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Gifted and talented

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

Original poster

So what do you tell your dcs when they ARE NOT in G&T ?

53 replies

Wotz · 07/03/2008 13:24

Because my dd1 is having a hard time with all the "we are the chosen ones" chants, and we are "doing this trip and you're not" type comments.

As a bright and cheery soul who is not in the G&T she is being made to feel like a fool ATM and is rather fed up now with her mates remarks.

What advice do you offer your dcs, except for work hard (which she does) etc. yr 7.

OP posts:
VictorianSqualor · 07/03/2008 14:13

Hmm, I assume that policy has to be available to parents?
I know in DD's year they are split into two groups for maths and literacy, and everything else is done in class groups. And as there are roughly half and half in the groups I'd imagine they can';t be a G&T group and a normal group?
She is ony year 2 though, maybe they don't do anything til after their SATS.

Original poster
Wotz · 07/03/2008 14:13

I think some negative feedback must have already been noted.
Last week her maths homework, for her set was to
stand in front of a mirror and say
"I am in set@, and I am doing very well and I am proud of myself". She loved that.

OP posts:
VictorianSqualor · 07/03/2008 14:13

dinny, bothered with helping their children or bothered with G&T?

DualCycloneCod · 07/03/2008 14:14

ther emay only be one or tow kids in that class tbh
ours is that they get put on special courses - that sstill charge
tbh its a moeny making opp by the county couneil

Original poster
Wotz · 07/03/2008 14:16

There is at least 8 in her class

OP posts:
Lulumama · 07/03/2008 14:17

sorry miniwotz is having a hard time, i know she is a charming, intelligent and lovely girl who works hard and has great parents

Original poster
Wotz · 07/03/2008 14:17

But that is what she thinks, so could be 6!
Anyway at least 4 of them are being OTT about it.

OP posts:
Original poster
Wotz · 07/03/2008 14:18

Ah lulu thanks

OP posts:
VictorianSqualor · 07/03/2008 14:19

Those four have obviously put their brain cells in the wrong box, I'd prefer to have enough in the consideration box and a couple less in the curriculum box meself.

dinny · 07/03/2008 14:20

pushing their children

am trying to find the article, it was really interesting

dinny · 07/03/2008 14:29

found it! here

dinny · 07/03/2008 14:30

"If you look at high-achieving children you will see that the parents have provided a unique environment for them ? and if you were to be able to find the child who can recognise the alphabet at an early age with parents who are neglecting their children, I would be very surprised.?

That's the bit I was mis-quoting

Original poster
Wotz · 07/03/2008 14:40

That's interesting dinny, thanks

OP posts:
singersgirl · 07/03/2008 14:41

Primary schools aren't required to have a G&T policy, though it is recommended. Our primary has only just developed one. Some schools do not do G&T, though I think secondary schools have to.

LynetteScavo · 07/03/2008 18:32

What about secondary modern schools? Surely all the "gifted and talented" puplils have already been creamed off and are at the grammar school?

Original poster
Wotz · 07/03/2008 19:28

Some of us live in areas without grammar schools.

OP posts:
Reallytired · 07/03/2008 19:53

Even MLD (moderate learning difficulties) special schools have a gifted and talented initative. Although they do not openly call it gifted and talented.

For example I know a profoundly autisic child who is REALLY talented at composing music. The school is making provision for him to do GCSE music by linking up with a mainstream secondary school. I also know a child with very severe dyslexia who is very talented at sport.

The gifted and talented initative is about nuturing children who stand out from the rest of the kids at their school. Doing GCSE music might not be out of the ordinary at a grammar school, but it is very unusual for a child who is otherwise very disabled.

What Wotz described is bullying. Children have a right not be bullied whatever their level of intelligence. She needs to speak to the school and if the bad behaviour persists then the G and T children should be punished just as any other bully would be. Possibly being excluded from the gifted and talented activites if they continue to bragg.

nkf · 07/03/2008 19:55

G&T is just the top whatever % in the school. It's not necessarily any great shakes as those full of themselves kids will discover.

LynetteScavo · 07/03/2008 19:59

What sort of trips and activities do the G&T chidlren do?

Reallytired · 07/03/2008 20:46

G & T is about differentiation. A child whose IQ is in the top 5% nationally will not need any extra differentiation if they attend a grammar school as all the children are in the top 5%.

However a child whose intelligence is in the top 20% might stand out academically if they are attending a sink school in a deprived area. They may need extra support to achieve what they are a capable off.

Christywhisty · 07/03/2008 22:17

Surely you just tell a child the same as you would if they were disappointed they haven't made the netball or football team.

I really don't see the difference between a child being good at sports and being included in the school team and children being selected into the g&t group for being bright, they are both based on innate ability.

To be honest though it really doesn't sound that the OP's school isn't handling it well, and those girls obviously aren't very nice,

We had our year 7 parents evening last night and ds has been listed g&t for science and geography. I got the impression that it was his sheer enthusiasm and interest as much as his ability that counted. Not sure what geography will entail, but for science he will probably take part in the Bronze Crest Award next year.

DD 10 gets extention work in maths and has also been to a maths masterclass at one of the local secondary school.

cory · 08/03/2008 14:44

This sounds like something is being mismanaged at the OP's school. At my dc's school, the whole thing is much more low key and all children are encouraged to fulfil their potential whatever that may be. The school also has a strict anti-bullying policy so behaviour like the Op describes would be dealt with.

Dd has been listed as G&T and ds has not (so there goes the automatic-result-of-parenting argument).

It hasn't actually made any difference to dd's life. She was invited to join the lunchtime G&T club but decided (sensibly IMO) that she would rather spend her lunchtime getting fresh air and mixing with friends of varying ability.

bluefox · 08/03/2008 14:56

At dds school the G and Ts get to go on trips to universities eg oxford. It makes dd and the rest of her non G and T friends feel awful and completely left out. I HATE this G and T business.

dippydeedoo · 08/03/2008 14:59

DS1 was invited on a school trip to the museum (we had to pay for it but as history is his thing we said ok)driving past school the day of the trip i see several of his mates standing at the gates ohhhh thinks i trips ended early .......picks son up says u were home early thought it was an all day affair?,only a few of us went mum i dunno why-on parents evening i mentioned the trip as i thought it was perhaps a reward for good attendance or homework or something ....oh no she say ds1 is in gifted and talented in history and in 3 other subjects!! we were a bit stunned tbh its been going on for year!!!! we have another ds in school who isnt on g and t ,,,,,so i casually mntioned it to ds1 who said ...does it mean more homework? lollol i think our schools approach is v good they encourage kids that have ability to do their best and kids that dont to do their best ....just lie it was when we were young ....i dont remember all these labels when i was at school i just new some kids had extra help of the teacher and some kids did higher work it made no difference -ignorance is a great leveller lol

Christywhisty · 08/03/2008 22:07

bluefox, my ds used to get upset that he was never included in any of the sports teams in primary, what's the difference. Do we get rid of all sport teams because a lot of children are no good at them.

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