Learning
Enrichment & Extension
Enrichment & Extension
Discover an interest.
Develop a strength.
Sometimes a young person knows exactly what they love. Sometimes they need the opportunity to try.
At St Peter’s Catholic College, enrichment and extension help students explore new interests, deepen their learning and build confidence alongside others. Through academic challenge, creative experiences, sport and service, students can discover what motivates them and where their strengths might lead.
What is enrichment and extension?
Enrichment broadens learning through new experiences, interests and perspectives. Extension takes learning further, providing additional depth and challenge. Both create opportunities for students to grow.
High Potential and Gifted Education
Challenge that helps them grow
Students need opportunities to be challenged as well as supported. At St Peter’s, our High Potential and Gifted Education program recognises students’ strengths and provides learning that helps them develop their potential.
Specialist teaching and opportunities to learn alongside like-minded peers encourage students to explore ideas more deeply, while nurturing their social and emotional wellbeing.
Our High Potential and Gifted Education program
St Peter’s is committed to the education of High Potential and Gifted (HPG) students. We provide rich opportunities for students identified across the intellectual, social-emotional and physical domains.
Learning at the right level of challenge
Our program identifies students with high potential or giftedness across one or more domains and places them with like-minded students. Their learning is extended and differentiated to meet their current level of challenge.
Specialist teaching and support
Our HPG teachers are specially trained, experienced and passionate about providing appropriate adjustments and interventions. These may include:
- Curriculum compaction, reducing repetition of material a student has already mastered.
- Exploring topics in greater depth and complexity.
- Using conceptual frameworks and abstract thinking to explore ideas and connections.
- Potential acceleration where appropriate.
Students’ social and emotional wellbeing is nurtured alongside their learning.
Supporting twice-exceptional students
Students who have high potential or giftedness alongside diagnosed neurodivergence and/or disability are sometimes described as twice exceptional.
These students receive individual case management in collaboration with the Learning Diversity Team, supporting their strengths and addressing barriers to reaching their potential.
Find out more
Contact Jennifer Bradstreet, Leader of High Potential and Gifted Education: bradstreet@dbb.catholic.edu.au .
Integrated Learning Projects
Discover through doing
An interest can be the starting point for meaningful learning. Our Integrated Learning Projects program gives students in Years 7 and 8 opportunities to explore their interests, develop skills and work with others.
Through practical and creative projects, students contribute ideas, build friendships and take pride in what they achieve.
How Integrated Learning Projects work
Integrated Learning Projects is a skills-based program for students in Years 7 and 8. Students explore interests through elected Growth Projects, supported by a Project Leader.
Year 7 students participate for two hours each week. Projects encourage teamwork, new skills and an active approach to learning.
The program is grounded in the College’s guiding principles:
- Live as a Disciple of Christ.
- Embrace Learning.
- Pursue Excellence.
- Show Respect.
- Care for Self and Others.
Explore our Growth Project areas
Growth Project areas include:
- Art
- Band
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Drama
- Philosophy
- Ready, Steady Grow Gardening
- RISE Rugby League
- Soccer
- War Games
Project choices may vary. The College provides students with the options available for their year group.
Creative arts and clubs
Find their people.
Explore their interests.
Joining an activity can open the door to a new talent, a friendship or a stronger sense of belonging.
Our Co-curricular and Clubs Program brings students together through shared interests, skill development, friendly competition and collaboration.
Opportunities span year levels and welcome students with different levels of skill and experience, whether they already have a passion or are curious to try something new.
Explore Creative & Performing Arts
Create and perform
Creative opportunities give students ways to express ideas, practise their craft and share their talents with others.
- ARTSCHOOL: Art, Dance, Drama, Music Program and Musicals
- Digital Media Club
Think, investigate and solve
Students can test ideas, explore technology, develop strategies and approach challenges from different perspectives.
- Chess Club
- Coding Club
- Minecraft Club
- Mock Trials
- Public Speaking
- STEM Club
- Young Entrepreneurs Club
Connect, learn and belong
Shared interests and learning goals bring students together, helping them build relationships beyond their usual classroom groups.
