Gifted and Talented

Gifted and Talented Update

The school G&T structure has recently changed. Ian Swain has been appointed as Lead Teacher with responsibility for G&T. There are now much more clearly defined guidelines (Institutional Quality Standards) of what constitutes good practice for G&T within the schools standards programme. These are available to view on the DCSF website. We are completing an audit of our practice, and drawing up an action plan. There are significant changes to the National Academy  for Gifted and Talented Youth which now falls under the umbrella of DCSF and is renamed Young Gifted and Talented (details at: http://ygt.dcsf.gov.uk)

As a school, we are working towards personalising learning. Staff and students are much more aware of target levels and their current attainment levels. Work in lessons is becoming more differentiated. Students with any special need are identified and intervention strategies put in place. We are obliged to nominate about 10% of our students for our Gifted and Talented cohort. In order to do this fairly and effectively there needs to be a wide range of evidence which will be reviewed annually. A gifted child might have the following triats:

• have a wide vocabulary, having often talked early as a child
• ask lots of questions and learn much more quickly than others
• have a very retentive memory
• be extremely curious and able to concentrate for long periods on subjects that they are interested in
• have a wide general knowledge and an interest in the world
• enjoy problem solving
• have an unusual and vivid imagination
• show strong feelings and opinions
• have an odd sense of humour
• set high standards for themselves and be perfectionists
• lose interest when asked to do more of the same.

Staff have been asked to nominate students who show these characteristics to support the evidence we already have from baseline data, and other statistical sources. I would like to invite any parent who feels that their child may have some of these characteristics to write in, or email me at school for consideration alongside other evidence.

In addition to gifted children, we are obliged to nominate up to about five students from each year group who are talented in creative or sporting activities. Again if you feel you child has these qualities, please get in touch.

I shall be contacting parents of our cohort students early next year with more details of our activities and will publish updates in the school newsletter.

Ian Swain
Lead Teacher (G&T)
ian.swain@ilkleygs.ngfl.ac.uk