Gifted & Talented, Enrichment

Gifted and Talented pupils – who are they?

  • A general definition is; “Children and young people with one or more abilities developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group (or with the potential to develop those abilities).”
  • According to the Young Gifted and Talented Website (YG&T), previously NAGTY, key areas for identifying a gifted and talented student may include one or more of the following: subject-specific skills, "cross-curricular" skills (such as creativity, leadership, and communication), vocational skills, entrepreneurial skills.
  • YG&T specifically focus on the top 5% of pupils.

Blundell’s Definition (as endorsed by the EiC – Excellence in Cities)

  • 'Gifted' learners as those who have abilities in one or more subjects in the statutory school curriculum other than Art and Design, Music, Drama and PE;
  • 'Talented' learners as those who have abilities in Art and Design, Music, Drama and PE.
  • This guidance uses the phrase 'gifted and talented' to describe all learners with gifts and talents.

How do we identify our G&T pupils in Blundell's?

A whole school G&T register is formed on yearly basis and reviewed termly.  Pupils are selected for this register using the following methods:

Gifted

  • Consideration of pupils who have been awarded scholarships and scholarship exam results.
  • Consideration of pupils based on Year 7 and Year 9 MidYIS scores and Alis predictions at A-level.
  • GCSE and AS results (used for year 12 and 13 selection)
  • Consideration of pupils based on recommendations from every academic department (submitted by the Head of Department)
  • Merit and Honours awards
  • Internal school exam results
  • General Knowledge Quiz and other such tests.

Talented

  • Consideration of pupils based on recommendation from the head of boys and girls games (passed on through masters in charge of individual sports)
  • Consideration of pupils involved specifically in Art, Drama, Music and Design Technology.  Recommendations come from relevant Heads of Department.
  • Art, Music, Sport and Drama scholarships

This information is passed on to the Director of Studies and G&T Coordinator who will then draw up the final register of pupils who are considered Gifted or Talented based on the criteria above.  Those selected normally meet several of the criteria listed above.

Gifted and Talented Program Structure

Gifted and Talented policy within Blundell’s is addressed through three different levels:

  • Departmentally
  • Whole School approach
  • Specific G&T focus activities

This web page will give information in two sections:

  • Academic enrichment
    • Links to departments
    • Extra provision/enrichment for G&T pupils
    • The Level 3 Extended Project Qualification
  • Wider enrichment activities

It is important to note that some of these activities are provided with the intention of stretching the most able.  However any keen pupil is always welcome.  Some of the activities whilst stretching the most able would also be considered as enrichment for all.  With many of the activities provided it is difficult to draw clear boundaries.  Individual specific talents will generally be stretched within each department as well as through the whole school approach.

Academic Enrichment – Departmental

A large majority of academic enrichment for both our Gifted and Talented pupils and general cohort is undertaken within departments.  Please click on the links to the left to see some of the ways our gifted and talented pupils are stretched within each department.

Academic Enrichment – Extra provision/enrichment for G&T pupils

Running alongside the work done in each department is a program of activities designed to push Gifted and Talented pupils.  The academic program is covered below (the program for talented pupils is covered in each specific departments policy (music, art, drama etc)

Academic Program:

  • Scholars Groups
  • Extra day activities – see table of activities below
  • Academic Societies, Activities and Clubs
    • Biology Society
    • Business Studies Society
    • Economics Society
    • Chemistry Society
    • Cult Film Club
    • Greek Society
    • Rocket Club
    • Astronomy Society
    • Special Art Status (SAS) activities
    • Spanish Exchange program
    • Peers in Schools Programme – House of Lords (Politics A-level)
    • Economics and the Euro seminars by Tom Hague (2 seminars)
    • Film School
    • Arkwright Scholarships
    • Smallpeice Trust Engineering residential courses
    • Essay competitions for Oxbridge Colleges
    • School elections
  • Critical Thinking (6th form)
  • National Academic Competitions e.g. Olympiads and Kangaroos (e.g. Biology Olympiad (U6th) and Biology Challenge (yr 10).  Both run by pupils in the Biology Society
  • Oxbridge entrance: training/preparation.

