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Student Excellence Program

Delivering a range of initiatives for Victorian government schools to support and extend their high-ability students.

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Introduced in 2020, the Student Excellence Program delivers a range of student-centred extension and enrichment opportunities so that all Victorian government schools can provide an environment that engages, challenges and extends high-ability learners.

The 2025/26 State Budget invests $24.6 million to continue the Student Excellence Program in 2026 and deliver a range of initiatives for schools to support their high-ability students. This builds on the $17 million invested in the program through the 2024-2025 State Budget.

Since the program was established in 2020, more than 250,000 students across the state have participated in opportunities to enhance and enrich their learning.

Access to a high-ability practice leader and funding for every government school

Every primary and secondary school has access to a high-ability practice leader, who:

In addition, every primary and secondary school is receiving funding to expand their support for high-ability students. Schools can use the funding to develop, deliver and coordinate their programs for high-ability students, or undertake professional learning to support this.

Resources for teachers to support high-ability students

Schools have access to a suite of evidence-based teaching and learning supports including policy, guidance, and practical resources to ensure they can meet the needs of high-ability students.

Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series

High-ability students from Foundation to Year 12 benefit from the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series, a series of high-quality, funded extension activities across all areas of the curriculum. Schools can nominate students to participate in activities within the series according to their abilities and interests.

The Department is currently partnering with 28 expert education and not-for-profit organisations, universities, Tech Schools, teacher associations, and science and mathematics specialist centres to deliver activities within the series.

Activities in VCES are held in metropolitan Melbourne and regional areas, and are delivered during school hours, after school, on weekends and during school holidays.

All activities:

How to register

The process for registering students differs for activities that occur during and out of school hours:

Activities delivered during school hours

Schools can register their students to participate in activities, as well as coordinate the required parental consent for these activities.

Activities delivered out of school hours

Schools refer students to participate in activities. Parents and caregivers are responsible for registering students in these activities and liaise directly with the activity provider to organise attendance.

Interested families and caregivers of high-ability students should talk to their schools about which activities are the best fit for them.

To browse all available activities, refer to the VCES channel on the Arc event hub.

Victorian High-Ability Program

The Victorian High-Ability program is a 10-week online enrichment program in English and mathematics for high-ability students in Years 5 to 8 at government schools.

The virtual program, delivered by Virtual School Victoria, focuses on extending and developing students’ mathematical and English abilities.

After completing the virtual program, students participate in a face-to-face masterclass with other high-ability students from schools in their local area.

Priority of place is provided to students who are high ability and experience social-economic disadvantage, identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people or reside in a regional/rural area.

Parents of students selected for the program will be provided with more information about the program by their school.

Outstanding provision for high-ability students’ categories in the Victorian Education Excellence Awards

The Victorian Education Excellence Awards recognises one primary and one secondary school with an outstanding approach to supporting high-ability students. The winning schools each receive a grant of up to $25000 to further support their programs for high-ability students.

Education & training

Updated 9 April 2026

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