Gifted and Talented Education

The aim of our Special Abilities programme is to offer challenging learning experiences so that potential can be realised.

As such, we look at both the demonstrated and potential performance of a child when evaluating the suitability of a child for any given Special Abilities programme.

A Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Register is maintained, in which teachers

identify children who either demonstrate or show special potential in a particular

curriculum area, or with one or more Key Competencies: Thinking, Using Language, Managing Self, Relating to Others, Participating and Contributing.

From our GATE Register, children can be grouped for participation in the Special Abilities Module Programme. The GATE Modules are short units of work in either a particular curriculum area, or with a specific Key Competency.

Term 2 Modules have a Physical Education and Health focus, with a Fitness module, and a Team game module (Rippa Rugby). In Term1 modules in Visual Art were completed. In Term 3, modules in Technology and further Visual Art are planned.

Future Problem Solving (2 groups) and Scenario Writing are ‘extended’ modules,  which operate on the same basis, however extend over Terms 1 to 3.

International Competitions for Assessments for Schools (ICAS) tests are undertaken in Term 2 and early Term 3 in Science, Maths, Spelling, Writing and English. While open to any child who wishes to participate, the ICAS offers an opportunity for capable children to test their abilities against international benchmarks.

Our Learning Enrichment Class is a Year 5 and 6 is a class designed to meet the needs of capable children, by providing additional breadth and depth to regular teaching programmes to meet a variety of extension needs. In particular, the class is intended to:

• Cater for gifted and talented pupils by providing a flexible and responsive  learning environment.
• Allow for varied grouping: interests, tasks, abilities, skills.
• Be a flexible and responsive environment where independent, integrated learning can develop.
• Be a flexible and responsive environment where special skills and attributes can be included in depth in class programmes.

Our school employs a teacher for 1 day a week throughout the year to support our GATE programmes. Mrs Pam Scahill teaches the Future Problem Solving and Scenario Writing programmes