What is ‘Gifted and Talented’?
Gifted students are those who have abilities in one or more subjects (other than art, design, music, PE and performing arts).
Talented students are those who have abilities in art, design, music, PE or performing arts such as dance or drama.
Gifted and Talented students perform in the top 5-10% of learners in their age group at their school.
How do I know my son or daughter is gifted or talented?
Subject teachers nominate students whose performance has been outstanding in assessment results, class work and homework. Nominations are then discussed within departments and checked against specific criteria that subject areas would expect their gifted or talented students to exhibit. Nominations are also cross-referenced against CAT (Cognitive Ability Tests) data. Subject teachers make comparisons between students and identify the top 5-10%. Subject areas update their gifted and talented register on a yearly basis. Students are informed by letter.
Is 'Gifted and Talented' a permanent status?
No. Gifted and Talented students are those that perform above the average ability of their age group. As children develop at different rates, some students may be given Gifted and Talented status during Years 7 or 8, others later in Years 10 and 11. Equally, some students may remain on the register during their entire secondary career, others for perhaps just a year. The important thing is that students enjoy opportunities available to them while they are on the register.
What does Sheldon do for Gifted and Talented students?
The primary method of provision at Sheldon is through classroom teaching. Subject teachers are experts in their area and are best able to provide extra challenge through extension activities, alternative tasks, homework and exposure to higher order skills and thinking.
Subject areas also offer enrichment courses at places such as Braeside in Devizes and Kilve Court in Somerset. The latter are residential courses that may run over a weekend or during a working week. They provide fantastic opportunities to explore new topics, skills and concepts. The courses are run by educational experts. Students enjoy mixing with other gifted and talented students from different schools.
Sheldon also runs a great range of enrichment trips, such as the Tutankhamen trip for gifted historians and Bath University courses for talented sports students. Our extra-curricular clubs are particularly popular. These include Science Club, Sheldon Voices and Warhammer Club. Trips are advertised by subject areas. Extra-curricular clubs are advertised through registers and on notice boards. You can also check the clubs list here.
Mr Boaler is Sheldon's head of learning support. He has responsibility for gifted and talented pupils. Miss Merriman is Sheldon's lead teacher for gifted and talented education.