Timetable of Events 2009/2010

Please note that event timings may be slightly different to those shown below.

Year Autumn 1 Autumn 2 Spring 1 Spring 2 Summer 1 Summer 2
Year 7 11+ results. Monitor performance & select G&T pupils Session 1 Joint Session for Yrs 7 & 8 Session 3 Joint Session for Yrs 7 & 8 Critical Thinking Master-class Emily Wiser (after exams)
Year 8 Session 1 Session 2 Scholarship exams
followed by
‘Concepts of Our World’ in Big School. Young Enterprise		 {Year 8 camp for all Yr 8}
Year 9 Session 1 Session 2 Session 3 Crime Squad Day (all Yr 9 with focus on performance of these pupils) Tim Bowler Workshop and lectures (English) {CCF camp for all Yr 9}
Year 10 Challenge Day (all Yr 10 with focus on performance of G&T pupils) Session 1 Yeovil conference (G&T pupils plus any subject specialists) Prepare a chapel presentation (follow up to conference) & assembly for SH Session 2

Scholars’ Review with Head		 Session 3
Year 11 Session 1 Session 2 Rest (build up to Mocks) Mock exams followed by Oxbridge Briefing & trip to Oxford University GCSE Exams followed by Work Experience
Year 12 Monitor performance of new L6 (external entry)

TD intro talk

Session 1		 EPQ briefing from BW;

Oxbridge briefing from EJY & AMR

Session 2		 AS modules early Jan; submission of EPQ proposal forms UCAS convention at Westpoint

Talk from Peterhouse College on applying to Oxbridge

Early Open Day visits encouraged

Session 3 		Formal Sixth form dinner for ‘scholars’ very early in summer  term (inspirational speaker)

Focus on AS exams		 EPQ project (activities slot?)

Medical Careers Day (E Wiser)

Open Days

Societies lead taken up by G&T subject specialists for U6 – dates planned for September
Year 13 U6 lead Societies – AMR to oversee & encourage plan of action for each faculty

Session 1 & 2

Oxbridge/medical applicants receiving interview and BMAT/test preparation 		AS/A2 modules early Jan Session 3 allowing for review/reflection and feedback with short talks Formal Sixth form dinner for ‘scholars’ very early in summer term (inspirational speaker) (first time: 2011)

Final A2 Exams

Academic Enrichment – EPQ

The level 3 Extended Project Qualification gives independent and self-motivated pupils a chance to complete a project based on a title of their own choice which is outside of their AS curriculum. The qualification carries the same UCAS points as an AS and can be used to enhance university applications. The program structure is outlined below.

Term Content
AS Autumn 1/2 EPQ introduced and initial proposal form handed in to supervisor with first idea for project title and initial thoughts.
Spring 1/2 2 lunch time meetings – introduction to paperwork and process in more detail.  Development of a working title.
Summer 2 5 week intensive EPQ drive. 5 double lessons of taught content. Individual contact time with BW (supervisor) – one session per week by arrangement. Intensive research leading to the finalisation of the title before the summer holidays.
Summer holidays Research continues and the report is written (5000 words). 
A2 Autumn 1 Final report is submitted and remaining paperwork is completed.  Presentation to a non-specific audience and end of project review.  Deadline for submission November 5th or May 15th.

Wider Enrichment Activities

The activities below are designed open to all pupils. Those on the G&T register would be expected to stretch themselves in as many diverse areas as possible.  These activities are however open to all pupils who may not be on the G&T register.

  • Careers Enrichment
  • Spiritual enrichment
  • School Lecture program
  • Public Speaking
  • House Debating
  • School elections
  • Amnesty International
  • Duke of Edinburgh Awards
  • CCF
  • Adventure Leadership Program
  • Sporting Activities
  • Activities Program
  • Community Schools Partnerships.
  • Field Trips – Spring Term: Crime Day (year 9) and Young Film academy (yr 11) www.onedayfilmschool.co.uk
  • Charity and fundraising
  • Lee Pascal’s visit - sessions on Study Skills