Queensland’s gifted students held back by lack of selective schools

Queensland’s most gifted students are being held back by a lack of selective schools, particularly for regional students, education experts say.

The Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology at Toowong. Picture: Richard Walker)

Queensland’s most gifted students are being held back by a lack of selective schools, particularly for regional students, education experts say.

The “smart state” has just three selective schools – all in the southeast corner – in comparison to the 17 fully selective schools and 25 partially selective schools on offer in NSW.

Australian Catholic University inclusive education lecturer Dr Matthew White said it meant gifted students may be missing out by not being offered accelerated learning in their local schools

“The research supports that students who are gifted do better when they are given opportunities to work with other gifted students,” he said.

A Queensland Education Department spokeswoman said there was “no plan” to create additional selective entry state schools outside of the existing “academies”.

The three academies are the Queensland Academy for Science, Mathematics and Technology, based in Toowong in Brisbane, the Queensland Academies Creative Industries campus, at nearby Kelvin Grove, and the Queensland Academies Health Sciences Campus at Southport on the Gold Coast.

Brisbane State High School is not considered a selective school because it offers catchment and out-of-catchment places. File picture: David Clark

“Queensland Academies are selective-entry schools for highly capable secondary students – established by the Department of Education in partnership with Queensland’s leading universities (The University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University),” the spokeswoman said.

Despite its competitive entry points, Education Queensland does not consider the prestigious Brisbane State High School a selective school, as it offers both catchment and out-of-catchment places.

The spokeswoman said state schools across the state, including in regional areas, offered unique “programs of excellence” for students.

“These are locally based initiatives whereby schools offer opportunities for students to access extension or enrichment in sport, the arts, and specialist curriculum areas,” she said.

“Student entry into programs of excellence is typically via application.

“For example, Cairns State High School offers excellence programs in engineering and Aerospace, music, performing arts, visual arts and sport and Rangeville State School in Toowoomba offers a program of musical excellence.”

A NSW Department of Education spokesman said several selective and partially selective schools located outside of Sydney, including Merewether High School in Newcastle, Gosford High School and Smiths Hill High School in Wollongong.

Dr White said Education Queensland should follow its NSW counterpart’s example by establishing more selective schools outside the state capital.

“If you have a few schools that are in metropolitan areas that cater for students who are gifted, then those students who are in regional towns they don’t have access to those schools and you’re setting up a tiered education system,” he said.

Originally published as Queensland’s gifted students held back by lack of selective schools