Ignite Program

IGNITE is a program for students with high intellectual potential.  Glenunga International High School is a DECS Special Interest School for gifted students and currently receives funding from DECS to provide programs for IGNITE students.  The IGNITE Program is also offered at The Heights School and Aberfoyle Park High School.

There are a number of possible courses that students can take in the IGNITE Program.  Students who score highly in the assessment may be considered for the 2 Year Vertically Accelerated Compacted Program and will be invited for an interview. The Compacted Program allows students to complete Yrs 8, 9 and 10 in two years thus moving into Year 11 in their third year at the school.  Students can then choose to complete Years 11 & 12 in two or three years.  It is possible for vertically accelerated students to study some university subjects whilst still at school through the Headstart Program.

The subject accelerated program emphasises extension and enrichment, combined with subject acceleration, rather than grade skipping (vertical acceleration).  The subject accelerated classes are differentiated to cater for particular student strengths.

One course vertically accelerates in Maths (completes Yr 8, 9 & 10 Maths in two years), whilst accelerating in the other subject areas.  Another course concentrates on English subject acceleration whilst still providing extension and acceleration in all the other subject areas.

A fourth course caters for a range of students who may have strengths in either or both of these areas.

Selection into these classes is based on student results in the ACER assessment. Students that have been selected into the IGNITE program are guaranteed direct entry into Glenunga regardless of whether they live in zone or not.

It may be possible to be selected for an IGNITE class without sitting the assessment by satisfying entry criteria and if the student is included in the Year 8 cohort for Glenunga.  Evidence that the student is gifted must be provided by parent/caregiver such as performance in an IQ test or competitions or participation in a SHIP program at primary school.