- Book Club
- Café Club
- Homework Club
- Language Club
- Study Skills Club
Students can contact the College for current club meeting times and participation details.
Sport and physical activity
Develop their game and themselves
Sport provides opportunities to build skills, enjoy being active and experience the value of working together.
Through school sport, representative opportunities and specialist programs, students are supported to pursue their interests, build resilience and achieve their personal best on and off the field.
Internal Sport Program: Years 7–10
Our Internal Sport Program gives students opportunities to experience a range of activities, develop movement skills and build confidence.
Activities include swimming, fitness, gymnastics, surf awareness and team sports. As students progress, increasing elective choice encourages independence and helps them discover activities they enjoy.
Representative sport
Representative pathways provide opportunities for students to pursue their sporting interests at school, cluster, diocesan and state levels, with pathways to national representation.
Through carnivals, trials, training and competition, students develop commitment, teamwork and pride in representing their College.
Emerging Athlete Program
Our Emerging Athlete Program supports students seeking to develop their performance while balancing their sporting commitments and learning.
Support includes:
- Structured strength and conditioning.
- Performance benchmarking to understand progress.
- Targeted strategies for improvement.
- Expert coaching and mentorship.
NRL RISE Rugby League Program: Years 7–10
The RISE Program at St Peter’s Catholic College gives aspiring young rugby league players the opportunity to develop their sporting abilities, physical performance and personal character within a supportive educational environment.
Built around four core values — Routine, Identity, Socialise and Evolve — RISE develops well-rounded student-athletes who strive for excellence both on and off the field.
Available to students in Years 7–10, the program is integrated into the College timetable, providing six hours of specialised development each fortnight. Students participate in:
- Skills-based workshops to develop their rugby league abilities.
- Strength and conditioning sessions to improve physical performance.
- Theory-based tutorials to build the knowledge and habits needed to succeed as a student-athlete.
Alongside regular training, students have opportunities to gain certifications in refereeing, sports training and coaching, helping them contribute positively to their sporting clubs and the wider community.
Interested in joining RISE? Contact the College for entry requirements, expression-of-interest and trial information.
Liverpool FC International Academy partnership
Our Liverpool FC International Academy partnership provides students in Years 7–9 with opportunities to develop their football skills and learn through the Liverpool Way.
- Weekly on-field sessions with LFC-accredited coaches, complementing students’ club football.
- Age-appropriate practices developed through Liverpool FC in the United Kingdom.
- Skill challenges, mini tournaments and small-sided games.
- 12 months of access to the LFC eAcademy.
- Online personal development opportunities and resources for parents.
The program reflects Liverpool FC’s values of ambition, commitment, dignity and unity.
Contact the College for entry, expression-of-interest and trial information.
How can my child participate?
Participation arrangements vary between programs. The College can explain eligibility, trials, schedules and any equipment or costs associated with your child’s area of interest.
Leadership, service and community
Make a difference
At St Peter’s, every student has opportunities to lead, contribute and consider how their actions affect others.
Leadership roles, camps, youth ministry and service experiences help students develop responsibility, independence and compassion, putting our motto, Live the Faith, into practice.
Student leadership and camps
Our Student Leadership Program gives students opportunities to represent others, contribute ideas and serve their College community.
Formal leadership roles include:
- College Captains
- College Vice Captains
- Portfolio Leaders
- House Captains
Through our Camp Program, students build resilience, strengthen relationships and challenge themselves beyond the classroom.
Youth ministry and putting faith into action
Youth ministry gives students opportunities to explore their faith and contribute to the life of the College, local parishes and the wider Church.
Connections with Catholic Youth Broken Bay provide opportunities for voluntary participation in diocesan and youth events.
The College’s program also includes delivery of Certificate II in Active Volunteering, connecting service with practical learning and recognised skills.
Community service and supporting others
Service helps students recognise the needs of others and understand how their contribution can make a difference.
