By what criteria is a child measured and assessed to be G&T? Is it specific to individual schools?

[Kellamity]

General query. Our school doesn't have a G&T list (not that I think my DCs would be on it anyway).

Depends on the school, the subject and a whole host of other factors. I have identified a number of students who are G&T in my subject but that doesn't mean they are G&T elsewhere.

Ds's school I do not think has a G and T list. He is on learning support/special educational needs list. I do not think all schools have a G and T list.

So it's not a national standard then?

It is done on a percentage so G & T at Bog Standard Academy would not be considered as G & T at High Achieving Grammar. All a bit stupid really and very dispiriting if you've been told you are G & T and find out you aren't really.

tested by ed psych using standardised tests (eg wechsler/ wiat etc) and come out with iq in excess of 120 is the 'official' definition (and the only one recognised as 'gifted' formally. a school deciding a child should be on the 'gifted' list does not necessarily mean that the child would be categorised as 'gifted' if formally tested. but of course, some would.)

schools just take the top performers in each subject, which is why a child might be g&t in one school/ subject and not if they move schools, or vice versa. i think top 10%? it's very subjective, anyway. v dep on context.

a g&t list in itself is very meaningless. each student should be given work differentiated by ability. the cookie cut nature of education makes this quite tricky, and unlikely unless you have a particularly on the ball teacher or school.

If you look at a school website, you may well also find that they have a G&T policy there as well. I think that some schools will select only on achievement rather than a high IQ score. I thought officially "gifted" was an IQ score over 130 rather than 120? But, schools may vary it and might say something like "over 120 or 126 on a CAT score". My son's school also mentions "less easily recognisable criteria" such as social skills and imagination as part of their 5-10% G&T policy.

How great would it be if all schools could IQ test every child and wheedle out the underachievers! (flying pig!)

The tory government stopped the national Gifted and Talented register being a compulsory requirement for schools in April last year. Hence most schools seem to have given up G&T registers & programs altogether. Some still extend and do any number of G&T type things for their more able pupils, but on a completely voluntary basis. And they don't necessarily tell the parents about them.

And yes, even when they did exist formally, they were pretty damn useless. It was typically the bright high achievers who got labelled 'G&T'. Many gifted underachievers just slipped the net.

At the school my ds at [in 'disadvantaged area'] there are probably very bright children who do not have the support at home and will simply slip through the net- as you say eyeofnewt.