Gifted and Talented
The student who is gifted and talented will be good at a subject(s)/skill(s) with the potential for excellence. They will show originality and initiative, they possess superior powers of reasoning, of dealing with abstraction, of generalising from specific facts, of understanding meanings and seeing into relationships. They will set themselves very high personal standards in their search for excellence.
For example:-
Gifted: students whose quantitative data indicates that they possess a general academic learning ability which is significantly greater than that of most of their peers. They have the potential to exceed the expectations for their age group across a range of disciplines. These students are identified by using Cognitive Ability Tests.
Talented: students who show an exceptional talent in one or more subject areas. This might be in a curriculum area such as mathematics, music, art or geography or be a less easily acknowledged talent such as leadership, creative imagination or entrepreneurship. These students are nominated by departments.
The above list is, of course, not exhaustive and students may display exceptional abilities in a wide number of areas.
How do we stretch and challenge our Gifted and Talented students?
The provision of opportunities for Gifted and Talented pupils to work with pupils of similar ability. This will mean that it is appropriate for pupils to work with older pupils occasionally.
Mentoring and additional provision for pupils of exceptional ability.
The provision of enrichment/extension activities and tasks.
Differentiation within subject areas.
The development of independent learning by allowing pupils to organize their own work, to carry out tasks unaided, evaluate their work and become self-critical.
Acceleration – exceptionally gifted pupils may be moved to a class in the year above them.
Increased responsibility within the school, for example Gifted and Talented students are encouraged to become Learning Mentors, join the Teaching Bursary scheme, set up their own clubs and societies etc.