I'm confused- Please help!!!

[karise]

DD (year 2) came home yesterday telling us she has been put into the highest spelling group- Fine!
Up until now the only person in this spelling group has been a g&t child.
Does that mean DD is now on the g&t register too?
If so, what does that mean for her private school application we are to be doing soon? Am a right in thinking there will be higher fees if she is g&t?

[MadMazza]

Not in my experience. My son was G&T in Literacy at a state school until year 2. He took an entrance exam and was accepted into his current fee paying school to start in year 3 last September. We pay the same fees for him as everyone else does.

[LynetteScavo]

Why on earth would there be higher fees for a G&T child?

More likely a scholership.

I don't think being in the same spelling group as a G&T child automatically qualifies your daughter to be G&T....presumably the school would have informed you if they considered her to be.

[karise]

Thanks.
Do they have to tell you if your child has been put on the g&t register or can they keep it secret?

[MadMazza]

We received a letter from the school when he was in year 1. You have to bear in mind that children progress a different rates and your daughter might be going through a development spurt at the moment which is great! IMHO The most important thing for bright cildren is that they are sufficiently challenged/stretched in their education. If she has been put up a set that is a good sign. Most schools provide 'extension' work for bright children and it might be worth speaking to her form teacher to ensure this is happening (regardless of whether she is categorized as G&T or not). HTH

[cory]

About her private school application, you also need to understand that G&T does not mean anything in absolute terms. Even if she is put on the G&T register (which will not happen simply on the basis of a spelling test, as that is such a small part of literacy), all that means is that she is among the 10% most gifted children in that school. That may or may not mean she would be considered G&T by another school: that would totally depend on the relative standards of the two schools.

[LIZS]

I think you are making a huge assumption. Maybe they have decided to reallocate spelling groups - having a one to one "group" can't be very feasible long term. How do you know this other child is identified as such ? Even if your dd has been so categorised, g and t at one school isn't the same at another so means nothing in itself on a private school applciation.

They will want to assess that for themselves in the context of her peer group. They may not apply the same criteria or even call it the same. Fees should n't be any different, potential shcolars at secondary are an asset to a prep school, but you may have to fund "extras" to support any non-curriculum activities and courses.

[flamingtoaster]

Some schools tell parents their child is on the G&T Register, others do not. You can, however, ask them.

[seeker]

If you know that the other child is on the register, then presumably you'd know if yours was too?

[lazymumofteenagesons]

What has being good at spelling got to do with being gifted? Dear god is this what the G & T programme has ended up as - a bunch of robotic children who can spell.

[cory]

no reason to believe that, lazymum; we haven't actually been told that the OP's child is on the register. and the other child is likely to be on it for other reasons, but also happens to be able to spell. dd was on it, but her spelling tbh wasn't all that brilliant

[lazymumofteenagesons]

Thats good news Cory. Giftedness apart, being good at spelling certainly doesn't necessarily equate with high intelligence (and high intelligence certainly deos not mean the child is gifted) To tell the truth I don't really understand what the OP is asking.

[peanutbutterkid]

DD is y2 and has spelling age of secondary school age child.
((Preen Moment))
No it doesn't mean a huge amount by itself but is part of a set of things that all suggest she belongs on G&T list -- whatever good that may or may not be to her.
I'm not sure why OP is asking, either.
I wonder down the line if local poxy high school will suit DD, but is WAY too early to worry about it.

[missmem]

Being in the top spelling group with a G&T child does not mean your child is too (thought she may well be). Often the top spelling group is already far too easy for a G&T child. If she was G&T then she probably would have been in it from the start, but I may be wrong!

As for fees - that would be discrimination and private schools are not interested in the governments G&T register which is a load of rubbish! G&T means in the top 10% in the class so the class could be full of below average ability and the kids on the G&T not that bright, or every kid could be super bright and the ones on the register would be Geni!