Parents/teachers of secondary school children- please help me

**coolfm** · 28-06-2012, 07:52pm

I just wondered if some lovely damsels might be able/prepared to help me to gather some views on Gifted and Talented provision in Secondary schools. It doesn't matter if you/school consider your child to be Gifted/Talented or not. I'm really interested in views from anyone who might have interest in/views on the subject.

I have an interview coming up and I'd like to have some idea of what people know, think and feel about what is, or should be provided (or not).

Some of the things I'm interested in are:

What Gifted and Talented provision is currently available in your school?

Do you think this is appropriate/too little/too much?

What should a Gifted and Talented policy include, and how would it encompass equality needs?

Do you feel it is appropriate to use school funds on Gifted and Talented provision?

What type of additional opportunities, if any, do you feel should be made available to Gifted and Talented students?

Do you know how children are assessed in terms of a Gifted and Talented register? How are parents/students involved in the process?

Is there anything else you would like to say about the subject in terms of what you know, think, or feel about provision for Gifted and Talented students in school?

If you feel able to give me your views, or answer any of the above questions, I would be extremely grateful.

TIA

**Anne** · 28-06-2012, 07:55pm

Is this

**Anne** · 28-06-2012, 07:56pm

Is this for an interview or an article?

**coolfm** · 28-06-2012, 07:58pm

For an interview

I'm trying to be well prepared.

**Anne** · 28-06-2012, 08:05pm

I'd ask what funding is provided to support and extend the learning for those on the register and how is it monitored for value for money?
Does the school recieve funding from any external sources in support of G&T? Do they colaborate with any other schools in support of G&T students?

**mrsgrumpy** · 28-06-2012, 08:09pm

DD and DS were both designated G & T in the first year of grammar school. I believe there was some sort of funding implication, and she got some extra science-based school activities - the sort where you spend a day in someone else's lab. Although I expressed a willingness to pay for the holiday courses they run she wasn't particularly keen and school didn't follow it up afaik.

DS, to the best of my knowledge, never heard any more about it. My personal opinion is that she may be G&T but could have done with a bit less flattery and more challenging work, and he is a perfectly average grammar school kid with a flair for maths and barely adequate English skills.

I think they were nominated by the schools either subjectively or based on 11+ scores, and it's all a bit of waste of time, BUT probably more useful in a comprehensive or smaller-school environment where the range of experiences on offer is more restricted.

... she's now left, he's just done AS

**coolfm** · 28-06-2012, 08:23pm

Thanks, ladies.

**Ruby** · 28-06-2012, 09:04pm

In the schools I have worked at, G&T normally just means the top 10% according to FFT & CAT.

The funding for it has almost totally dried up since the change in government.

In the past G&T funding seems to have been concentrated on access to higher education - ie summer schools at local universities - or enrichment trips. I don't really agree with taking academic students out of the classroom to go on a jolly and it often just means you are taking the same children out again and again. I think the money would be better spent on monitoring and extension in the classroom OR well funded after-school clubs - things like philosophy or proper computer science.

I don't think school money should be spent on G&T, no. In theory maybe but I think a lot of money has been pissed away in the past and the effectiveness has barely been evaluated. I think the money would be much better spent in SEN or social inclusion where it could make a proper difference.

**coolfm** · 28-06-2012, 09:53pm

Thanks, Ruby.

**coolfm** · 05-07-2012, 04:34pm

Thank you, ladies, for your input. I had the interview yesterday and had a call today offering me the job! One of the questions directly related to these issues, so I'm glad I considered them

Thanks, again.

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