Gifted & Talented

RHSC places particular emphasis on making sure its most able pupils achieve to their full potential.

After a year of settling in, subject teachers assess whether any Year 8 pupils are demonstrating gifted and talented work in their subject areas. This is then recorded and updated every year until Year 11.

During Year 10 and 11, pupils who have been categorised as gifted and talented across several different subjects are invited to join a mentoring group to prepare and support them with their next academic steps.

There is a particular focus at Reepham on supporting gifted and talented pupils from disadvantaged backgrounds, and providing mentoring support and opportunities for them.

In order to stretch the most able:

• teacher expectations are high for these pupils and appropriate extra work is frequently set for them
• in mixed ability sets, teachers differentiate for gifted and talented pupils, ensuring that challenges are provided for those who require it.

In addition, the most able are given numerous other opportunities to develop their skills:

• writing for the school magazine
• participating in debates through the Oracy group
• acting as international ambassadors
• participating in a whole range of opportunities to travel abroad
• participation in music, cultural and sporting activities

N.B. The school does not normally enter pupils early for GCSE examinations. We know that top universities want students with grades 7 - 9 at GCSE and we believe that early entry can harm a pupil's prospects.

However, in special circumstances where a pupil has an advanced knowledge of a subject, we do consider early entry. For example, we have had pupils who have lived abroad and are subsequently already fluent in another language. In such cases early entry would be appropriate.

Mrs Colling is the school’s Gifted and Talented Co-ordinator. Please direct any queries to:

ecolling@reephamhigh.org.uk