Gifted and Talented
Preparatory School
In the Preparatory School, the Head of Learning Enrichment is responsible for helping to identify able students and for the preparation of policies and procedures that will support them. Where appropriate, individual learning plans are prepared which may require able students to work in other rooms and year levels from time to time. However, catering for gifted and talented students within the class environment supports multi-levelled learning which is of benefit to all students.
Tools we offer to support our gifted and talented students include:
- A register to identify and monitor students within the Preparatory School who demonstrate exceptional ability.
- Integrated programmes to enhance problem solving, inquiry learning and higher order thinking skills.
- Ongoing extension with enrichment opportunities.
Secondary School
In the Secondary School, the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) provides high-achieving Year 9 and 10 students with opportunities to deepen their intellectual engagement in learning areas that interest them and heighten their enthusiasm for learning in general.
Students selected for the programme supplement their core curriculum timetable with regular extension sessions run by College teachers and specialist educators from outside the school. These sessions are discussion-based and promote higher-order thinking. The programme is flexible enough to allow participants to attend a range of extension classes or just one or two, depending on ability and interest.
Students are identified for GATE by their achievements in the extension work that routinely takes place in all St Andrew’s classrooms, by the results and achievements reported from previous schools and following discussion with parents who have reason to believe their son or daughter has special academic ability.
