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Gifted and talented

Can someone please explain.........

6 replies

damewashalot · 27/03/2009 10:41

or at least help me to understand, what (if any) benefit is there of being on the g&t list? What does it mean? would it actually make any difference to my son's education or is it just one of those things the government came up with to try and look good and keep parents happy?

I think he should be on it based on the fact he has always been good with numbers, is top of top set maths and got a level 5 in a maths test before Christmas and again recently (he's in yr5) so if the top 10% should be on it then that's him.
He has never been stretched in any way by his maths at school and whilst I don't want to push him I do want him to have the chance to fulfil his potential not just coast through school never really having to try, he's the kind of child that thrives on a challenge and he's telling me maths is easy.

I'm not really sure where I stand with regard to the whole g&t debate but I don't feel that the school are meeting his needs and think that maybe if he were on it they might have to do something more for him. I did mention it to his teacher before Christmas but he hasn't got back to me and I haven't been back in to see him yet because I don't want to come across as pushy but we have parents evening next week so plan to discus it then.

Sorry that was so long but writing it did help me get things straight in my own head.

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flamingtoaster · 27/03/2009 10:47

Schools vary greatly in what they do with the children on the G&T list. Some just make the list and leave it at that - others bring G&T children together for sessions, and some use the G&T Register as the guide for which children need more differentiation of work in class.

If you feel the school are not meeting his needs then you should raise it again with the teacher. It's not much consolation, I know, but things will improve at secondary level because subject teachers tend to be pleased if a child displays a great interest in, or talent for, their subject.

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ingles2 · 27/03/2009 10:54

It really depends on your school dame. At our last school ds1 was on the G&T register for maths, but it meant absolutely nothing at all.
New school now. I'm not sure ds is on it. He's yr 4 and has just got a 4a/5c in a SATs test and I know there are children brighter than him. However, he's in the top group, he does differentiated work along with a few others and he's happy.
The G&T thing really doesn't matter. If your son is complaining of boredom he's not doing enough, speak to the teacher to see if he's doing enough extension work, but really don't worry about the title.

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damewashalot · 27/03/2009 11:09

Thanks for such quick replies, it's not so want that I want him on a list, more that if being on it would mean he would start getting maths at school that stretches him and therefore he would enjoy more then it would be worth doing.

Good point about it changing when he moves up, he is a maths teachers dream! loves it, would sit for hours solving problems and really seems to get it, Daddy's genes not mine

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webwiz · 27/03/2009 11:19

Regardless of the G&T issue if your son continues to find maths "too easy" then he may lose interest in the subject. If he is good at maths then it is a shame if that isn't encouraged. Unfortunately maths at primary schools is very prescriptive and your son has already exceeded the level expected at the end of year 6. I would ask the school what they plan to do to with your son in maths to keep his interest and to extend him now that he is already at level 5.

Viewing this from the other end with a 15 year old who is very good at maths I would suggest that you keep his interest in maths by taking it wider - the Murderous Maths books are good and the nrich website for fun problems. Going faster seemed like the best idea when my DD2 was younger but now that GCSEs and A levels are looming I can see that it isn't always appropriate.

I would keep the bigger picture in your mind that you want to encourage his maths ability together with the school and that its not about being pushy.

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damewashalot · 27/03/2009 14:28

I'll have a look at those thanks, we do a fair bit with him at home and part of me thinks that ok his maths is at level 5 lets work at getting his english there too but he really didn't like that idea, would rather do maths.

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mloo · 28/03/2009 11:14

Via the website (sorry, I forget the name) there might be links to workshops in holidays, out of school hours, or other programmes you could sign him up for that would be fun for him, maybe worth a look.

I think that ideally it introduces a mechanism of accountability. Once he's on g&t list, they can't claim they didn't know he was so bright and needed to be extended. It gives you a piece of paper to beat over their heads if you think they're not meeting his needs.

DC are in differentiated groups, like others have described. But they were in differentiated groups before I was ever told they were on g&T list, so it hasn't changed anything.

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