Gifted and Talented at Birchwood

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Gifted and Talented at Birchwood

• A Parents Guide

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Thank You for Coming Tonight
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Aims

• An overview of how we have selected learners.
• What it means to be Gifted and Talented.
• How you can support your baby.
• How can you get involved in strengthening the
  partnership.

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Selection

• Learners are selected from a number of criteria,
  KS2 SATs, Non Verbal Reasoning scores and Teacher
  nominations.
• This list is filtered down to produce a GT list,
  all here tonight, and
• A subject specific list for learners that excel
  in 1 or 2 subjects.
• GT list can be changed.

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Gifted or Talented?

• The official line is to be Gifted means to excel
  in academic subjects English, Maths, Science,
  MfL, Drama etc.
• Talented learners are non-academic subjects such
  as P.E, Art, Design etc.
• Learners can be selected if they demonstrate an
  aptitude for a subject or show enthusiasm for
  that subject.

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Why are you here?

• Care about your
• childs lifelong
• education.
• You look to
• the future.
• You want to work with the school.
• Offer expertise-if you can!

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FACT

• Children achieve better results and enjoy a more
  rounded education if parents are admitted into
  partnerships with the school.
• The Government say so. It must be right!

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Main Goal

• Nurture, Challenge and Develop the potential of
  high ability learners.

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What do we want?

• Develop Thinking Processes.
• Promote productive interaction among group
  members.
• Explore the Arts through aesthetic education (not
  all reading and writing)

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What are we doing?

• Whole School GT cohort.
• Specialised Departmental cohorts.
• Use of Thinking Skills (in planners).
• Personalising Learning (VARK).
• Early Accreditation (Maths, Art).
• Links with Further and Higher Education.

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Successes

• Danny Cheung
• 7 As, 2 As, 4 Bs at GCSE
• Duke of Edinburgh Bronze and Silver whilst at
  Birchwood.
• Table Tennis expert!
• Danny landed four A grades in Maths, Physics, Art
  and Geology.
• Accepted an offer at Cambridge University to
  study Architecture.

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Talya Underwood

• 8 As, 2 As and 1 B at GCSE. A in French at Year
  9.
• Reading Natural Sciences at Cambridge University.
• Sorry. No photograph.

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Katie Harris

• Katie gained an impressive 10 A grades at GCSE
  level, 4 A grades at A level.
• Part of student voice in Birchwood and Priestley.
  
• Katie departed for Manchester University to study
  Maths.

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Megan Tyler

• 8 As, 3 As at GCSE.
• Outstanding athlete. School record breaker in
  sprinting and High Jump.
• Represented the County in athletics.
• Key member of Student Voice.
• Accepting a place at Cambridge University.

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Annice Callery

• 2 As, 6 As, 1 B and 1 C (Statistics option)
• Annice landed an A grade in Art and B grades in
  Chemistry and History, whilst also obtaining an A
  grade at AS Level Textiles.
• Talented Musician.
• Her achievement in Art was something special with
  Annice one of the top five national candidates.
• Accepted an offer from Central St Martins in
  London before she planned to move onto The
  Glasgow School of Art.

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James Sanders

• James stay at Birchwood High School Priestley
  College was packed full of academic achievement.
• 8 As and 2 As at GCSE.
• His sensational A-Level results consisted of five
  A grades in Maths, Further Maths, Physics,
  Computing and Chemistry.
• He was in the top five performing national
  students for Physics and also landed a string of
  awards in the British Physics, Chemistry
  Informatics Olympiads.

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James Chester

• James is part of the current Manchester United
  Reserve team Squad.
• Every Monday afternoon James attended specialised
  coaching sessions at Carrington.

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What do we want?

• We are looking to strengthen links with parents.
  Work together for the benefit of your child.
• Parents who can offer skills, business links or
  possible mentoring for our learners are welcome.
• Ask not want the school can do for you!!!!

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What can you do?

• Not just checking homework, although that is
  important.
• SAM Learning (Use it!).
• GT Parents Group.
• Develop sound personality that is beyond just
  intellect. Extra-curricular clubs.
• Develop sound intellect that is beyond just
  personality.
• Broaden the horizons for your child.

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Concerns

• Children CAN make mistakes. We do not want a fear
  of failure system. Taking risks is essential in
  their school life.
• Children are under pressure to fit in. Extra
  Curricular is important for development.
• Do we opt solely for grades rather than deeper
  learning and life experiences?
• Self Reliance skills are important. Too many
  students drop out at University because they lack
  skills to think on their own.

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Communication

• Communication is vital.
• Issues that may arise contact FC, LC or RC.
• gandt_at_birchwoodhigh.warrington.sch.uk

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Young Gifted Talented Website

• You may find these resources useful as you
  consider the social and emotional needs of gifted
  and talented in your school
• www.ygt.dcsf.gov.uk/landing.aspx
• Teachers, Parents and Learners all register as
  Associate Members.
• During April there will be a full launch and this
  will be accompanied with an updated release of
  the website.
• Increase in user-friendliness.

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What do we want?

• We are looking to strengthen links with parents.
• Parents who can offer skills, maybe excel in a
  subject who can offer mentoring to our learners.
• Business links may have equipment or access to
  information that could benefit our learners.

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QA