Supporting gifted and talented students
All children, including the most able, have an entitlement to equal consideration within our schools and a right to a challenging and appropriate education. Those involved in education have to ensure that gifted and talented students are given sufficient planned opportunities to use their abilities and that they are encouraged to excel. Whilst they have often been perceived as being capable of high achievement without assistance, gifted, talented and highly able children are at risk of not fulfilling their potential and therefore have the most to lose if they are not identified and catered for in school.
The 2005 White Paper "Higher Standards: Better Schools for All" set out the Government's ambition that every child – including the Gifted and Talented (G&T) – should have the right personalised support to reach the limits of their capability. Effective and appropriate teaching and learning styles contribute towards productive classroom practice and towards maximising student's achievement. Successful achievement depends upon the active co-operation of all parties including governors, teachers, parents, pupils, the LA and support agencies.
There are gifted and talented students in every school, but schools define their own populations. A school's gifted and talented cohort should be broadly representative of the whole school population.
Under EiC all secondary schools and many primary schools in Lambeth appointed a Leading Teacher to oversee and support G&T in school.
There are range of strategies for monitoring G&T provision in school including whole school audit – cross phase, departmental audit, student feedback - cross phase, adherence to the DfES National Institutional Quality Standards (IQS) scheme and self evaluation via the NACE Challenge Award (CA).
The north and south Lambeth networks organise a range of activities and programmes for G&T students in all year groups including one-day workshops and ongoing Saturday programmes.
Strategies for developing and maintaining activities for G&T students begin with a differentiated curriculum that challenges all students and promotes achievement. Matching work to abilities requires a flexible response through a planned programme.
"Gifted and Talented (G&T)" has been a strand of Excellence in Cities (EiC) in Lambeth since 2001.
All students need support at key transition stages, and effective recording and communication systems can ensure that teachers are prepared and information on students' abilities, talents and prior achievement is passed on.
Further information
If you have a general query, please contact:
Rosemary Butcher
Teaching and Learning Consultant for Able, Gifted and Talented Learners
Inclusion and Standards Division
Children and Young People's Service
10th Floor, Blue Star House
234-244 Stockwell Road
London SW9 9SP
Tel: 0207 926 0364
Fax: 0207 926 9715
Email: rbutcher@lambeth.gov.uk