Honouring Dr Rosemary Cathcart
OMNZ, QSM, Ph.D., Patron for NZAGC 

Rosemary is a New Zealand educator and expert in gifted education. 

She has spent over 40 years working to improve teaching, support, and understanding of gifted learners in New Zealand. Rosemary is known as the Founder of NZ’s first gifted education centre and One Day School programme, a member of the International Columbus Group, and the author of ‘They’re Not Bringing My Brain Out.’ She established REACH Education in 2005 and is committed to providing quality gifted professional development.

Rosemary has been involved in gifted education since 1981 in multiple roles.

Education and professional roles

Rosemary holds a Ph.D. and multiple teaching and education.

She is the Director of Aotearoa Gifted REACH, an organisation dedicated to professional learning and development for educators working with gifted learners. 

Rosemary also served on the Ministry of Education’s Gifted Expert Group, advising on national support and policy for gifted learners and a member of the internationally recognised Columbus Group, a network of experts on giftedness. 

Contributions and achievements

In 1995 she founded New Zealand’s first specialist gifted education centre, the George Parkyn National Centre for Gifted Education, and initiated the One Day School programme for gifted children, which provides part-time specialised learning while children remain enrolled in regular schools. 

In 2005 she established REACH Education and developed the Certificate of Effective Practice in Gifted Education, which has been internationally recognised and awarded. 

She has written and published books and educational resources on gifted education. 

In the 2024 New Year Honours (NZ) she was appointed an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) for her services to gifted children. Earlier in her career she was awarded the Queen’s Service Medal (QSM) for similar services. 

Focus and impact

Rosemary Cathcart’s work has centred on advocating for better identification, teaching, and policy support for gifted learners, including professional development for teachers, developing practical curricula/resources, and influencing national education approaches to better include gifted education. 

Books by Rosemary Cathcart

They’re Not Bringing My Brain Out: Understanding and Working with Gifted Learners

A comprehensive guide written for parents, teachers, and anyone working with gifted young people. 

Differentiation Made Practical

Focuses on practical differentiation techniques - how to modify teaching so that gifted learners and their classmates remain engaged and challenged within a classroom setting. 

Gifted Programming Made Practical

A commonsense guide to developing and implementing effective gifted programmes in schools or specialist settings.