Teaching and Learning

HPGE- High Potential, Gifted Education 

In the first half of Term 3, two significant HPGE events have occurred under the Teaching and Learning banner. 

Across 2023-2024, a Stage 5 Philosophy course was implemented for the first time at Epping Boys, which was a rigorous course. On Thursday 31st July, Epping Boys took two teams to compete in an inter-school ‘Philosothon’ event at Newington College. Half the team was in the original Philosophy class and others are considering it as a Year 9 elective. This was the first time our school has joined this annual competition and we went along as the newcomers on a fact finding mission. The eight students who competed had a thoroughly enjoyable evening and some are already considering going along again next year.

Similarly across 2024-2025, Stage 5 Psychology is running its first iteration. Year 10 Psychology students have spent most of Terms 2 and 3 learning about research design, ethics and psychometric statistics, in order to design and implement their own research projects. On Friday 15th August, they administered their projects to a ‘convenience sample’ known as the Year 9 Psychology class. Supported by Stefan Kinsky, these two classes had a fantastic day of being exposed to the application of psychometric research. The day concluded with a debrief, as per proper research process, from the School Counsellor, Simon Percy. Year 10 students were given significant guidance but also a large amount of autonomy. They should be extremely proud of their work on the day. You can read student reflections about the incursion in the Social Science section of this newsletter.

Alison Laird

Head Teacher, Teaching and Learning