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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

DS1 has been placed on the More Able register at school - what is it?

23 replies

bagpuss · 15/10/2007 11:12

Really, I have no idea . I have just had a letter from the school this morning which says he has been placed on this register for reading and maths and it would be lovely if we could support him in events throughout the year. No other information at all. Could any teachers or other parents who have experience of this please enlighten me before I go and speak to his class teacher this afternoon? TIA

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Original poster

bagpuss · 15/10/2007 12:27

Bump

Anyone?

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MintyDixCharrington · 15/10/2007 12:28

I love that
so everyone who isn't on it is, by definition, Less Able
marvellous!

no idea I'm afraid, but you might want to raise that with the class teacher when you speak to her.

Original poster

bagpuss · 15/10/2007 12:29

Yes I was a bit when I read the letter, which had a huge CONGRATULATIONS in some spangly coloured font at the top of the page.

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indignatio · 15/10/2007 12:29

Could this be the new PC name for G&T ?

cherrycake · 15/10/2007 12:31

Most schools have such a register and pupils are placed on it for being 'more able' or 'gifted' or 'talented' in one or more subjects. It should then mean that the pupil has a specific learning plan put in place to develop those subjects further. Your school should have one of the teachers as the 'G&T' or 'more able' coodinator who you could talk to about what plans they have for your child.
Good luck!

Original poster

bagpuss · 15/10/2007 12:45

Thanks cherrycake . The letter is signed by the More Able co-ordinator so that makes sense.

I was a bit worried this morning when I first saw the letter because it had been sent to our home address rather than in ds1's bag and his teacher hasn't said anything about it so far. It is like some sort of guilty secret - I can't be happy for him in the playground but I can at home .

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MintyDixCharrington · 15/10/2007 12:54

a more able coordinater FGS

what is wrong with looking at your class of children, and teaching each child in accordance with his ability. stretch the clever ones a bit, give the slower ones a bit more support

but don't stick endless labels on them

grrrr

CountessDracula · 15/10/2007 12:54

I agree minty
it's bloody stupid

Alethiometer · 15/10/2007 12:55

Minty for PM.
Seriously, there will be a 'co-ordinator of coat pegs and putting chairs under tables' next.

Flamesparrow · 15/10/2007 12:56

given the choice of two - G&T a MUCH better title! Tis like when they try and say "non-teaching staff" rather than support staff, like the teachers are more important.

No idea what it entails though - get thee to G&T and be bitched at

SueW · 15/10/2007 12:56

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at OP's request.

MintyDixCharrington · 15/10/2007 12:59

and what is congratulations all about?

congratulations you were jolly lucky in the gene pool lottery?

em hell, bagpuss

MintyDixCharrington · 15/10/2007 12:59

sorry that was meant to say "give em hell"

Original poster

bagpuss · 15/10/2007 13:01

Flame . I was trying to avoid that.

Minty, I agree. I have always been proud of ds1's achievements but I really am very cautious of all of this kind of stuff. I'm not sure he needs it TBH. MIL made DH join MENSA at the same sort of age and it really didn't do him any good, so we were trying to be rather much cooler with our own son's education.

PMSL Alethiometer , actually I think our school may have one of those already.....

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Original poster

bagpuss · 15/10/2007 13:02

lol at gene pool lottery Minty .

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MintyDixCharrington · 15/10/2007 13:04

it is silly isn't it
if you are bright and your dh is bright, chances are pretty high your children will be bright, whether you do anything about it or not.

what you want is your school to teach them appropriately for whatever IQ they happen to have, inspire them in their learning, and bobs your uncle

not set up 50 committees and label children into boxes so that they feel either like freaks, or smug, or inadequate, or whatever

double grrrr

Flamesparrow · 15/10/2007 13:05

aww, spoilsport!

Eve · 15/10/2007 13:06

its yet another regulation!!

Schools have to do this I believe and the children are then tracked through their school life!

Original poster

bagpuss · 15/10/2007 13:24

And to think that I was starting to feel optimistic about this when it turns out that ds1 is really just another statistic. Still, at least my MIL will be pleased, that is, if I decide to share the news .

Minty, agree again. I have been trying to get the school to do that since he joined and now our only option is this register which is very frustrating. DS1 knows nothing yet though, although he did say something the other week about year 4 maths work and also that the head said he may skip a year (I assumed he was joking however ), so maybe he is already aware.

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CountessDracula · 15/10/2007 16:36

bagpuss @ mensa!!

I have had a few CVs in my time with "Member of MENSA" on them and I'm afraid they usually get binned...

Original poster

bagpuss · 15/10/2007 16:56

Believe me CD, DH would never admit to it .

Spoke to ds1's teacher and she says there are some extra lessons in the subjects ds1 is "gifted" in which he will do to help stretch him. When I got home however, I opened his bag to find a letter which detailed a timetable of events which we have to nominate him for . Will see what dh thinks when he is home. Thanks for your input all .

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MintyDixCharrington · 15/10/2007 17:36

you see I don't think he should have "extra" lessons at all. if he really is that bright he should have the same number of lessons (actually, fewer would be better because he will grasp things more quickly), but at a higher standard.

Piling extra work on clever children while making them sit at a class absolutely targeted at the lower-middle end of the percentile is madness IMO

dayofftomorrow · 16/10/2007 09:04

only useful to have a list or register if something is actually done about it, which didn't happen originally.
A couple of children from Dd's class would go with the TA during phonics time as they were fluent readers in year 1 so they did other work, was better for rest of class as the "G & T" children got bored during phonics and became disruptive.
The children don't realise unless told as a girl at brownies from another school was talking about it then dd was wondering why they don't have it at her school

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