Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Students’ scores from the testing completed in year four are marked by ACER and are converted to a percentile rank. The top 3% of our student population are offered a place in the PEAC program. Once students have been selected they have access to a PEAC program, starting in Year 5 and continuing until the end of Year 6.

The identified pool of students remains the same and so students will be offered the opportunity to participate in a program from years five to six. However, there are times when students may choose to decline for a number of reasons. Transport to programs may be a problem; they may find they are missing their favourite subject at school; or they may find the increased workload too much. PEAC is not in competition with schools. PEAC works with schools as a support program.

PEAC is offered at various sites across the region depending on the program being offered.

The programs are designed according to the delivery mode, the site and the interests of the students. New courses are developed to reflect contemporary curriculum. We aim to reach a balance across the learning areas of the curriculum.

Different programs incur different amounts of homework. In most cases ample in-class time is given to students in class to complete the bulk of the requirements. However some students who get behind may lack good time management strategies and therefore create their own homework. PEAC homework is not intended to take precedence over school homework. Homework may take the form of a long-term assignment, research, gathering resources to create a model or the completion of class work.

Students are not penalised if they withdraw from a program. However we try to stress the importance of making a commitment to a program and we seek a valid reason for any withdrawal. If students withdraw without consultation they may not be included in the next program. Often students say they are bored, however upon investigation it was more challenging than they expected or they did not read the relevant course information carefully or they were simply not committed to working in that area.

Each program is a separate entity. Students can sometimes perform badly in one course and outstandingly in another. It may be the course didn’t turn out as they expected or it may be that they became too busy at school or at home and were unable to meet requirements. Students who do not perform well may be offered a conditional pass to enable them to improve their performance in the next course. Students who consistently underperform may be asked to discontinue the program. PEAC teachers will liaise with the parents and schools to ensure high level engagement.

There is no PEAC in secondary school; however, in year six the students may sit the Academic Selective Entrance Test, which assesses their ability in particular learning areas. If successful, students may be offered a place at Perth Modern School as an Academic Selective School, John Curtin College of the Arts or in one a number of approved specialist programs within other high schools.

If you change schools within the region and you advise the PEAC centre then we are able to advise the new school and pass on any relevant data. The same would apply if you moved elsewhere in the state.

PEAC is a needs based program. It is designed to help schools cater for their gifted and talented students. Many schools also develop school-based provision to cater for students when they are not at PEAC or miss gaining a position. The PEAC team offers a professional development program to support classroom teachers in this provision.

Although the scores of the tests completed by the students in year four are confidential, parents may have access to the results by contacting the school. However a set of numbers may have little meaning without context. Parents whose children are not in the identified group may be told their child’s results and an indication given to areas of strength.