Gifted & Talented Programme

(Please click here for the presentation given at the Gifted & Talented Parents' Evening on Thursday, 12 November 2009.)

Rossett School is committed to providing an environment, which encourages all students to maximise their potential and this clearly includes students who are able, gifted or talented.

An able child is as defined by our school as one who achieves, or has the ability to achieve, at a level significantly in advance of the peer group.

A gifted student is one who is in the top 5-10% of the student population of the school or class group (DfES definition) who ‘has the capacity for or demonstrates high levels of performance in an academic area’.

A talented student is one who is in the top 5-10% of the student population at the school or class group with a specific ability in art and design, music, PE or performing arts such as dance and drama.

 

Identification of able, gifted and talented

Able, gifted and talented students are identified by making a judgement based on an analysis of various sources of information including:

• Teacher nomination (based on classroom observation, work scrutiny, discussions with students and parents)
• Assessment results (end of key stage levels, national diagnostic tests)
• Reading ages
• Predicted test/ examination results
• Parental nomination
• Specialist teacher identification
• Peer nomination
• Self nomination

This information is collated by the gifted and talented co-ordinator and is made available to all staff. The gifted and talented register is regularly reviewed and updated. It is worth remembering that gifted students can be:

• Good all-rounders
• Of high ability but with low motivation
• Very able but with a short attention span
• High achievers in one area
• Of good verbal ability but poor writing skills
• Very able with poor social skills
• Keen to disguise their abilities

Everyone in school has a responsibility to recognise and value students’ abilities. We are aware that:

• Unnecessary repetition of work is de-motivating and de-motivated students will not always demonstrate potential
• There is sometimes peer pressure to under-achieve
• Gifted students are not always easier to reach than other students

Provision for the able gifted and talented

Opportunities for extension and enrichment are built into all our schemes of work. Recent policy reviews have ensured that every curriculum area has a reference to able gifted and talented. This states what provision should be made within that subject area.

We aim to:

• Maintain an ethos where it is OK to be bright
• Encourage all students to be independent learners
• Recognise achievement
• Be aware of the effects of ethnicity, bilingualism, gender and social circumstances on learning and high achievement
• Provide a wide range of extra-curricular activities and clubs
• Always provide work at an appropriate level
• Provide opportunities for all students to work with like minded peers

Classroom differentiation

• Teachers have high expectations.
• Tasks are designed to take account of levels of existing knowledge, skills and understanding
• There are planned extension opportunities or open-ended tasks
• There is access to higher tier assessment papers
• Small group work
• Grouping by ability
• Differentiated homework
• Schemes of work that address the needs of G&T students

 

School based provision

• School clubs e.g. Science, Technology, Chess, Sports, Art, Music
• Enrichment opportunities e.g. Leeds, Northumbria and Oxford University links, Maths & Engineering Challenge
• Masteclass in Advanced ICT and Molecular Biology
• Opportunities for musical performances
• Artists in residence
• Drama workshops
• Partnerships with primary and secondary schools eg King James', Rossett Acre, Pannal Primary

 

Out of school provision

• National schemes/competitions/festivals
• Exchanges and trips (Japan, USA, Italy, France, Spain)
• Registration with YGT (Young, Gifted and Talented) allowing access to Excellence Hub (Yorkshire & Humber) courses
• For parents - an 'Information Evening' each year explaining the provision at Rossett, our aims for the students and how parents can help.

 

Co-ordination and monitoring

• The gifted and talented co-ordinators (Mrs W Lawton & Miss H Davison) have overall responsibility for:
• Ensuring that the policy is implemented
• Co-ordinating the monitoring of progress ensuring that the professional development programme includes relevant aspects of gifted and talented provision

 

If you want to find out more please contact Mrs Lawton or Miss Davison at Rossett.