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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