Gifted and Talented Pathway (GATE)
Academic Excellence Scholarships
Applications currently closed and will open for Year 7 2025 towards the end of 2023.
HARRISDALE CAMPUS ONLY
The Academic Excellence program aims to develop the 21st Century skills of critical thinking, creativity, communication, persuasion, leadership and entrepreneurship.
Carey’s GATE pathway provides gifted and talented students with a program designed to challenge and extend them to attain the highest levels of excellence. Recipients of this scholarship will have consistently demonstrated an excellent academic standard and potential in a number of areas, particularly in English, Humanities and/or the Arts.
Students will participate in a Year 7 program that offers variety, engagement and challenge. Carey has developed a GATE curriculum that is full of hands-on, innovative activities which are designed not only to engage the students, but also to encourage creativity and ways of learning that will benefit their later years of study.
The integration of these skills in real-world contexts will engage students in collaborative problem solving that will enhance their research, analytical, writing and reasoning skills. It is aimed at equipping students to successfully contribute to the rapidly changing and increasingly globalised society in which they live.
Achieving a Carey Academic Excellence scholarship gives students the confidence to pursue other goals. It is important for students to recognise their potential early in their academic career so that they can foster its growth. Participating in classes with other gifted and talented students motivates and extends them.
Features of the Program
The Academic Excellence program consists of one weekly session in class, and one weekly afternoon session collaborating with the Year 8 Academic Excellence class. This model allows for the development of individualised Year 7 academic skills, and a mentoring and collaborative focus with Year 8 AE GATE students. These skills include:
Debating and Persuasive Speaking: Students will participate in the Carey Debating Competition and represent the College in an inter-school format.
Creative Writing and Publishing: Students will learn advanced skills for creative writing, culminating in a day-long competition in which they will write, illustrate and publish their own book.
Entrepreneurship: Students will develop skills in business and entrepreneurship by planning and implementing business ideas for a variety of events and competitions.
Critical Thinking and Problem-Solving: Students will work collaboratively in the ‘da Vinci Decathlon’, working across ten disciplines, including STEM, chess, art, poetry, ideation, cartography and English.
Important Links
Includes information on programs, timelines, application process, HAST information and sample questions and FAQs.
Application Timeline
YEAR 7 2024 PROGRAM
Information Session: Thursday 16 February 2023 | 5pm (Please note, the content presented at this Information Session will be the same as the content presented at the Information Session held in November 2022).
Applications Close: Thursday 23 March 2023 | 4pm
Test Invitations emailed: Monday 3 April 2023
HAST Test Date: Saturday 6 May 2023 | 8:45am
Music Audition Date: Saturday 13 May 2023 | 8:30am-5pm
Round 1 Offers: Week commencing Monday 12 June 2023
Round 2 Offers: Week commencing Monday 17 July 2023
Year 7 Program
STEM scholarship recipients will also participate in the Science and Mathematics Extension Programs. Both are based on the WA curriculum with added project-based and enrichment activities.
Students are encouraged to participate in a variety of competitions that complements their learning.
Science Extension: This course focuses on developing self-directed learning and decision-making, collaborative investigations and field trips to experience Science in action.
Mathematics Extension: This program has a greater emphasis on problem-solving and mathematical reasoning. It utilises enrichment activities to extend the students.
Academic Excellence scholarship recipients will participate in the English and Humanities Extension Programs. Both are based on the WA curriculum with added project-based and enrichment activities.
Students are encouraged to participate in a variety of competitions that complements their learning.
English Extension: This course focuses on reading, comprehension and more complex writing tasks, emphasising collaboration and extending students’ abilities to work creatively and develop critical thinking skills.
Humanities Extension: Students will have the opportunity to develop their research, analytical reasoning and communication skills within this program.
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded to a select number of students in these programs. To apply for one of our scholarships, parents need to submit an application. Applications are reviewed by the College and if a student is shortlisted for a scholarship, they will be invited to sit a HAST Aptitude Test. This is produced by the Australian Council for Educational Research and used by over 100 secondary schools in Australia and internationally.
Scholarships are awarded to the highest performing students on the basis of academic merit and potential. This is determined by their applications (including their Year 5 final school and NAPLAN reports) and the HAST results. The continuation of the scholarship will depend on the student’s positive conduct and academic progress.
Successful students will be offered the following scholarships:
First Round Offers: 75% deduction of academic tuition fees for the remainder of their schooling at Carey Baptist College.
Second Round Offers: 50% deduction of academic tuition fees for the remainder of their schooling at Carey Baptist College.
