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Leading teacher for gifted and talented

Using ICT to enhance learning and teaching for able pupils in mathematics

Sal McKeown reports on how technology can unlock children’s inquisitiveness and really place maths in the power of the learner

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Storytelling to stretch young minds

Gifted and talented children are not always able to express themselves well and this can sometimes undermine their true ability. Steve Mynard shares techniques that will help children to become confident and expressive communicators

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Starting points 2: How can I meet differing learning needs in the classroom?

The second in our series of CPD notes encourages teachers to reflect on how different teaching styles motivate G&T pupils and meet their learning needs

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Storytelling as an enrichment activity

Taking children out of the classroom and introducing them to different experiences, with professionals in different fields can achieve high quality outcomes. Sally McKeown reports on a workshop for G&T pupils in Derby

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Enhancing provision for gifted users of ICT

In a new series providing ideas and guidance for using technology with G&T learners, Sal McKeown discusses the characteristics of gifted technology students and explains how to identify and encourage them

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'Outstanding' lessons in G&T provision: charting the routes to excellence

What makes an outstanding lesson for G&T pupils and how can teachers ‘make the grade? Bob Cox provides some useful pointers

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Switching the lights on for potentially able learners: part two

Following part one, which examined the meaning and possible causes of ‘under-achievement’, Belle Wallace outlines some proven strategies for realising learners’ potential

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How does G&T education justify its own existence?

Effective G&T provision improves teaching and learning for all students – but do your colleagues realise this? This ebulletin issue of Gifted and Talented Update offers advice on raising awareness of the benefits G&T can bring to your school as a whole

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Academic language for G&T learners

As a follow-up to our last issue, here we provide an overview of some of the issues surrounding academic language for G&T learners, as it is readily apparent that formal English can be considered to be an additional language for many learners and perhaps even most disadvantaged learners

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How to challenge advanced bilingual learners

Advanced bilingual learners are the focus for this issue. We explain how to provide challenges for gifted and talented learners who speak English and other languages

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A quick roundup of the main political parties’ school manifesto points

What do the four main parties (Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat and Green) have to say about education?

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The Pupil and Parents Guarantees for G&T – writing to parents

Here we provide some guidance on the framing of the letter to parents, the kinds of information that should be included and thoughts on how communication with parents can be framed to avoid potential pitfalls

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The Pupil and Parent Guarantees – what are the implications for schools?

The Pupil and Parent Guarantees, that are currently the subject of a DCSF consultation, make specific reference to the provision for G&T learners. Here we consider what this might mean for your school

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The Pupil and Parent Guarantees – what are the implications for G&T?

This G&T e-bulletin summarises the provision which schools will be expected to make concerning the pupil and parent guarantees

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How do you spot G&T potential in a new EAL student?

Without a system to identify G&T potential, it can take up to two years international new arrivals's language to develop enough to surface in formal written English. This issue, part of our occasional series on inclusion, shows how you can tell an EAL G&T student within six weeks of their arrival

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Sustainable G&T provision and the role of data

As nationwide programmes to support G&T provision are on the wane, there is more work to be done at a school level. Here we look at how embedding good practice into classrooms begins with robust analysis of the data

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The Ofsted Report on G&T practice

The next two issues of this e-bulletin will analyse the critical assumptions and issues in Ofsted's Gifted and Talented Pupils in Schools report, published in December 2009 (ref 090132); specifically its findings and how schools can usefully respond

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Gifted and talented education - the case for inclusion: part 2

Second issue exploring how different characteristics such as gender, ethnicity and free school meals eligibility influence the probability of inclusion with G&T students

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Gifted and talented education - the case for inclusion: part 1

In this issue we explore what the DCSF School Census, January 2009 tells us about identification and how pupil characteristics affect the probability of inclusion within the national G&T population

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Seeing your school through the eyes of the SIP

In the second of our e-bulletins looking at guidance given to SIPs, we consider what questions you should be asking to evaluate your G&T provision prior to the visit from your improvement partner

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Practical strategies and ideas for G&T provision in your school

This is the first issue of Optimus Education's new fortnightly e-bulletin, Gifted and Talented Update, which will focus on the ways that whole-school issues affect provision for more able and very able learners

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School trips: challenging pupils

School trips can help students meet their full potential by taking them out of their comfort zone. Crispin Andrews describes how Redbridge Community College in Southampton did exactly this

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Know, Want to know, Learned: G&T classroom strategies

Mike O'Neill looks at the 'KWL approach' - a classroom strategy for G&T coordinators and leading teachers to share with colleagues

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Links between SEN and gifted & talented: part 2

SENCO Week looks at how to support those students with DME (dual or multiple exceptionality) and how to help them fulfil their potential

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Links between SEN and gifted & talented: part 1

SENCO Week considers the links between SEN and G&T at schools; gifted and talented students are often considered as having specific learning needs and are equally in need of support

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Developing very able students at post-16

Author: Moira Sheehan, Richard Gould and Jeremy Reynolds

Interested in developing very able students at post-16 by personalising learning, creating challenge and developing independent learners? Have a look at our handbook aimed at those responsible for improving teaching and learning at post-16

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Creativity: promoting discussion through a Concept Line activity

Learning and Thinking Skills looks at activities that can be used to initiate dialogue about creativity between staff and students

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A-Z of G&T education (8): Gifted and talented

Gifted and talented, or G&T, is a term used regularly in education today - but what does it actually mean?

