Gifted & Talented (ALPs) Policy

Transcription

1 Dubai English Speaking College Gifted & Talented (ALPs) Policy Written by: MFA Reviewed: October 2017 Approved by: SLT Next Review: October 2018

2 Gifted and Talented Provision at DESC At DESC we believe that some students do have exceptional ability due to both nature and nurture. All students, regardless of their starting point at DESC can develop and improve their performance in every aspect of school life. This Growth Mindset underpins our vision and our ethos. Teachers and Heads of Department ensure that all students are stretched and challenged in lessons, for example through advanced tasks, explanations and homework. Simply providing more of the same is not usually sufficient to move students further in their understanding. To promote consistency and collaboration between teachers, these strategies appear systematically on Schemes of Work. Our Personalised Learning priority aims to provide appropriate opportunities for all students to reach their full potential. Beyond the curriculum, we also provide many enrichment opportunities for students to excel in different areas. We are proactive in encouraging students to take part, and contact parents where necessary so that students take advantage of high-profile activities such as World Scholars Cup. Curricular Area General Scholarship Science Sport Computing Mathematics World Scholars Cup Model United Nations Debate Dubai Dubai Schools Debate League UAE Debate Development Squad Examples of provision beyond the curriculum Debating Club Extended Project Qualification (EPQ) Chevron Readers Cup part of Emirates Festival of Literature Poetry Recitation House Competiton GCSE Express Science group Brainiac Science club SciFest competition (KS3/yr10) What Works Competition Crest Award (KS3/4) Inter-School Competitions Astromony GCSE as an ECA (yr9/10) A* Chemistry Club for KS5 Online University course support (KS5) Coaching qualification support Elite Performance Programme Students contributing to KHDA What Works events Student organisation of Computer Sci House Event Student support of DESSC transition event Digital Leaders innovation group Techpreneur pilot project collaborative problem-solving with students from a Houston school UK Mathematics Challenge Inter-schools year 9 Maths challenge hosted and run by DESC Additional GCSE in Further Maths ECA Philomaths code-breaker club

3 Business, Economics Enterprise ECA students plan a number of events and Enterprise 100AED challenge one month, 100AED start-up capital profit-making competition Art Set painting challenge ECA with 5 Student Leadership Director roles Art Club SMCCU UAE Heritage competition (submissions and winners for the last 4 years) House Photography Competition Drama LAMDA qualifications ECA grades 2-7 The Hamdan Bin Mohammed Heritage Center Qasidah Par Coeur Competition Theatre trips to the Courtyard Playhouse to see live theatre streamed Music Young Musicians of the Gulf competition (Bahrain) Emirates Literature Festival Toppers Concert small number of students with distinction to perform at the festival High Achievers Concert (ABRSM and Trinity) for students with the highest mark in the UAE Chamber Choir (winners of Choir of the Year for 2 years running) Media Studies Dubai International Film Festival Forum talks Psychology Club for Psychology KS4 students extending them beyond the curriculum Many students at DESC are high attainers, but we recognise the difference between this substantial percentage of our cohort, and the few students who are truly exceptional in a given area. We do not have a separate group of students for whom we offer special treatment, as we strive to maintain high expectations, rigorous challenge and exceptional opportunities to excel for every single student. However, there exist a very small number of students at DESC, whose exceptional ability will result in the need for further challenge beyond the bounds of the curriculum if they are to reach their full potential. These students may be described as gifted or talented as per the following definitions: Gifted: A student who demonstrates exceptional ability in the intellectual, creative, social or physical domains. This student may actually under-achieve, as they may know the answer without working hard. They can self-direct their learning and use their imagination to experiment with ideas. Giftedness can be difficult to identify, as it maybe masked by personal circumstances and disengagement with a curriculum that is not sufficiently demanding. Talented: A student who always demonstrates exceptional performance and competence in a specific skill area. Heads of Department gather information from teachers based primarily on observation and data, to identify if there are any students who may need alternative provision in order to be sufficiently stretched. Parents are consulted at this early stage in the process. It is very rare that students will be isolated, as wherever possible, they are included in the class and College community, and can continue to interact socially with their peers. This pastoral care is vital so that students do not feel alone. Advanced Learner Plans (ALPs) may be drawn up on a case-by-case basis to provide a framework for the extended provision of the exceptional students. It is essential that long-term strategies are in place, particularly if qualifications are taken at different times. Below are some suggestions of the types of support that could be offered:

4 Series of 1-to-1 meetings with HoD / Director / suitable mentor teacher to devise an extended project that they may be working on privately (eg similar in style to GCSE c/w if KS3, or extended topics well beyond the curriculum). They could be allowed to work on this during class time, or it could be separate and only done at home. External competition they could be working towards. Meetings could be purely conversational with stimulating and inspiring discussion about a particular focus each week. Students would be expected to do some prior reading. Working to take a qualification earlier than peers. Plans must be in place for them for future years when peers are working on that qualification Free online courses (eg Harvard) could be suggested, with appropriate support given by a mentor teacher every 2/3wks There are many further ideas of excellent practice that could be used.

5 Advanced Learner Plan (ALP) Student Subject / Identified Gift or Talent Target (where applicable) Staff Member Responsible for Progress Strategies (to achieve target) Record of interventions, coaching, mentoring and progress (towards target) Comment on impact and progress over time