, students in the selective class are generally able to progress through the curriculum at a faster rate and therefore can engage in enrichment activities, lateral approaches to topics being studied and acceleration as best meets their needs.

Stage 5 Academic Streaming

In Stage 5, students are placed into the academic stream for each of the mandatory core subjects. Placement depends on aptitude and it is possible for a student to be in one or more academic classes if they have the capability to maintain the expected high standard of learning for that class. Elective classes are unstreamed and placement depends on interest and availability as determined by student selection. Some smaller classes do run in some electives to cater for diverse learning needs.

Stage 6 Extension Courses and Individualised Instruction

In Stage 6 we offer a wide selection of courses, including the range of extension courses. The school supports students studying academically challenging courses in Years 11 and 12, through providing small class sizes for more individualised tuition, supporting staff in HSC marking experience and professional learning to provide expert guidance for HSC success, a mentoring program for Year 12, tutoring and ‘homework’ clubs.

Gifted and Talented in Leadership Skills

At Kariong Mountains High School we provide inclusive education to meet the diverse needs of all our students. This means, that those students who are gifted in other areas also have opportunities to shine and grow. As a smaller sized high school, our students have more opportunities to show leadership, participate in events and have their talents recognised as they are not just one of many in a big cohort. We build up their confidence and expertise, resulting in students flourishing in the domains of Leadership and Citizenship. Such opportunities, have led to students being pre-selected into the Macquarie University Global Leadership program each year of our HSC after our first cohort. It is a reasonable assertion to make that more students have the chance to have their talent recognised and realised, when they can stand out because they are not just one of a large crowd. Our staff know their students well, and can therefore, encourage them to stand up and flourish.

Opportunities in Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA)

Our CAPA program is led by staff who are successful artists and performers in their own right. Support for talented students is provided throughout their school career on a unique and individual level that matches their interests and passion. Through classes, clubs, work crews, competitions and tailored courses such as Music Industry (partnering with The Grove Studios), students have many opportunities to demonstrate their growing skillsets outside the classroom in authentic contexts; making learning relevant.

Opportunities in Sport

Kariong Mountains Communities have a fine tradition of active engagement in sports. Our school sports program is integrated and led by PDHPE staff, thereby developing students’ skills across a range of games types with expert guidance. Talented students have the opportunity to represent the school in a range of different sports in which they excel. Students can also participate in sport-based elective classes, lunchtime competitions and sporting teams for external competitions.

Opportunities in Technology

A discrete technology course operates for all students in Stage 4. Students with a passion for technology can extend this learning through the “Robotics Group”, Makerspace (which runs 3 times a week in a specifically designed room to accommodate this learning) and electing to study the Stage 5 STEM course, which is based on Carnegie University Learning Modules. HSC courses are available for student in Stage 6.

Strategies to challenge and enrich student learning

The multimodal approach means that curriculum delivery includes a range of strategies to challenge and enrich student learning. This includes involvement in a variety of competitions, projects and co-curricular activities that should extend and enrich the whole child. We have a mentor program running from Year 10 – Year 12; in place to support students with organisation and study skills. We have a very supportive welfare structure and student wellbeing days are organised to assist with the development of confident and capable learners.

Our teachers are committed to providing learning excellence and undertake a range of professional learning activities throughout the year to engage in a culture of continuous improvement. We have a culture of rigorous self-examination and apply this to our teaching programs and practice. We understand that although students are identified as gifted and talented, they are still unique individuals and program differentiation is a standard protocol of program design.

We are committed to helping all our students to reach and exceed their potential. If you have any questions about our gifted and talented programs, please contact the Principal on: 4340 0246.

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Kariong Mountains High School

High achievers selective class

The KMHS Academic Stream Class is for students who: