Regents Park Community College aims to ensure that for Gifted and Talented young people there is effective provision centred on integration into the colleges teaching and learning within the structures, ethos and aims of the college. Provision for Gifted and Talented young people will be led and managed by the Gifted and Talented coordinator, supported by Gifted and Talented representatives from across the curriculum areas.
Definition
Gifted students are defined as those who are outstanding academics in one or more subjects
Talented students are defined as those who possess a particular talent, such as in Drama, Dance, Music, PE or Art. Students who fall in the category of talented are likely to be found in the Performing Arts.
At Regents Park Community College we believe that all students are entitled to receiving an education that:
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meets the needs of the individual
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aims to extend and raise students aspirations and expectations
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provides them with exciting opportunities aimed at extending their thinking and learning.
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effectively supports and cares for young people by assessing the pressures of college and offering appropriate coping strategies
The college aims to:
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educate the whole person
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develop students emotional literacy
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encourage students to enjoy a life beyond college
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help students identify their own strengths and abilities
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encourage students to celebrate their own strengths and talents
The principles of inclusion of all students and raising the levels of teaching and learning fundamentally underpin the colleges improvement planning, and it is on these foundations that the Gifted and Talented policy rests. Identification and review of students identified as Gifted and Talented Initially students are identified using the schools accessible baseline data:
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KS2 average point score 33 or greater
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KS3 average point score 47 or greater
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NFER Cognitive Ability Test [non verbal] 110 or greater
The names of students meeting the above criteria are collated and circulated to subject area staff who will either verify, delete or add students to the list based on their evaluation of the studentsabilities and attainment in the subject area. Teachers professional judgement is an important tool in recognising untapped talents and gifts. Following this feedback the Gifted and Talented coordinator will collate the Gifted and Talented register which will be circulated to all subject and year teams.
Bi-annual reviews of the Gifted and Talented register will be undertaken by the Gifted and Talented co-ordinator to ensure accuracy and the inclusion of newly identified students. The college will also target the early intervention of Year 6 students at the feeder schools through its cycle of visits to KS2 students schools prior to transfer.
Responsibilities
The Gifted and Talented co-ordinator is responsible for the day to day operation of the Gifted and Talented policy including:
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in collaboration with the Headteacher and Governing Body, playing a key role in helping to determine the strategic development of the Gifted and Talented policy and provision in the college
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liaising with and advising staff via the Gifted and Talented task group
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co-ordinating the provision for students who are identified as Gifted and Talented
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overseeing the Gifted and Talented register
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contributing to the continuous professional development of staff and ITT trainees
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liaising with external agencies including post 16 providers and Higher Education Institutions who provide curriculum extension opportunities
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supporting the development of enrichment and extension activities
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arranging and chairing regular meetings of the Gifted and Talented forum
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adopting a whole college approach to identifying and providing for the needs of Gifted and Talented students
identifying students according to agreed criteria, establishing a Gifted and Talented register and to review it bi-annually
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liaising with the teacher responsible for KS2 /3 transfer to support the introduction and development of enrichment opportunities for KS2 students
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publicising and promoting opportunities for Gifted and Talented students
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promoting role models from within Gifted and Talented staff
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profiling achievements of Gifted and Talented students by using the school magazine and newsletter
All staff are responsible for:
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using the data and information they are given about students to make sure they are aware of the individual needs of the students they teach.
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using this knowledge to both inform their planning and teaching and to enable them to help students access the curriculum and to work towards particular targets
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planning work which is appropriate for all students, including those who are gifted and talented, which is stimulating and challenging
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embedding pace, complexity and challenge in short term plans
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developing the learning environment
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ensuring the planned learning is sufficiently challenging
Year Leaders are responsible for:
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ensuring that the year team understands the gifts and talents of the students
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ensuring that students are placed in appropriate academic groups to match their particular gifts and talents
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guiding students curricular choices at KS4 in order to support their gifts and talents
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providing opportunities for students to share their gifts and talents across the year group
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monitoring how successful Gifted and Talented students are in achieving their potential across the curriculum
Subject Leaders are responsible for:
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ensuring that the curriculum is sufficiently challenging
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ensuring that the schemes of work reflect appropriate challenge, enrichment and extension opportunities
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ensuring that pace, complexity and challenge are embedded in short term plans
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producing curricular based group target setting programmes for Gifted and Talented students
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ensure a wide range of approaches for learning are planned such as:
o differentiation of the input
o setting of students into attainment groups
o withdrawal of students for particular activities
o specialist tuition
o accelerated learning programmes
o individual and group learning pathways
o mentoring by older students
o enrichment and extension activities
o engaging external agencies / education providers
o monitoring how successful Gifted and Talented students are in achieving their potential
o instituting early intervention measures with underachieving students
Provision for students identified as Gifted and Talented
Gifted and Talented young people will have an opportunity to extend their learning experience beyond the classroom, both from an academic and social perspective. The college has firmly established links with outside agencies such as:
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National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth
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Southampton University [Aimhigher initiative]
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Southampton Institute [Aimhigher initiative]
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IBM [Bright Sparks programme]
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Southampton Music Service
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Taunton's College [extensive studies / taster days]
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LEA Masterclasses
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IBM Excite
The aim is to both strengthen these existing links and introduce a range of new opportunities both within and outside college through:
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seeking external mentors for Gifted and Talented students through its business and community links.
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supporting student participation in externally organised activities such as technology challenges, public speaking events, local and national sporting events.
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holding an annual Gifted and Talented Day students in KS3 which will be organised and managed by ITT trainees
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supporting early entry to KS4 and AS accreditation
Staff will be encouraged to broaden their understanding of the needs of Gifted and Talented young people through the provision of professional development opportunities.
Partnership with Parents
The college greatly values partnership with parents. The Gifted and Talented co-ordinator with the support of members of the Gifted and Talented task group will undertake annual home college liaison by letter. Evaluating the Gifted and Talented Policy and Provision
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Observations by HTLT and the Gifted and Talented co-ordinator to monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning for all students
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Visits by Governors to monitor the activities planned for Gifted and Talented students
Observations by HTLT and the Gifted and Talented co-ordinator to monitor and evaluate the quality of teaching and learning for all students. The Gifted and Talented co-ordinator and members of the Gifted and Talented Forum will undertake:
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Analysis of progress made by students at key assessment points within the year
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Student interviews to ascertain their views on the provision and opportunities
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Student tracking to monitor and evaluate the learning experience, opportunities and provision across the curriculum
Drafted: February 2004
Adopted: July 2004
Review Date: Summer 2006
Lead Reviewer: Gifted and Talented co-ordinator
