High potential and gifted education

Debating

The Premier's Debating Challenge is a NSW government school competition which aims to develop the reasoning and public speaking skills of students. Students selected for the team from Years 5 & 6 participate in a series of round-robin debates against local schools. Every debate in the challenge is a one-hour preparation debate and teams do not know the topic or which side of the debate they are on until one hour before it starts.

In 2025, the  Year 6 Harcourt Gold team were awarded equal Zone Champions of the Premier's Debating Challenge and progressed to the knock-out rounds. Well done Ayshka, Ispiha, Issac and Trisha.

Maths Olympiad

The Maths Olympiad is an inter-school competition that has been specifically designed to stimulate and challenge high potential and high achieving students in Years 5 and 6. It encourages creativity, logical thinking, and advanced mathematical reasoning through a series of engaging and thought-provoking problems. Participants have the opportunity to enhance their mathematical abilities, compete with peers, and gain recognition for their skills. Congratulations to the 2025 team from 5/6D who achieved a score in the top 25% of all team scores in their division. A special congratulations to the students who achieved an individual score in the top 10% of all participants: Nicole, Xin, Esther J, John and Daniel.

Sports
Rugby League

We are proud to acknowledge Yasin from Year 6, a multitalented athlete whose dedication and perseverance have led to outstanding sporting achievements for Harcourt Public School. Yasin has represented our school and the Wiley Park Zone in both Rugby League and Touch Football, earning ‘Best and Fairest’ in our PSSA Touch team for the past two years and competing at the Sydney East Rugby League Championships. His strong work ethic, skill and positive attitude have helped him excel across multiple sports and serve as a role model for younger students. We congratulate Yasin on his success, including earning a selective sports high school placement. We wish him all the best for the future.

Music ensembles
Recorder

Each year, committed and musically motivated Year 2-6 students are invited to join the Harcourt Recorder Group, where they develop their musicianship and rehearse for a significant performance opportunity at the Sydney Opera House as part of the Festival of Instrumental Music. This prestigious event brings students from across NSW together to perform in combined recorder and string ensembles, supported by exceptional instrumental and vocal items showcased by schools throughout the state. It provides students with access to high-quality repertoire and the experience of performing in a world-class venue.

Xin has shown exemplary dedication as a member of the Harcourt Recorder Group for the past four years.  She has learned to play both the descant and tenor recorders, developed strong music-reading skills, and represented the school at the Sydney Opera House as well as at numerous assemblies and school performance events. Her commitment, achievement, and dedication serve as a positive example for younger students aspiring to extend themselves in music.

Drama ensembles

We are proud to recognise the achievements of the students who have represented Harcourt Public School in the NSW Drama Ensemble Program.

Selected Year 5 and 6 students audition for the Ensembles through The Arts Unit in Lewisham. The program is designed to extend high-potential and gifted students in drama by providing a rigorous, engaging and supportive learning environment. Successful applicants participate in specialised workshops that challenge and develop their dramatic knowledge, performance skills and stagecraft.

Students work with industry drama practitioners and experienced drama teachers. Through this expert coaching, they refine their acting techniques, explore a range of performance styles, and work collaboratively to create polished ensemble pieces for public performance.

Participation has supported Harcourt students to build strong performance portfolios, with several going on to gain successful entry into the Newtown High School of Performing Arts and the Selective Performance Class at Canterbury Girls High School.

We commend our Drama Ensemble students for their commitment, creativity and representation of Harcourt Public School at a state level.

Sports
Golf & Swimming

We are proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our Harcourt students, including Jenisha from Year 6, who has had an exceptional year in sport. As a talented swimmer, she was named Wiley Park Zone Swimming Champion and progressed to the Sydney East Swimming Championships at Sydney Olympic Park. Jenisha also excelled in golf, becoming the Sydney East Golf Champion and progressed to the NSW PSSA State Golf Championships where she was ranked 12th —an impressive result. Her success reflects the hard work, passion and perseverance that she and our students bring to their pursuits. We congratulate Jenisha on these remarkable achievements and wish her continued success in her future sporting endeavours.

Dance
Pulse Alive Dance Group

We proudly recognise the involvement of Harcourt Public School students in the Pulse Alive Dance Group.

Pulse Alive is a vibrant celebration of creativity, connection, and opportunity in the performing arts. The event showcases thousands of singers, dancers, actors, and musicians from NSW public schools, bringing together students from metropolitan, regional, rural, and remote communities. This large-scale arena performance celebrates diversity, fosters inclusion, and builds a strong sense of belonging through the performing arts.

Students selected to represent Harcourt in Pulse Alive participate in the massed dance and choir ensembles, rehearsing under the guidance of experienced NSW Department of Education arts educators and industry professionals. Through this experience, they refine their performance skills, develop confidence, and have to opportunity to dance in a world class performance event.

Participation in Pulse Alive is an inspiring opportunity that allows our students to perform on a professional stage and to celebrate the joy and power of creative expression. We commend all participating students for their enthusiasm, teamwork, and commitment to representing Harcourt Public School with pride.