G and T in primary school????

[sloppyjoe]

What difference does it make if your child is identified as G and T? Do they get treated any differently?

In our school it seems to involve helping to explain things to the other children and doing some harder work. So yes, I guess they are treated differently, but DS1 (in top 10% for maths) has never mentioned any of it and we haven't told him.

Is it top 10% of year group?
I will talk to teacher about it, but just got the letter home today.

Schools are obliged to identify the top 10% of the class. At our school it's the top 10% in literacy and the top 10% in numeracy. A class of struggling children would still have a top 10% so it doesn't mean 'gifted' in the traditional sense.

I think schools decide what to do with the G&T kids.

Really? dd is definitely in top 10% for literacy, but no letters home and I wouldn't label her G&T in a million years. She just likes reading, and has a vast vocab (talks a lot ).

I think at our school, they give G&T children extra logic/reasoning puzzles, and a bit of one-to-one time to explain them. Later on they set up debating groups, and get them to challenge the adults in them (or so I was told). But I have no idea how they define G&T, and don't think any of dd's year are defined as such in spite of having a few fluent readers and a real maths whizz

Y1, btw.

Think you'll find the G+T 'register' is defunct ladies/gentlemen.

EasterBunny - I got a letter sent home with DS (yr3) saying he has been placed on the school's "gifted and talented register", due to his ability in blah blah blah.
I obviously want to talk to the co-ordinator on Monday, but was just looking for peoples experiences of it. I am very proud of him of course!

lol. alive and kicking at a school near you. is it, easter? interesting, must go and float around the g&t board. what of nagc etc?

How pointless if it's a random top 10% figure. This makes it entirely dependent on the cohort rather than individual ability.

Parents should know if their children are bright. Why would you want to get hung up on silly labels??

DD was on for maths, she got to do summer courses and the odd extentions day at a local secondary school,also a bit of sideways stretching in maths ie problem solving.

Elibean, in answer to your post. Schools don't have to tell parents if their child is on the register. They just have to make a list. At our school, they will tell you if you ask, but they don't volunteer the information.

Sorry, no, not suitable IMO. Should start them on alcopops ideally, cider maybe if lack of availibility. I think gin an acquired taste more suited to high school.

Oops, sorry, wrong end of stick ;)

LOL falafel

"At our school, they will tell you if you ask, but they don't volunteer the information. "

Well that is no good. How will everyone know how super dooper top 10% your child is and what is the use in being in the top 10% if you can't tell everyone? I think schools should issue a special uniform, big sandwich boards and a bell which the children can ring as they walk through the playground.

Or maybe a tattoo on the cheek? A special, different coloured sweatshirt? That might be easier.

There must be some way of showing that these children are so special .....of course it must be remembered that 10% of nothing is still .....er......nothing.....

When the teacher is planning the lesson the G+T children, like each child, will get a customised version of the lesson planned for them.
The teacher knows what they are capable of and will design the lesson for them and provide appropriate resources.
Theirs will be designed to push them the furthest, or maybe they will be given additional tasks of increasing difficulty.
Whilst all children will be learning the same basic principle i.e.
Learning to count in 5s, some children may only be able to do it if presented with 5 cubes to count and then 10 and then 15 Whereas the G+T may be given a much more advanced investigation to do on the topic.

Basically, they are the top of the class and get work appropriate to their ability..... as all children should.

I thought it was also meant to identify childen who showed untapped potential, children who may not necessarily be showing academic success. Creaming the top 10% in the class seems an altogether easier way to cut the cake, no hard thinking involved. And it only ever seems to involve Numeracy & Literacy - that's a pretty narrow definition of gifted & talented....still "shit hot at Maths & English" doesn't have the same special ring to it.

Actually fwiw (not much frankly imo) G&T at our school includes talented ie children who are good at, for example, sport or dance.

They are not necessarily academically talented (in fact IME not so much) but show the potential to be gymnasts or dancers and the school has spotted it.

There's not a lot they can do of course, but I guess they can let the parents know and they may be able to extend the child (eg extra dance classes etc).

At DD's school all that being on the G&T list seems to mean is that you get invited to one external enrichment session per subject per year. It's two or three hour session at another primary school in the city, and children can only go if their parents take them and pick them up.

DD has done two, in different subjects, but really I can't see that one morning a year doing more advanced fun stuff in maths is going to make any difference at all. And the requirement for parents to be available to drop off and pick up (sometimes at a school six or seven miles away with no public transport from our area) must mean that the children who most need the extra enrichment (ie from families who can't afford, are not able or just can't be bothered to do extra stuff at home) may well miss out again.

They also do 'differentiated' material in maths, literacy etc at school, but that's not just the arbitrarily designated 10% who are officially G&T - it's for all the top group in that subject.

I got all excited there, thinking this was going to be a thread about primary school children being offered gin and tonic

@ coolma

I think it's the mums need the strong liquor actually

www.guardian.co.uk/education/2010/feb/02/gifted-talented-scrapped-funds-redirected

I wonder how many truly Gifted children teachers have encountered over the years? One or two? The top 10% rule, quite frankly, seems a bit of a farce; I know that my DD is certainly in the top % in her year and I would call her very able, but not gifted.

The G+T guidance has moved to the primary strategy site now, and the 'Young G+T@ site is now defunct (I believe). I THINK (anyone who knows would be appreciated) this is all to do with budget cuts for G+T.

I never liked the G&T tag, buy I do think it's important that schools are legally obliged to recognise and cater for the most academically able students.

My son is on the 'G&T register'. Not sure what it has actually achieved for him. He has other SEN which mean his school are quite careful about showing differentiation in lesson plans etc anyway. The G&T tag hasn't helped or hindered...or really meant anything at all, it would seem.

I agree that all children should be catered for - that's why I was wondering if "G&T" children are treated any differently.
Wish he was gifted and talented about getting ready in the mornings!!!!