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Gifted and talented

Don't want to be a pushy mum

5 replies

natellie1970 · 08/01/2014 10:29

Hi at parents evening in November we were told yr7 dd was gifted. Since then I haven't heard anything from the school. Am I being impatient? Should I contact the school? I certainly don't want to be pushy I just want to know what, if anything, I can do to help and support her.

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Norudeshitrequired · 08/01/2014 10:32

Does the school have specific gifted and talented programmes? Most schools just differentiate learning within the classroom without the children being super aware.
The school is required to keep a list of all G&T children, but they don't have to provide additional extension programmes. They do have to provide appropriate level work.
It's also worth bearing in mind that G&T is classified as the top 10% of the cohort, so your dd might be one of several in the class / year group and will probably work with that group.

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Middleagedmotheroftwo · 08/01/2014 10:38

Being classed as G&T in school doesn't seem to mean a lot. We were told that my DD was gifted in Music when she was in year 9, though she blatantly isn't. She learns piano, and her knowledge of music theory meant she was ahead of others in her class, but she certainly isn't gifted.
As a previous poster said, it's done on a per cohor basis, so top 10% of one school could well be average or below in another school.
On further questioning of my DDs teacher at the time, the classification appeared to be on the back of one piece of work which DD claimed she "copied from Amy" (who was not given the gifted label), and ever since, I've taken the whole thing with a pinch of salt. Nothing seemed to come of it anyway - DD was offered a couple of extra-curricular courses, which she declined to go on as the invoved doing work in the holidays! (Truly gifted kids would welcome the opportunity to further their knowlege of their subject).

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TurnOffTheTv · 08/01/2014 10:54

I had exactly the same thing OP. DD had a letter in Y7 saying she was being put on the G&T list for languages, never heard anything since, she's in Y9 now.

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Au79 · 14/01/2014 04:29

Do look into ways to support her, but don't expect too much from the school. You may or may not hear much, it depends on how interested the teachers are in this side of things. Do you know what areas they have identified? Find out then start exploring for resources.

FGS BE pushy. She needs you. Your message to the school in NOT asking about it is not reflecting the concerned positive parent you come across as here.

People, be pushy. Stop being so British in this area. Life is short especially as a kid.

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natellie1970 · 14/01/2014 16:53

Thank you Au79. They identified science maths and English but she's getting top marks at most academic subjects. Dd just said the g&t kicks in towards the end of yr7 so maybe I am impatient. I think the school do take it seriously. If it turns out they don't I would consider moving her. She wants to be a doctor and go to Oxford! she says that if she doesn't get in it'd be no big deal cos there are other good universities (she's only 11!)