College service initiatives include:
- Supporting Red Cross appeals.
- St Vincent de Paul winter appeals.
- St Vincent de Paul Christmas appeals.
These experiences encourage compassion, practical action and an ongoing commitment to the wider community.
Immersion, cultural and environmental experiences
The College’s wider experiences have included opportunities for students to learn through service, cultural connection and environmental exploration.
- Connections with schools in Fiji.
- House-building and teaching experiences in Cambodia and Vietnam.
- An Indigenous spiritual and cultural tour in Central Australia.
- Environmental learning experiences on Lady Elliot Island.
These experiences encourage students to consider perspectives beyond their own and develop a deeper understanding of people, places and the environment.
Destinations and opportunities vary. Contact the College for currently scheduled experiences, eligibility and participation details.
Curriculum partnerships
Learning connected to the wider world
Education is strengthened when schools and communities work together. Our partnerships connect students with expertise, resources and experiences beyond the classroom.
Relationships with universities, training providers, local businesses, community groups and other organisations help students see how their learning connects with the world around them.
ASPECT satellite classes at St Peter’s
St Peter’s supports ASPECT through the provision of secondary educational services in satellite classes located on the College campus.
These classes are supported through partnerships involving ASPECT, the NSW Department of Education and Catholic education in the Diocese of Broken Bay.
For more information about ASPECT and its educational services, visit the ASPECT website .
University partnerships
University connections give students opportunities to explore further study, extend their interests and learn about possible future pathways.
- Australian Catholic University (ACU).
- Macquarie University: Gifted and Talented Entry Program, and Leaders and Achievers Program.
- University of Sydney: STEM Program.
- University of Newcastle: Women in Engineering, BIG Day In IT, Spotlight Program and support for the Young Entrepreneurs Club.
The College can advise students about current opportunities and participation requirements.
Industry, vocational and skills opportunities
Practical experiences help students explore industries, apply their skills and consider future training and employment pathways.
Partnership opportunities include:
- Catholic Schools Broken Bay: Battle of the Business Assistants, Battle of the Builders and Battle of the Chefs.
- Central Coast Group Training: Try-a-Skill Day and support for the Young Entrepreneurs Club.
- WorldSkills: vocational education and training competition.
Connections with industry and local businesses also support vocational learning and student work placements.
Community partnerships and shared learning
Partnerships with community groups, local government, businesses and educational institutions enrich learning and wellbeing across the College.
These connections support:
- Professional development for staff.
- Vocational opportunities and student work placements.
- Creative projects, exhibitions and performance opportunities.
- Health and fitness programs.
- Environmental projects.
- Parent collaboration and involvement.
- Student voice and opportunities to contribute ideas.
- Learning across generations.
- Access to specialist knowledge, resources and professional expertise.
Together, these experiences connect the curriculum with real-world learning and strengthen relationships between the College and its wider community.
Connecting interests with future possibilities
An interest discovered at school can help shape what comes next. As students grow, their experiences can inform subject choices, vocational learning, further study and employment.
Let’s explore what interests your child
Your child does not need to have their future mapped out. They need opportunities to explore, people who encourage them and room to grow.
Visit St Peter’s to experience our learning environment and speak with our team about your child’s interests, strengths and opportunities.
Book a College tour🎓 HSC Pathway
A traditional academic pathway supporting students working towards an ATAR and university study, with access to an extensive range of ATAR courses to suit diverse interests and strengths.
📘 HSC Plus Pathway
A flexible and engaging option that blends HSC study with VET courses, allowing students to explore interests while gaining practical skills.
St Peter’s Catholic College offers the largest range of VET courses in the Catholic Schools Broken Bay Diocese, delivering 10 VET frameworks – including full qualifications and Statements of Attainment, with many ATAR‑eligible options.
Students can also undertake School-Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships (SBATs), providing real-world experience while remaining connected to school life.
