Mastering Academic Talent Development

BBC Honours Program for highly able students to be introduced in 2021

A BBC education is designed to challenge boys to think critically, engage their curiosity and foster a global outlook. While not an academically selective school, BBC is an academic institution that strives for excellence.

The College’s commitment to knowing each boy and his learning needs, coupled with extensive access and use of various data and student tracking tools, allows staff to identify students who require extra support or challenges to enhance their learning.

In an exciting innovation building on the College’s high quality academic offerings, the BBC Honours Program will be introduced in 2021, providing an enriched curriculum as a catalyst for highly able students to fulfil their talent and realise their potential.

In line with the College’s New School of Thought approach to teaching and learning, Dr Leigh Hobart, Deputy Headmaster Academic Performance and Innovation (P-12) says the program will represent a new way of thinking, teaching and delivering academic talent development at BBC.

“Our Honours Program will engage high performing and high potential students from the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools allowing for academic extension, enrichment and acceleration.

“Classes will provide opportunities for problem-based enquiry and investigation, stimulating curiosity, interest and thought in an environment of like-minded scholars,” said Dr Hobart.

The Honours Program has been developed with the wellbeing of students in mind and will help shape academic talent into strength awareness and ultimately, mastery.

“A committee, comprising of staff, students, and parents, was established to research best practice from the literature and investigate practices around the world. In line with their findings, the formulation of our BBC Honours Program draws heavily on the influence of Francoys Gagne and Joseph Renzulli, noted leaders in the field of gifted and talented education.

“The result is an Honours Program which creates an opportunity for our highest performing students to flourish and extend beyond what they thought possible,” said Dr Hobart.

Interested students will be invited to apply for entry into the program, with Academic Scholarship recipients automatically considered. Suitability will be determined by a number of factors, including academic performance and ranking, but also academic potential as evidenced by qualities such as conscientiousness, deliberate practice, love of learning, will power and grit.

Teachers conducting the program will be provided with specialist training in how to best cater for gifted and talented students to support the teaching and learning demands of the program.

Initially launching to Years 5, 7 and 10 students in 2021, the Honours Program will roll out to additional year levels over the next two years, with the intention for it to be offered to highly able students across Years 5 to 12 by the end of 2022.

The Program

The BBC Honours Program is designed for highly able students and will provide an educational environment which fosters the interests and needs of the individual.

Junior School
Middle School
Senior School
  • To be offered to Year 5 in 2021; Years 5 and 6 in 2022
  • Designed to extend students who are high achievers in most of their subjects
  • Focus on enrichment, extension and problem-based enquiry
  • Identified students offered acceleration opportunities in Mathematics and likely, Science
  • Students will be expected to represent the College in academic co-curricular activities such as DaVinci Decathon, Readers Cup and Future Problem Solvers
  • Classroom teacher(s) and the Gifted and Talented Coordinator will receive specialist training and mentor students to achieve their personal excellence goals
  • To be offered to Year 7 in 2021; Years 8 and 9 in 2022
  • Designed to extend students who are high achievers in most of their subjects who are performing, or have the potential to perform, in the top 15 percent of the state
  • Enrichment classes will be offered in English, Maths, Science and multidisciplinary subjects such as STEM and Humanities/Arts
  • Identified students offered acceleration opportunities in Mathematics
  • Students will be expected to represent the College in academic co-curricular activities
  • Students will be guided by a Senior School Student Academic Mentor and the Gifted and Talented Coordinator to establish personal excellence goals
  • To be offered to Year 10 in 2021; Years 11 and 12 in 2022
  • Bespoke program design tailored to the individual strengths of top performing students
  • Identified students will be encouraged to select extension and acceleration courses in English, Mathematics and Music
  • Students will be mentored by a Senior Academic Staff Coach and the Gifted and Talented Coordinator to establish personal excellence goals
  • Opportunities for tertiary study and practical experiences in partnership with industry connections
  • Access to Honours Society super curriculum offerings

Identification of students

Interested students will be invited to apply for entry into the program. Suitability will be determined by a number of factors, including:

  • Standardised testing data
  • Academic results
  • Recommendations by teachers, specialists, peers and self, noting examples of conscientiousness, deliberate practice, love of learning, will power and grit
  • Ranking
  • Academic scholarship recipients will be automatically considered.

Students most likely to find the program of benefit will possess many of the following characteristics:

  • Academic talent and a love of reading and learning
  • Superior language ability
  • Large knowledge base
  • Keen observation
  • Efficient, high-capacity memory
  • Superior reasoning and problem solving
  • Ability to engage in abstract, complex, logical, and insightful thought
  • Mature sense of humour and enjoys playing with concepts and ideas
  • A commitment to learning Teachers conducting the program will be provided with specialist training in how to best cater for gifted and talented students to support the teaching and learning demands of the program.

Application Process

Application will open in Term 3, 2020. Further details to follow.