What do we mean by exceptional performance?

Gifted and talented children are those who have one or more abilities developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group (or with the potential to develop these abilities).

In England, the term 'gifted' refers to those pupils who are capable of excelling in academic subjects such as English or History. 'Talented' refers to those pupils who may excel in areas requiring visio-spatial skills or practical abilities, such as in games and PE, drama, or art.

Some gifted and talented pupils may be intellectually able but also appear on the Special Educational Needs (SEN) register for behavioural, literacy or physical difficulties.

At Upton-by-Chester High School we believe that all children are entitled to an education that will enable them to develop their full potential, be that intellectual, physical, aesthetic, creative, emotional, spiritual or social, finding appropriate challenge in our learning environment. All students have individual needs, which puts personalised learning at the heart of our teaching and learning.

Our School is committed to providing a sufficiently challenging curriculum for all its students. In addition, we will provide opportunities to identify and in turn nurture those who are more able and their abilities.

How do we identify more able, gifted and talented students?

No one method of identification can be entirely accurate since specific subject criteria will develop. Therefore, we endeavour to obtain as much information about individual students as possible. The methods employed are as follows:

• Information from any previous schools
• Internal and external assessment and testing
• Specific criteria developed by subjects or their professional associations
• Teacher/peer/self nomination