🌏 Horizon Pathway (Non-HSC)
A new, groundbreaking pathway designed and exclusive to Catholic Schools Broken Bay, Horizon is a highly personalised, student-centred pathway designed around individual passions and career goals. With a strong focus on real-world learning, industry experiences, and VET opportunities, students can also access SBATs, building meaningful skills for life beyond school.
No matter the pathway, our focus is clear: to support every student to thrive, remain engaged in their learning, and transition confidently into university, further training, or the workforce.
Choosing subjects is more than a decision—it’s a step toward each student’s future. We feel privileged to walk alongside them on this journey.
POSITIVE RELATIONSHIPS
At St Peter’s we believe participation in our Co-curricular and Clubs Program enhances learning through skill development, friendly competition and collaboration and facilitates positive relationships. It is one of our key community-builders.
We pride ourselves on our vibrant and well-rounded programs that provide participation and connectivity opportunities across all year levels, no matter the level of skill and experience.
- ARTSCHOOL: Art, Dance, Drama, Music Program & Musicals
- Book Club
- Café Club
- Chess Club
- Coding Club
- Digital Media Club
- Homework Club
- Language Club
- Minecraft Club
- Mock Trials
- Public Speaking
- STEM Club
- Study Skills Club
- Young Entrepreneurs Club
- Ukulele Club
SERVING OTHERS as GLOBAL CITIZENS
St Peter’s graduates Live their Faith; they are respectful and always care for themselves, their families, and the world around them. A St Peter’s Graduate is committed to the common good (Towards Excellence). We promote awareness of their place as global citizens and our students have access to a range of opportunities that link them to their local and wider community. These include:
Environment Portfolio:
Lady Elliott Island
Youth Ministry:
Our Youth Ministry is led by an experienced teacher who works with the students to provide school-based faith formation and youth ministry opportunities, linking them to the wider Catholic community. The Youth Minister collaborates with other YMs, local parishes and Catholic Youth Broken Bat to provide a range of voluntary activities including attendance at Diocesan functions, national and international youth festivals. The Youth Minister is also responsible for the delivery of a Certificate II in Active Volunteering (VET).
Local and Global experiences:
To promote a sense of social justice, equity and to develop rich perspectives we encourage and support our community to participate in a range of local and global experiences including but not limited to:
- Fiji – schools connection program
- House Building and teaching in Cambodia/ Vietnam
- Indigenous Spiritual Tour to Central Australia
- Red Cross Appeal
- St Vinnies Appeal: Winter and Christmas Appeals
EMPOWERING LEARNER ENGAGEMENT
Educating our future generations is the responsibility of the entire community, not just schools.
Successful schools build partnerships in order to provide opportunities and the best outcomes for students (Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), 2012, p. 18). Our community partnerships and their resources effectively support and empower positive engagement, enrichment and excellence for learning and wellbeing and significant outcomes for our young people. Our extensive partnerships help students access resources outside the school and provide a connection with industry and professional expertise.
Our strong partnerships with community groups, local government, small local businesses and educational institutions provide professional development for staff, vocational offerings and work placements for students, creative production and opportunities for exhibitions and performance, health and fitness programs for students, environmental projects and a wide variety of other expertise.
St Peter’s partnerships provide opportunities for parent collaboration, avenues for student voice, opportunities for cross generational learning and they allow the curriculum to be more easily connected to real-world experiences.
Our Partnerships include:
ASPECT: St Peter’s is proud to support ASPECT with provision of secondary educational services through satellite classes within the St Peter’s campus. These classes are made possible through partnerships with ASPECT, the NSW Department of Education and Training and the Broken Bay Diocese Catholic Education Office.
ASPECT can be contacted using the below link.
Australian Catholic University (ACU)
Macquarie University: Gifted and Talented Entry Program, Leaders and Achievers Program
Sydney University: STEM Program
University of Newcastle: Women in Engineering, BIG Day In IT, Spotlight Program and sponsors of our Young Entrepreneurs Club
CSO DBB: Battle of the Business Assistants, Battle of the Builders, Battle of the Chefs
CCGT: Try-a-Skill Day and sponsors of our Young Entrepreneurs Club
WorldSkills: VET Competition
St Peter’s is committed to the education of High Potential and Gifted (HPG) students. We provide rich opportunities for students identified across the intellectual, social-emotional, and physical domains.
