Office for Standards in Education (Ofsted)
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Focus on gifted pupils and the whole school benefits
Having an effective programme in place for gifted and talented pupils is not elitist. Schools that ensure all pupils, including gifted and talented, are suitably challenged find that all pupils benefit, according to a report published today by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills.
As one headteacher told inspectors, in thinking more about the needs of gifted and talented pupils, it helped to add rigour to lesson planning and teaching for all pupils throughout the school.
The report, Gifted and talented pupils in schools, reveals that although most of the 26 schools visited recognised that improving provision for gifted and talented pupils was important, it was not their highest priority. All had a policy for gifted and talented pupils but many of them were generic and these were not sufficiently effective in improving performance.
Patrick Leeson, Director, Education and Care, Ofsted, said: 'Gifted and talented pupils need to be stretched so they can develop and progress appropriately. Schools should focus on matching teaching to the individual learning needs of all pupils, including gifted and talented pupils. In that way the whole school will benefit.'
Gifted and talented pupils in most of the schools visited said that they were either not asked for their views or they were not properly taken into account when their schools planned tasks and curriculum provision. They also said that the level of challenge varied across their lessons and some asked for more challenging work.
None of the schools had properly explained to parents of gifted pupils the needs of their children or how to support them. Eight of the schools had not informed pupils or parents that they were considered to be gifted or talented.
The aim of the survey was to see how schools would respond to the Department for Children, Schools and Families’ plans to move the emphasis of provision for gifted and talented pupils from a national programme to schools being responsible for delivering their own provision.
The eight schools that were well placed for the move to local provision were led by senior leaders who had involved everyone in developing a vision of what could be provided for gifted and talented pupils. In these schools the status of lead teachers and coordinators was sufficient to enable them to influence and implement policy.
Notes for Editors
1. The report, Gifted and talented pupils in schools, can be found on the Ofsted website http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/Publications-and-research/Browse-all-by/Documents-by-type/Thematic-reports/Gifted-and-talented-pupils-in-schools.
2. The words ‘gifted’ and ‘talented’ can be used in different ways. The DCSF uses the following definitions:
- Gifted Ability or potential in one or more academic subjects; the top five to 10% of pupils per school as measured by actual or potential achievement in English, mathematics, science, history, geography, modern foreign languages, religious education, information and communication technology, or design and technology.
- Talented Ability or potential in one or more skills, whether artistic, sporting, interpersonal or vocational; the top five to 10% of pupils per school as measured by actual or potential achievement in the subjects of art, music or physical education. However, one element of the description should be emphasised: it is the top five to 10% of pupils per school, regardless of the overall ability profile of pupils.
- Gifted and talented Pupils with one or more abilities developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group (or with the potential to develop those abilities).
3. The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted) regulates and inspects to achieve excellence in the care of children and young people, and in education and skills for learners of all ages. It regulates and inspects childcare and children's social care, and inspects the Children and Family Court Advisory Support Service (Cafcass), schools, colleges, initial teacher training, work-based learning and skills training, adult and community learning, and education and training in prisons and other secure establishments. It assesses council children’s services, and inspects services for looked after children, safeguarding and child protection.
4. Media can contact the Ofsted Press Office through 020 7421 6899 or via Ofsted's enquiry line 08456 404040 between 8.30am - 6.30pm Monday - Friday. Out of these hours, during evenings and weekends, the duty press officer can be reached on 07919 057359.
