Primary school reticence about G&T?

[CrouchingTigger]

First post here (namechanged from main Talk boards!), so please be gentle
I have just found out that my DD (age 8, Y3)is considered by her school to be G&T. I had to fill in a form for an assessment, and needed to say if she was G&T or SEN, so I asked the school and they said yes to G&T. They haven't said what for and were very tight-lipped. I get the impression they don't approve of the idea of G&T. The school is a very high achieving one (they get about 50% with KS1 SATS at Level 3 for example), so although we knew dd was bright, we didn't think she would 'qualify' as G&T, as so many others are bright too.
Anyway, my question is, do you think we should have been told she was on the G&T list, and be told what for? The school seems not to want to talk about G&T, and we don't want to be seen as over-concerned parents! The school doesn't do stuff it calls G&T, or extension work, although I guess that the top sets do this by default, so does it matter? I assume the school only have a list because they have to, not because they do anything with it?
Any views/experiences?

lijaco - it varies from LEA to LEA as to whether all schools tell parents their child is on the G&T Register. There is, at the moment, a gap between what should be done and what is done. As recently as last month I was made aware of three schools who had not informed parents.

I agree that "pushing" a child ahead is not good for the child - but neither is failing to satisfy the child's natural intellectual hunger, the satisfaction of which is necessary for the child's development and happiness.

"Pushing a child years ahead isn't good for any child either dadatlarge. "
Oh, I give up! If a teacher is incapable of understanding that catering for a child of higher ability by giving them work that keeps them interested is not pushing the child and is not teaching to the test... then what hope have these kids got?

The OP wants to know what her DD is on the G&T for. I suppose that means she wants her to take her GCSEs next year. Bad OP.

No, I haven't heard of the hare and the tortoise. Remember, we are parents and therefore extremely stupid.

dadatlarge you seem very touchy lol! Was I talking about your child!? There wont be just your child with ability though! No it isnt teaching to the test, that is called differentiation what you describe above, but some children are taught specifically to tests for e.g. to obtain a place within the private education sector! You know the children with opportunities open to them from financially well off parents. Who seem to be able to trample over the children who are disadvantaged. The disadvantaged children who have the ability and dont stand a chance. You musr remember that there are a number of children in a class who have equal rights to the teachers time. All schools do cater for the childs individual needs.

flamingtoaster i agree with you completely if the hunger is from the child and not the pushy parent.

We don't inform parents if child is on G and T register. We do however inform them if they are working at, below, above or well above national expectations. G and T very subjective according to school. IIRC 10 percent of school supposed to be G and T so G and T at lower acheiving school not the same as at higher acheiving one. ALL children should be appropriately challenged and differentiated for. If shcool isn't doing this, believe me, putting a child's name on a list isn't going tomake a jot of difference.
Children dip in and out of being G and T as they have natural peaks and troughs in thier learning.
All schools should adequately challenge your bright child whether they tell you they are on a register or not.

Lijaco - children who do not acheive but have ability are highlighted in good schools as target children and should be flagged up at target setting meetings etc. We inform parents if children are not meeting potential or have surpassed but not if they are on G and T.

littlebrownmouse that is my opinion that ALL children should be challenged and differentiated for which they are usually. I agree with you totally.