SOTA students who are identified as high-ability learners are given further opportunity to develop to their fullest artistic potential through the school’s Artistically Gifted Programme (AGP). The top five percent of each cohort are selected for this talent development programme, which is specially designed to hone students’ strength and passion in their arts discipline, and inspire them to excel. Such students already demonstrate good academic potential combined with strong self-motivation and drive. The AGP provides a platform for them to progress at a faster pace according to their abilities within SOTA’s unique learner-centred environment.

Selected students follow a compacted and intensive ability-driven academic programme with a significantly smaller student-teacher ratio. This is coupled with one-to-one practical training and exposure to a broader range of learning and performance platforms.

For example, music students on the programme receive more in-depth training in core music such as historical studies, critical listening, composition, theory and analysis, and score reading, have one and a half hours of instrumental studies a week, and three dedicated hours of individual practice time a day. In addition, they enjoy ensemble and orchestra experience as well as opportunities to participate in overseas competitions and prestigious international summer programmes, e.g. Interlochen Arts Camp and the Young Artists' Programme in Boston University Tanglewood Institute.