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New gifted and talented national champion

DEPARTMENT FOR CHILDREN, SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES News Release (2007/0201) issued by The Government News Network on 2 November 2007

All schools urged to identify their gifted and talented learners

Schools Minister Andrew Adonis today announced John Stannard as the new National Champion for the Young Gifted and Talented (YG&T) programme, which nurtures the abilities of the most able children. His first priority will be to target the 300 secondary schools which still do not identify any gifted and talented pupils, so that every school has in place extra provision to meet their needs.

This follows the Prime Minister's announcement this week that the YG&T programme will be expanded to support one million gifted and talented learners. He also announced an inquiry to report on how applications to universities can be increased from comprehensives in disadvantaged areas. The Sutton Trust and universities will be engaged in this work.

Schools Minister, Andrew Adonis said:

"It is vital we do more to support able pupils in state schools, particularly those schools which currently have low numbers going to university. Every child should have the opportunity to make the most of their potential, which means recognising when a child needs special assistance to develop a particular ability or talent, as well as helping those who may be at risk of falling behind.

"At present, young people from higher social groups are more than twice as likely to go on to university than young people from lower social groups. This gap needs to be narrowed dramatically if we are to make the most of the nation's talent.

"It is simply not acceptable for a secondary school to be refusing to identify very able students who need extra support to fulfil their talents. John Stannard's first priority in his new role will be to challenge the 300 secondary schools not currently identifying any gifted and talented pupils, as well as working with primary schools to boost their involvement.

"I want extra provision for the most able students to be a core part of every school's mission. John Stannard's wealth of experience, achieved through his work on the national literacy strategy, will help us to achieve this."

Latest figures show that 91 per cent of secondary and 65 per cent of primary schools are identifying their gifted and talented pupils, over 733,000 in total.

The role of the YG&T National Champion will be to promote the importance of identifying and supporting gifted and talented learners, both within schools and in the wider education community.

John Stannard said:

"I am very pleased to accept the nomination as YG&T National Champion. I am committed to promoting opportunities for our most able youngsters, and I see this role as one contribution to the wider aim of developing and maintaining world-class standards across the education system in England."

John Stannard is a former Director of Literacy Strategy and HM Inspector of Schools. He has been appointed by CfBT Education Trust who run Young Gifted and Talented on behalf of the DCSF. John was invited to take up the role following consultation with a wide range of stakeholders from the Gifted and Talented Community.

NOTES TO EDITORS

1. John Stannard takes up post on 6th November. His tenure as YG&T National Champion will run for one year in the first instance, subject to review, on a part-time basis.

2. YG&T is run by the CfBT Education Trust, which was appointed as the Government's managing contractor for gifted and talented education in March this year, with responsibility to improve gifted and talented education across England. CfBT works alongside the National Strategies and DCSF to deliver the national programme for gifted and talented.

3. The Government spends some £18m annually on support for gifted and talented education. This includes £13m of support for learners, provided through the YG&T Learner Academy, including the summer, weekend and after-school events made available through the nine regional Excellence Hubs and associated regional support provided through local authorities.

4. Young Gifted and Talented (YG&T) incorporates the new Learner Academy for all pupils and students aged 4-19 identified as gifted and talented by their schools and colleges. The Learner Academy can be found at http://www.ygt.dcsf.gov.uk

5. Schools are asked to identify their gifted and talented pupils each term through the School Census. Secondary schools should include all pupils who meet the published eligibility criteria for the top 5 per cent of gifted and talented pupils nationally, and can also nominate pupils who are gifted and talented relative to their year group in their school. Primary schools identify only those pupils who they judge to be gifted and talented relative to their year group. Schools are not bound to identify a set percentage of pupils.

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