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Helping secondary G&T students aim high

Schools should encourage young gifted and talented (G&T) students to aim high, as many able children who do not have a history of university education in their family may dismiss it, says Deborah Eyre

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G&T activity to stimulate creative thinking

This classroom strategy for G&T coordinators and leading teachers is a creative thinking activity, which aims to stimulate gifted and talented students

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Dragon's Den for G&T students

A Dragon's Den challenge activity for G&T students offers unlimited possibilities to excite and stretch their imagination. Joan Hardy decribes how her school organised such a project

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Research into G&T has CPD benefits

Action research with G&T pupils didn't produce the results Peter Leyland expected, but he found it had great CPD benefits

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Working with governors on G&T provision

It is important for gifted and talented (G&T) coordinators and leading teachers to garner the support of governors. G&T Update offers suggestions as to how and why governors can be an ally to those working with G&T

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Gifted and talented centres: leading the way

How are 'leading schools' or 'gifted and talented centres' selected, and how will they fulfil their role? The Yorkshire and Humber partnership is in the early stages of the G&T project

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CPD training for G&T coordinators

The continuing professional development training implications of the gifted and talented (G&T) agenda are highlighted here by Sophie Craven and Brin Best, explaining all that CPD has to offer in the area of G&T

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Gifted and talented: the basics

Who are the gifted and talented and what provision do they need? Deborah Eyre provides a basic layman's guide to the fundamental principles of G&T education

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G&T classroom strategies: Science

Mike O'Neill offers the first of a series of teaching activities for leading gifted and talented coordinators to use in the classroom with G&T students and share with colleagues

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A-Z of G&T education (7): Extension

A variety of enrichment methods used to inspire gifted and talented children are given the term 'extension', which is the subject of this at-a-glance reference for gifted and talented associated education vocabulary

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Leaders of the future: G&T leadership skills

Schools must help gifted and talented students develop their leadership skills, as they have a lot to offer the rest of the school, and later society, in terms of active citizenship and entrepreneurial abilities, say Jo Smith and Paul Ainsworth

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Identify G&T without stigmatising

How can you assist and support gifted and talented students without stigmatising them with a label? Deborah Eyre considers this fundamental question in gifted education

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Integrating enrichment activities

How can schools successfully integrate enrichment activities into whole-school provision, thereby maximising their benefits? Bob Cox discusses, with reference to external providers

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Identifying primary G&T pupils in sport

It is important for schools to identify gifted and talented pupils in sport at a young age so that they can help nurture and develop their strengths. Crispin Andrews discusses using a multi-skills approach in primary schools to do this

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Intelligence vs ability

Jo McShane examines the 'sticky' issue of the IQ and social class debate

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Developing visual learning skills

Joan Hardy has worked with gifted and talented students in Year 9 to develop their visual learning skills and help them cascade what they have learned to pupils in Year 7

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Achieving equality for gifted and talented students

The REAL Project (Realising Equality and Achievement for Learners) has transformed opportunities for G&T students in black/minority ethnic (BME) communities and those who speak English as an additional language (EAL)

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A gifted and talented sports programme

For those who are gifted and talented in PE and sports, a support programme can give them the maximum opportunity to succeed. Godfrey Hall speaks to head of PE, Craig Fletcher, at Bucklers Mead School in Yeovil about theirs

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A-Z of G&T education (6): Enrichment

Enrichment is the subject of this at-a-glance reference for gifted and talented associated education vocabulary

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Personalised learning opportunities for able students

It is a teacher's responsibility to access extension and enrichment opportunities for individual students who might benefit. Ray Speakman explains how one regional partnership is supporting schools who are doing just that

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Nurturing hidden talent

For students from disadvantaged backgrounds, accessing a university education can be problematic. Urban Scholars project aims to tackle these negative factors and provide high-quality opportunities for those who might have otherwise missed out

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Give disadvantaged students the opportunity to shine

If you are a disadvantaged student you are statistically unlikely to be selected and named as gifted and talented. Deborah Eyre looks at how to open opportunities for disadvantaged G&T students

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