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 200,000 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:
- acts as a point of advice for their teacher colleagues in relation to high-ability students
- coordinates students from their school to participate in the Victorian High-Ability Program (VHAP) and the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES)
- communicates their school’s approach to the education of high-ability students within their school community.
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:
- are free for participating students
- have a minimum duration of 90 minutes and are conducted in groups
- are across one or more learning areas of the Victorian curriculum.
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.
Expressions of Interest for VCES 2026
Expressions of Interest (EOI) are invited from providers to deliver programs and offerings as part of the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES) activities for 2026.
VCES is designed to engage, challenge and extend students’ learning and are delivered face-to-face and virtually.
Eligible high-ability students are those who are performing, or capable of performing, a year or more ahead of the expected level of the curriculum. This initiative seeks to support participation of high-ability students from priority cohorts, such as First Nations, twice-exceptional and rural/regional students. Proposed activities should be inclusive and support participation from these underrepresented cohorts.
How to Apply
Applications are open from Monday 25 August and close 5pm, Friday 19 September 2025.
If you are interested in becoming a VCES provider, please review the VCES 2026 guidelines and email student.excellence@education.vic.gov.au for an application form.
Before submitting your application, please ensure you have read the guidelines and that your organisation is eligible and your application meets all the selection criteria.
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.
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