Introduced in 2020, the Student Excellence Program offers a range of extension and enrichment activities for students. These help all Victorian government schools engage, challenge and extend their high-ability learners. Since then, more than 315,000 students across Victoria have taken part.
Funding
The 2026–27 State Budget invests $75.1 million to continue the Student Excellence Program until the end of 2029. This builds on the $24.6 million invested in the 2025–26 State Budget.
Every eligible primary and secondary government school has funding available to support high ability learners. This funding covers:
High ability practice leaders
The high ability practice leader supports schools by:
- giving advice to other teachers about high-ability students
- organising students at their school to take part in the Victorian High Ability Program (VHAP) and the Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES)
- explaining supports for high-ability students to the school community.
Student participation
Student Excellence funding to schools can be used:
- to plan, run and coordinate programs for high-ability students
- for student transport cost to access extension program events
- for guest speakers for high ability students.
Resources for teachers
Schools can use funding to support teacher development, including:
- accessing professional learning
- time release and the use of Casual Relief Teachers
Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series
The Victorian Challenge and Enrichment Series (VCES) is a program offering free extension activities for high-ability students from Foundation to Year 12. Activities cover all areas of the curriculum. Schools can nominate students based on their abilities and interests.
The Department works with a range of different partners to run the activities. They include:
- education and not-for-profit organisations
- universities
- tech Schools
- teacher associations
- science and mathematics specialist centres
Activities run across Victoria. They take place during school hours, after school, on weekends and in the school holidays.
All activities are:
- free for students attending Victorian government schools
- group based for more student connection
- cover multiple areas of the Victorian Curriculum.
How to register
How students register depends on when the activity runs. To see all activities, visit the VCES channel on the Arc event hub.
Activities during school hours
Schools register their students and organise consent from parents.
Activities outside school hours
Schools refer students to the activity. Parents and carers then register their child and contact the activity provider to arrange attendance.
If you're a parent or carer, talk to your child's school about which activities suit them best.
Victorian High-Ability Program
The Victorian High-Ability Program (VHAP) is a 10-week online enrichment program in English and mathematics for high-ability students in Years 5 to 8 at government schools.
Virtual School Victoria (VSV) teaches the program. It helps students build and extend their English and mathematics skills.
Some high-ability students get priority for a place. These are students who:
- experience socio-economic disadvantage
- are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander
- live in a regional or rural area.
If your child is selected, their school will give you more information.
To read more about VHAP, visit the VHAP Arc page.
Masterclasses
After the online program, students can attend a face-to-face masterclass. Masterclasses are an opportunity for like-ability students to meet and work together.
In 2027, VSV and the Centre for Higher Education Studies (CHES) offer masterclasses. Schools can also organise their own masterclasses with other schools in their area.
Victorian Education Excellence Awards
The Victorian Education Excellence Awards include a category for outstanding support of high-ability students. The award recognises one primary school and one secondary school. Each winning school gets a grant of up to $25,000 to further support its high-ability students.
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