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Gifted and talented

Does the school tell you if your child is put on their G&T register?

47 replies

goodomen · 09/07/2008 21:14

I was just wondering if a school tells the parents if their child is put on the G&T register.
What is the procedure for it all?
My ds starts school this year and I am intrested to learn how the system works but don't want to ask in RL as it may make me sound pushy.

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Remotew · 09/07/2008 21:22

Our school does tell parents via a letter posted home. From what I've read on here this isn't the case in other schools. Some do, some don't. Many primary and infant schools don't tell parents or children. There is no requirement to do so.

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ByTheSea · 09/07/2008 21:27

Our primary school doesn't tell parents as a matter of policy. I had assumed my DD was on it as she gets the top marks in all subjects in her year, but was never officially told. However, a friend who works in the school confirmed it to me during a casual conversation. I would never let on to the school that I know for sure, but her teachers for the last few years always drop in the words talented, able and capable when talking about my DD, so I think that's also a bit of a giveaway. I have heard that the local secondary school does tell parents when their children are on the register.

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goodomen · 09/07/2008 21:30

Thanks abouteve.
I will have to discretely ask ds's school what they do.
How strange though. I would have thought schools would want parents involvement as much as possible.

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goodomen · 09/07/2008 21:32

Bythesea, why do you think they don't officially tell you? It doesn't make sense to me.

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Hulababy · 09/07/2008 21:36

But why do you want to know? Hw will it benefit you or your child to know?

The term G&T is just a label used by schools. It means different things in different schools. In some schools it means nothing at all.

I think it would be better if no parents knew sometimes TBH, not even at secondary level. So long as a school is differentiating and challenging all their pupils then it should not be an issue, and you shouldn't really have any need to know.

DD's school (independent) doesn't have a G&T list. They just challenge and develop all their pupils. far better approach IMO.

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goodomen · 09/07/2008 21:49

Hulababy of course I want to know what is happening to my child at school.
Parents involvement (or lack of) in their childrens schooling has a big effect on their childs progress.
That aside, I want to know how my child is doing and what the teachers think of him.
He is my son, I am curious.

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Hulababy · 09/07/2008 21:53

But why do you need to know if they are on a list?

I am very involved in my DD's edcuation, but I don't need to know her position in class to be involved.

The teachers will communicate how they feel he is doing and getting on with you regardless of any list.

From my experience in secondary many children do know if they are on a G&T list, although not in all schools. And in primary - many do not know, but some do. It varies on individual school's policies.

In many schools being on a G&T list means nothing - nothing extra special happens, esp at primary level.

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Hulababy · 09/07/2008 21:54

"Parents involvement (or lack of) in their childrens schooling has a big effect on their childs progress."

Yes, I am aware of this. I was a teacher for 10 years and stilll work in education now. And I also help out weekly in my DD's school. So, I know how important parental support is.

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Piffle · 09/07/2008 22:02

we were told at dds parents teacher night that she would go on gifted talented register, no idea what that means per se though. She's doing nicely but quite surprised to hear that tbh, she strikes me as very bright but not Gifted? If it is anything like ds1. ( now 14) experienced at primary it means sweet FA.
unless free reading means literacy extension work...
Even at a top boys grammar, little has actually occurrd aside from a general higher top range.( ds1 very gifted)
so just let her settle in and see.

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goodomen · 09/07/2008 22:03

Hulababy, I just want to know about and be involved in ds's school life.

I don't need to know what position he is in class but I would want to know.

I don't like the idea of things happening to him at school that are important which I don't know about.

I would definately want to know if he was in the bottom set as well so I could help him if he needed it.

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christywhisty · 09/07/2008 22:09

I got told at parents evening for DD Yr 5 that she is g&t for maths. She has been to a masterclass and also gets stretching classes.

DS yr 7 got told at school he was on the list for CAT score. He got invited to apply for some summer courses. We were told at parents evening that he was also on the list for science and geography. He will be doing Crest Awards next year.

We have never had anything in writing.

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StellaDallas · 09/07/2008 23:03

DD came home and asked me what G&T meant as she had seen a list on the teacher's desk with her name on it. We have never been told officially though - no real need I think.

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BecauseImWorthIt · 09/07/2008 23:10

Well we have to know - ds2 is in G&T and was invited to join a Critical Thinking course for the Yr 8s, which involves him walking to another school for a 90 minute session after school every Tuesday.

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memoo · 09/07/2008 23:21

you know there isn't really a 'gifted and talented' register. its just a term used in schools to describe bright kids and there are programmes aimed at kids who are gifted and talented.

there is a LEA SEN register but not for G and T

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HonoriaGlossop · 09/07/2008 23:44

I think it is bizarre that teachers would not 'tell' a parent this about a child. If my ds was identified as G & T by his school I would want to know, of course I would, just as I'd want to know if he was on the SEN register or was being bullied. This mania there is now for not giving us a picture of where the child's ability puts them in relation to their peers in the class is just so paternalistic.

I don't need to know every time my child sneezes at school but quite central facts about the child's schooling should be shared with the parents!

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goodomen · 10/07/2008 10:37

I agree HonoriaGlossop. We are their parents after all.
I don't think school should be separated from home so much.

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Jux · 10/07/2008 11:02

At our parent/teacher meeting dd's teacher said she would describe dd as being gifted in language. I've no idea whether she's on a register or anything, keep meaning to ask but haven't seen the teacher since. Do you think I should? I don't really know whether it's a good thing or just a pointless government initiative to make parents feel better.

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HonoriaGlossop · 10/07/2008 11:38

It is a govt initiative I know what you mean Jux - however I do think yes if I were you I'd talk to the teacher again - it is worth knowing if she is gifted in language after all...the teacher can explain what extension work they are giving her (and you can be re-assured that they are allowing her to reach her potential) and you can ask if there's anything you could do to support your dd at home with it.

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Fennel · 10/07/2008 11:44

I don't think our school tells parents. It apparently has a list because it has to but the school isn't keen on the whole G&T thing and as far as I can tell does nothing except the miminum requirements for Ofsted.

which is fine by me.

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motherinferior · 10/07/2008 11:47

I have no idea. I think it doesn't, but I think this only because one child was rumoured to be 'G&T clever' a couple of years ago. (Very nice girl, she was, she's left now to go to - gasp - a big state comprehensive.)

It may of course be that the school is just full of spectacularly thick kids. A fellow mother did try and show off at me a while back that her son was being considered G&T for hockey but I looked blank. (This isn't difficult, for me. No wonder my kids aren't on a G&T register, eh.)

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motherinferior · 10/07/2008 11:48

Anyway, isn't it maternal educational achievement and number of books in the house that has most effect on children's ultimate academic achievement? Fennel, you know this stuff...

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Fennel · 10/07/2008 11:50

I do know exactly where my dc are in class and how they have done in their SATS and optional SATS this year and last year. Which is all you need to know really, I don't see that any Official Register would tell me anything I don't already know about my children.

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itati · 10/07/2008 11:50

We were told at the Parent's evening that our DD is on the G&T register.

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Fennel · 10/07/2008 11:51

Oh yes statistically their achievement is all going to be down to maternal educational achievement + number of books in the house (irrespective of whether anyone reads them). the rest is fluff...

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TotalChaos · 10/07/2008 12:01

is that statistical finding from Freakonomics then

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