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Original poster

Gifted and talented?

29 replies

Tartanpaint · 03/03/2014 18:51

Out of interest really, what is considered to be gifted and talented?

OP posts:
PottyLottie123 · 03/03/2014 21:48

Totally agree with you, Iamnot. When I was a SENCO a million years ago, "gifted and talented" meant children who could not easily be differentiated for/ group taught in a classroom setting, i.e WAY above the "top" ability group in the class, not just the top 10% of whoever shows up! I have taught some very bright children who were 'quitegoodatasubjectcomparedtotherestoftheyear' and were in the "top" group but were not "gifted and talented". I can count on one hand the number of truly "gifted" children I've taught over many years. But, as Achicken said, the one thing it does do is make sure that able children can't "coast".

Iamnotminterested · 03/03/2014 21:20

Top 10 % 'gifted' ie academically - ridiculous phrase - top 5% 'talented' ie sports, drama, art, music etc.

Agree with AChicken, devalues what is really the definition of gifted into merely 'quitegoodatasubjectcomparedtotherestoftheyear.'

Original poster
Tartanpaint · 03/03/2014 20:20

Thanks that's very interesting. Is it normally the top 10%

OP posts:
AChickenCalledKorma · 03/03/2014 19:32

At DD1's secondary, it is the top 10% in any individual subject. They are quite explicit about it and people move on and off the register, depending how they are getting on. Personally, I think it devalues the notion of being "gifted" or "talented" which really ought to be a much higher threshold (but I'm happy that there is a member of staff with responsibility to encourage the more able students to keep aiming high and not just coast along).

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