Gifted and Talented

Being identified as Gifted and Talented means the student has academic abilities, talents, and/or the potential for exceptional abilities that are so developmentally advanced that they require enhanced provisions to meet their educational needs.

These students may have high achievement capabilities in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields. We aim to facilitate an environment where being identified as gifted and talented is not the final destination or the benchmark of success, but rather the starting point for nurturing and realising potential.

Being identified as Gifted and Talented means the student has academic abilities, talents, and/or the potential for exceptional abilities that are so developmentally advanced that they require enhanced provisions to meet their educational needs.

These students may have high achievement capabilities in areas such as intellectual, creative, artistic, or leadership capacity, or in specific academic fields. We aim to facilitate an environment where being identified as gifted and talented is not the final destination or the benchmark of success, but rather the starting point for nurturing and realising potential.

To create a systematic and rigorous identification process and to acknowledge the multidimensionality of aspects of ability, our programme follows a multifaceted approach and considers both quantitative and qualitative data.

Key points in the identification process:

• Scaliq Screening in S1
• Informal teacher/peer nomination
• Parent nomination
• Discussions with key teachers involved/period of observation
• Analysis and consultation with teachers, students, and parents after determination of being gifted
• Allocation of Talent Coach in the Emerging Talents programme or participation in the Limitless Programme

Please note that being nominated does not automatically mean students will be added to the gifted and talented register, but it will begin the process of looking closer at that student’s particular needs.

Gifted and Talented provisions at ESH Secondary take a multidimensional approach to offer a realistic and practical individual program to suit the needs of the student.

Main provisions:

• In-class provision: Effective teaching is the basis for excellent provision for all. Ongoing training is being delivered to staff to support the continued differentiation of needs in the classroom, including delivering challenging material for our gifted learners.
• Assignment of a Talent Coach: Each student identified as Gifted and Talented will be assigned an expert Talent Coach to work with them in either one-on-one or in small groups, to set targets and take ownership of their learning journeys. They will use the Renzulli platform for this. These students will take part in the Emerging Talents programme or - for some students - in the Limitless programme.
• To ensure a fully integrated and inclusive approach to this program, other students who wish to work with their gifted friends are able to.
• Access to extracurricular clubs, university project opportunities, and cross-curricular project days.