Definition of gifted and talented

The authority intends adopting the definition of gifted and talented which appears as guidance on the DfES national curriculum web site.  Here it states that:

'gifted' pupils are those who have abilities in one or more subjects in the statutory school curriculum other than art and design, music or PE.

'talented' pupils are those who have abilities in art and design, music, PE, or in sports or performing arts such as dance and drama.

The term gifted and talented is not to be understood as referring to the most able children in the national population.   The term should be seen as relative and refers to the top 5% to 10% of any school, regardless of the ability profile of pupils at the school.  For this reason all schools should be able to identify gifted and talented pupils.

The terms 'gifted' and 'talented' however do not refer only to those pupils who are demonstrating abilities.  It is recognised that those who are gifted and talented, for a variety of reasons, do not always show their ability.  Nevetheless such pupils are gifted and talented even though their abilities may be hidden or remain as a potential.The point is that id such potential gifted and talented pupils are identified and nurtured their abilities will become clear.

The definition we are using also means that a gifted and talented pupil may not show ability across a range of curriculum areas or skills.  A pupil may be particularly gifted in a single subject, for example, in mathematics or history.  That same pupil may be weak in all other aspects of school life, and yet still be included on a gifted and talented register.  A pupil may have a flare for music or art or be a telented gymnast or swimmer.  They may be quite appalling at everything else they are asked to attempt in school and yet still be registtered as gifted and talented.

It is for this reason schools need to understand that the 5 to 10% figure does not limit a gifted and talented register to 1 in 10 of the whole school.  The top 10% of pupils in geography, or RE or science, from any one year, may be entered onto the register.   This could mean that a school's register of g & t pupils could have listed up to 40% of pupils in the entire school.

The pupose of the register is to acknowledge achievement, however it might show itself.  It is not a register of an elite or intellectual minority.