Supporting exceptional students to thrive mathematically

Providing an appropriate education for exceptional students in mathematics is mandated in educational policy in Australasia (Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Agency (ACARA), 2010; Ministry of Education, 2009, 2011) but a challenge for teachers and schools. ‘Exceptional students’ refer to two distinct populations, namely those who are gifted in mathematics and have the capability to perform very highly compared to age peers and those who experience learning difficulties in mathematics and may underperform (Diezmann, Lowrie, Bicknell, Faragher, & Putt, 2004)