What can I expect, DS (11) just been told he is gifted and talented.

[lostinteaching47]

Hi, apparently he was pulled out of a class yesterday and told by someone (a teacher/Senco?) that he scored really highly, in the top percentage for the Midyis test he did when he came for a taster day to the school when he was in yr 6.She said, and I do believe my son, that he was at a genius level.This made me laugh, at her phrasing and DS is really happy.She asked questions about what subjects he thought he was good at and DS said maths and English and she said something about extension work.I have looked at the schools prospectus and there is a little bit about gifted and talented but more about what you might be gifted and talented in not what they do with these children.It is purely academic, not sport based or musical.I was just wondering what might happen now.Will I get a letter? Will they just wait until the parents evening and someone might speak to me then? Who would that be? Should I contact the school, I'm a teacher myself so this might be tricky. I have not had any experience of this, my 14 yr old daughter is doing really well but they never said anything like this about her and she is in the top sets.

TIA x

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/gifted_and_talented You may find some info on that thread.

Hi thank you, I've just discovered this and posted over there too:>)
Would be interested to hear of any teacher experiences as well too.

Nothing.

In the top what percentage for his Midyis? Top 10%, top 1%? Tbh I think Midyis is scored out of 140, and even a score if 140 doesn't a genius make - its not designed to test genius level IQ. So don't expect too much!

It really depends on the school. Some do great things with G&T kids, and it can just be about academic ability rather than "talents" like music, drama etc. Some schools have good links with RG universities who do activities with selected kids, challenging them and raising aspirations. Some schools have good G&T coordinators who again might do targeted activities/trips with the students on the G&T register designed to get them thinking at a high level. Good teachers will use the G&T register to help target really bright students with differentiated work appropriate to their ability.

However, some schools just have a G&T register because they are expected to and will to precisely bugger all for those particular kids!

Oh and I would probably wait for parents evening and maybe have a chat with his form tutor about it then.

Most schools do very little other than the usual differentiated work which I actually think is a good thing. I prefer teachers to nurture the range of talents and recommend appropriate activities to anyone that might be suitable rather than singling out individuals for special treatment.

I agree Shente.

Not sure what the difference is between recommending activities to suitable students and singling out some students? Surely there is still a teacher decision there about who is suitable? With the best will in the world, there isn't much point taking a 15 year old who really struggles with any type of academic work to a RG university event, or a student (like I was) who couldn't run 100 metres without falling over to an event for aspiring sports stars...

Hi titchy all I know from son was that she said top, top level in non-verbal which I think relates to Art, Maths and D&T among others I have forgotten.All subjects he enjoys and finds easy.

Action, I think the difference is that you are looking for individual talents in class so a child may not have scored highly in the genius test but proves to be a great linguist, or geographer or whatever, a blanket g and t policy might mean they weren't on the list that gained them entry to the specialist activities even if they were well-suited. I have known schools to send g and t pupils on random events with no reference to the relevant subject teachers.

See what you mean, and agree.

That happened to ds.. He or at least we have not been told, didn't score at genius level on test in yr 7 but his science teacher told us she is recommending him for gifted andtalentedin science for which there may be some special events, especially as he gets older.

I think you've been given a golden opportunity to contact his form tutor and ask them what it means. Ring up/email and ask "My son has been told he is gifted and talented. What can I expect? Is there anything I need to know?"

It will depend hugely on the school. DD's school has a programme of extra clubs etc which are only by invitation, in addition to differentiated work in class. And they have a specific member of staff who has a brief to monitor the most able students and make sure they aren't slacking

Its great to get that kind of recognition, good on your DS, but over the years any G&T's bestowed on my kids have amounted to nothing. I'm not even sure its a good idea, all this G&T stuff really, because I can't see it being followed through. I am sure what happens varies, but once in secondary, as hard as as I look, I can't see a willingness to stretch the G&T'd in the state sector. If you really think he is gifted in science, it might be up to you to ensure that he keeps on a path towards (maybe ) a top Uni.

For my ds, it means he has to miss lunchtime football training to go to English Club. Which he enjoys-but not as much as he enjoys football! Maths and Science he gets "optional" extension sheets for homework which are definitely not optional, and which are usually quite interesting and thought provoking- he really enjoys those.

For my DD1 it has meant being part of a History project collaborating with a German school to design a memorial for the Centeniary of the 1914 Christmas Truce - a lot of history work but also art and design, a trip to Germany and having the German school here, a chance to learn stuff outside the confines of the National Curriculum.

In maths, English and Science it has been less impressive though there have been some interesting extension projects. What pleases me is that none of it has been about pushing them faster through the curriculum, it has been more about going 'off piste' and doing other things alongside the normal work (which they are very much expected to keep up with). It varied hugely, but for us it has been a good thing.

Thanks for your replies, I think I will email his form tutor.

Very little ime! At dd's school they have an 'ABCO' & go on her register if you have a CAT above 122 at start if y7 & are G&T in at least two subjects by the end of y7 (about 5-10 students per year). There are some events for y9 & above but dd in year 8 has had nothing much in any of the 4 subjects she's on for - she's written a couple of extra essays on subjects she's interested in & they have been marked but she's not "required" to do anything.

Students on the list at KS4 are automatically included in the school's Oxbridge nurture programme (it's a comp with a god 6th form - gets 7-10 in each year). I'm not sure yet what that's and in practice though.

FFS "good" 6th form

Actually there is one benefit - dd was slacking off on two subjects the first half term of y8 ... & she v. quickly got an orange sticker & 'gifted underachieving' email sent out to us (she was still getting v. good marks). Don't know if the ABCO note next to her name helped the teacher's notice more quickly than they would've done otherwise.

My DD 15 was told about 5 years ago she was G&T. she had a couple of mentoring sessions with tutors and a couple of school trips then nothing! It all dried up in her school and was never mentioned again! still it was nice while it lasted.