workshops for more able children

[ReallyTired]

When primary schools send children to a workshop for more able scientists I feel they should select children who actually like science rather than just the child with the top marks.

My son went to workshop for primary school children who are gifted at science. (Lets be on honest, I'm bragging! My son is not gifted. None of the kids in his class are.) The school sent four children from a year group of 60. The children selected were the ones with the highest marks rather than those who love science. One of the girls hated the work shop and one of ds' friends was devestated not to have the opportunity.

My son feels the work shop would have been more fun if every child who was there had wanted to be there. He would have liked to have mixed with like minded geeks. As Thomas Edison said "Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration"

I agree. At our school, the dc picked were ones that were good all-rounders (academically) and who could be relied upon to behave beautifully and give a good account of the school. It was as simple as that.

Didn't bother me, ds wasn't bothered if he was invited or not, but friends who's dc were devastated not to be 'chosen' spoke to the HT about the selection criteria. She said dc were 'picked from a hat'

I think its fair to pick children who are good all rounders academically as going to the work shop means missing a morning off school. Also the work shop is for more able children so I suppose there needs to be an academic threshold that a child should be above.

It just seems sad giving the place to a child who hates science when there are plenty of children who would have loved to have gone. Prehaps the fairest thing would be to invite all children who are level 5 or above to apply for a place. The children could then write a personal statement on why they should be chosen. The girl who hates science need not apply if she doesn't want to.

The problem is that the school have to show how they are meeting the needs of the more able children. Not providing an interesting enrichment opportunity for the more interested children.

It's what the government wants.

My son has recently been given a fantastic science opportunity based on aptitude and interest in the subject. Fortunately he impressed well enough in both areas. Frankly, I'd have been gutted if he'd missed out because someone was deemed more able but was also less interested because the more interested child would get more out of it.

But this attitude is where a lot of the problems arise - when achievement is measured quantitatively rather than qualitatively.

In theory I agree with you, but in reality sometimes these events are about encouraging children, like the girl who was invited, that are bright enough to potentially be future scientists but think they don't like science, that science is fun and interesting and maybe they do like it.

I think it's likely that the school were asked to bring a mixed group for this reason, and I think it's important that an effort is made to reach dc who think they don't like science.

I think workshops should be offered for different subject areas - my DDs have attended workshops, but in different subjects. For DD1 it was poetry, for DD2 it was history, and they have both been on a maths workshop. They loved them, and the groups was definitely picked by subject ability, not overall ability.

I think that more able children should be given opportunities in things that they are interested in. It is OK not to like science. Science is not always fun. Science can be hard work, frustrating and soul destroying. Research does not come easily. My son is good at literacy as well, but would hate a writing work shop.

Children who are interested in science often have knowledge well beyond primary school SATs papers. They read books on science, use the internet or watch documentaries to find out more. A moviated child moves to a different plane in knowledge. A child who is only interested in achieving a level 6 in science will not be interested in A-level material. They just learn to the test.

Surely meeting the needs of the more able should be done on an individual basis. Children should follow their passions as well as their ablities.