Our HPG Program identifies students with high potential or giftedness across one or more domains and places them with like-minded students so that their learning is relevant, extended and differentiated to meet them at their current level of challenge.
Our HPG Teachers are specially trained, highly experienced, and passionate about providing specific adjustments or interventions such as curriculum compaction, furthering depth and
complexity, programming with a conceptual framework for abstraction, and potential acceleration while ensuring that student social and emotional wellbeing is nurtured.
Students identified as Twice Exceptional are Case Managed in collaboration with the Learning Diversity Team so that diagnosed neurodivergence and/or disability is not a barrier for a High Potential or Gifted student in them reaching their potential.
St Peter’s is the first High School in the diocese of Catholic Schools Broken Bay to offer a specialised High Potential and Gifted Education program. For more information, please contact Jennifer Bradstreet, Leader of High Potential and Gifted Education at bradstreet@dbb.catholic.edu.au
ILP (Integrated Learning Projects) is a dynamic, skills based program offered to all students in Year 7 and 8. Participation in a broad range of innovative projects, helps students to develop the skills needed to be successful learners, today and into the future. There is a particular focus on how the Guiding Principles of Live as a Disciple of Christ, Embracing Learning, Pursuing Excellence, Showing Respect and Caring for self and others, are lived out through our interests and passions.
For two hours each week in Year 7, ILP students meet with their Project Leader to develop Growth Projects that they have elected. These projects provide exciting opportunities for our junior students to hone their skills, to make new friends and to develop teamwork.
At St Peter’s, we want our students to follow their passions, to engage enthusiastically with their learning, and to be challenged by new and exciting learning opportunities. ILP is but one place this can happen.
Our current ILP Growth Project areas include:
- Art
- Band
- Creative Writing
- Dance
- Drama
- Philosophy
- Ready, Steady Grow Gardening
- RISE Rugby League
- Soccer
- War Games
SERVING OUR COMMUNITY
At St Peter’s we believe each member of our community is a leader. To support this concept our range of Enrichment and Extension Programs provide those leadership opportunities. Through our structured Student Leadership and Camps Program students can further extend themselves.
Our Student Leadership Program provides roles as:
- College Captains
- College Vice Captains
- Portfolio Leaders
- House Captains
Through our extensive Camp Program, students develop resilience as they challenge and extend themselves outside the ‘classroom’.
At St Peter’s Catholic College, sport and physical activity are central to student wellbeing, engagement and personal growth. Through a diverse range of programs, students develop confidence, teamwork, resilience, leadership and healthy lifelong habits.
🏃 Internal Sport Program (Years 7–10)
Our Internal Sport Program combines swimming, fitness, gymnastics, surf awareness and a variety of team sports to develop fundamental movement skills, physical fitness and a love of active participation. As students progress through the College, they enjoy increasing choice and independence through a wide range of elective sport opportunities.
🏅 Representative Sport
Students have opportunities to represent the College across a broad range of sports, progressing through school, cluster, diocesan and state pathways. Carnivals, trials and training programs support students in achieving their sporting potential while developing commitment, teamwork and school spirit.
Designed to support the growth and development of aspiring student athletes, the Elite Athlete Program provides access to structured strength and conditioning, performance benchmarking, targeted improvement strategies, and expert coaching and mentorship. The program helps students maximise their sporting potential while balancing the demands of school and high-level competition.
🏉 NRL RISE Rugby League Program
Available to students in Years 7–10, the NRL RISE Schools Program combines Rugby League skill development, strength and conditioning, wellbeing education and leadership opportunities. Integrated into the school timetable, the program develops well-rounded student-athletes through the core values of Routine, Identity, Socialise and Evolve.
At St Peter’s, sport is more than competition. It is an opportunity for every student to challenge themselves, build meaningful connections and thrive both on and off the field.