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Gifted and talented

Talk to other parents about parenting a gifted child on this forum.

Original poster

School haven't told us DD is G&T. Why?

115 replies

MaQueen · 05/11/2016 15:07

Apparently DD2 was G&T at primary school. We were never officially told, but a friend (who was also governor) told me in passing.

DD2 passed the 11+ with a really high score and is now in Yr 8 at a grammar school. She's really flying academically, with 7.9s virtually across the board in all subjects in her exams at the end of Yr 7.

Anyway, she came home yesterday and mentioned she'd seen her form register and next to her name was 'G&T'.

I just wondered if it's normal for schools to not officially notify you that your child is G&T?

OP posts:
dataandspot · 05/11/2016 15:44

At my child's grammar there is still gifted and talented. It's called exceptional potential and there is a member of staff responsible for it.

PortiaCastis · 05/11/2016 15:45

Flogginmolly Yes quite agree

Original poster
MaQueen · 05/11/2016 15:48

Er...this is the Gifted & Talented forum, I take it? Used for the specific purpose of discussing your G&T child, yes? And the myriad whys and wherefors, yes?

So please do feck off with the snitty replies. I don't/won't discuss any of this IRL and I think this is the first time I have posted on here for about 2 years, too.

Anyways...I was just curious because other children I read about seem to have had some sort of formal acknowledgement from their school, and parents have been asked in for a chat. But we've had nothing like that at all.

OP posts:
2kids2dogsnosense · 05/11/2016 15:48

What is G&T (if it isn't alcohol-related)?

2kids2dogsnosense · 05/11/2016 15:48

Oh - sorry - should have read further.

As you were,

GruochMacAlpin · 05/11/2016 15:51

Why not contact the school and ask?

Seems more straightforward than asking MN.

ThatsNoWayToSayGoodbye · 05/11/2016 15:51

G&T is meaningless in reality. There is a member of staff whose area of responsibility it is, but it doesn't mean anything in the grand scheme of things, other than those children might be given additional opportunities to visit other schools/take part in interschool events/contribute to the school newspaper etc.

It's just that schools have to show that they are catering for the top attaining pupils in each subject area. Occasionally, there will be a child who is genuinely 'gifted', but the parents are usually aware of that anyway. But generally it's just the top 10% (3 children) in the class and it's a pretty meaningless accolade.

One of my children was identified as being G&T in science, music, English and food tech. Meant absolutely nothing.

BridgetWard · 05/11/2016 15:52

MaQueen, if it's her current school that have put her in G&T and other kids are given some sort of acknowledgment for it then I would just phone in the school and ask, it may just be an error that she was missed off and they'll be thankful for your call, if not then they'll just let you know what's happened and then move on, you don't lose anything over it.

OhTallulah · 05/11/2016 15:52

Lol.

Original poster
MaQueen · 05/11/2016 15:52

I wanted to know if other parents of G&T kids had been officially told in some way.

OP posts:
ThatsNoWayToSayGoodbye · 05/11/2016 15:53

Any idea that it's akin to having discovered the next Einstein or whatever is inaccurate. I wouldn't worry about it, tbh.

Original poster
MaQueen · 05/11/2016 15:56

Bridget I don't know if other G&T children are acknowledged, other than it being written next to their name in the register.

There doesn't seem to be any extra provision that I have heard of? Though this might be due to lack of funding?

OP posts:
Seekingadvice123 · 05/11/2016 15:56

G&T can be quite subjective. If a student is highlighted as G&T in one subject then that will appear on their data for all subjects

PortiaCastis · 05/11/2016 15:56

Yes I have but then I would expect dd to be gifted for the amount of fees the school charge me

FlapsTie · 05/11/2016 15:57

They probably just mean they need a stiff G&T after dealing with her parents.

MycatsaPirate · 05/11/2016 15:58

Why do you need the school to tell you?

You clearly know already so why do you need to waste the time going in to be told your child is the most incredible child they have ever taught?

BTW My DD (who is not g&t) did her NCS last summer which largely consisted of a huge group of teens from the local grammar who were all on course to get a gazillion A levels at the top marks. One of them had no idea how to make a cup of coffee using a kettle and firstly used cold water and then looked baffled when it was suggested that he use hot water.

Make sure your DD has decent life skills. It's all very well having the ability to get an A in 18 subjects but if you can't make a cup of coffee aged 17 then there's something wrong!

RockinHippy · 05/11/2016 15:58

Sadly MaQueen this is a typical reaction to G&T unless it includes gin & the reason those of us with very bright DCs tend to keep quiet in RL, which is pretty sad really. This has shown up in the main feed, do its also attracting the non G&T parents too, so you wont get the supportive posts you will from the usual posters to this forum.

In answer to your question, as some posters have said above, funding cuts mean there probably isn't any extras for G&T kids these days, especially when schools struggle to provide for other end of the SEN spectrum too. So its unlikely to make much difference & they sound to have coped well & are achievers anyway. It is odd you weren't told though, but we weren't for a few years either, so I doubt it's that uncommon

Original poster
MaQueen · 05/11/2016 15:58

I didn't know that seeking. She's certainly not G&T in Art Grin

OP posts:
Bountybarsyuk · 05/11/2016 15:58

Once they are in secondary, I don't think anyone is asked in for chats about anything, are they?

In primary I knew my eldest was doing extension work, but there was no formal announcement, it was mentioned once in primary around Year 3.

What would you like to discuss with them? I'm not getting it, as it's unlikely in her grammar school that she's not sufficiently extended, and that's the whole point of schools officially designating G&T, it's to show they are extending the top range of pupils appropriately.

BackforGood · 05/11/2016 15:59

So please do feck off with the snitty replies

er - you asked a question, so people have answered. Not sure what else you expect people to do. Confused

To answer your next question - yes, all 3 of my dcs have been listed as G&T, but no, I was not told this by any of their schools. Is that answer acceptable to you ?

Original poster
MaQueen · 05/11/2016 16:01

mycats I don't need the school to tell me. I just wondered if they were perhaps officially meant to, in some way?

We get given reams and reams of other information about them, it seems odd this wouldn't be ever mentioned?

OP posts:
eddiemairswife · 05/11/2016 16:01

I really don't think it means an awful lot. Some of my grandchildren had this label, but we knew they were bright anyway.( sounds smug I know). What was the purpose of it?

RockinHippy · 05/11/2016 16:02

Oh, should have added, we where only told at parents evenings & written in reports from yr 4 onwards, though we were also told that she was in the top 2% of her peer group nationally since year 1.

She only ever had a few extras, which where small group/1-1 science lessons & a few pretty cool community art projects as she was G&T arts too

JenLindleyShitMom · 05/11/2016 16:03

Does G&T just mean a child who finds the work easy/tests well? I can't see why it would need special recognition.

ImperialBlether · 05/11/2016 16:08

Is that you, LeQueen?