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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| E-credits for more gifted pupils | E-credits for more gifted pupils |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government is arranging "e-credits" for schools to access extra lessons for an estimated 800,000 gifted pupils. | The government is arranging "e-credits" for schools to access extra lessons for an estimated 800,000 gifted pupils. |
| The £65m scheme is part of its drive to ensure all children in England with special talents are given extra help. | The £65m scheme is part of its drive to ensure all children in England with special talents are given extra help. |
| Schools will be asked to list their gifted and talented pupils in the census data it now collects each term. | |
| Some teachers have resisted the whole idea - while others say the obvious answer is to reintroduce grammar schools in all areas. | Some teachers have resisted the whole idea - while others say the obvious answer is to reintroduce grammar schools in all areas. |
| The e-credits system is to be run by the not-for-profit CfBT Education Trust from next September. | The e-credits system is to be run by the not-for-profit CfBT Education Trust from next September. |
| 'TALENT SPOTTING' Schools need to be particularly vigilant for the 'hidden gifted' or under-represented groups, such as underachievers, those for whom English is not their first language, those with learning or physical disabilities or those from different cultural or socio-economic groups DfES guidance to schools It says each pupil would initially receive the equivalent of a number of credits - worth about £80 - which their schools could use to buy extra lessons from companies, independent schools, universities or learned bodies. | 'TALENT SPOTTING' Schools need to be particularly vigilant for the 'hidden gifted' or under-represented groups, such as underachievers, those for whom English is not their first language, those with learning or physical disabilities or those from different cultural or socio-economic groups DfES guidance to schools It says each pupil would initially receive the equivalent of a number of credits - worth about £80 - which their schools could use to buy extra lessons from companies, independent schools, universities or learned bodies. |
| Development director Tim Emmett said: "The government is seeing this as part of school improvement rather than a lifeboat for a few bright children." | Development director Tim Emmett said: "The government is seeing this as part of school improvement rather than a lifeboat for a few bright children." |
| A spokesperson for the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) declined to comment on the details because contract negotiations were continuing. | A spokesperson for the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) declined to comment on the details because contract negotiations were continuing. |
| Identifying potential | Identifying potential |
| The government initially said it wanted schools to identify the top 10% of pupils - amounting to about 800,000 nationally. | |
| Within those, about half would also be eligible for the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth, it said. | |
| But there is no requirement on schools or even guidance setting out any such figure. It is up to each school to identify its gifted and talented pupils. | But there is no requirement on schools or even guidance setting out any such figure. It is up to each school to identify its gifted and talented pupils. |
| Officials at the DfES say that on average last year the census in secondary schools identified "around 10%" as gifted and talented. | Officials at the DfES say that on average last year the census in secondary schools identified "around 10%" as gifted and talented. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY We should shorten the public/state school gap so all can achieve their potential Andy, London Send us your comments The department defines these as having abilities which are "developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group - or with the potential to develop those abilities". | HAVE YOUR SAY We should shorten the public/state school gap so all can achieve their potential Andy, London Send us your comments The department defines these as having abilities which are "developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group - or with the potential to develop those abilities". |
| Gifted refers to capability in academic subjects, talented covers visio-spatial or practical skills such as in games and PE, drama or art. | Gifted refers to capability in academic subjects, talented covers visio-spatial or practical skills such as in games and PE, drama or art. |
| The government acknowledges that often the children who are identified are those who have had opportunities to develop their talents. | The government acknowledges that often the children who are identified are those who have had opportunities to develop their talents. |
| So it is also trying to reach children whose parents either do not bother or cannot afford to provide such extra-curricular activities. | So it is also trying to reach children whose parents either do not bother or cannot afford to provide such extra-curricular activities. |
| Schools minister Lord Adonis told a "gifted and talented" conference in November: "Let's be absolutely clear that these children exist in every school. | Schools minister Lord Adonis told a "gifted and talented" conference in November: "Let's be absolutely clear that these children exist in every school. |
| "When the stork delivering gifted babies to the families of this country flies overhead, it doesn't carry instructions to land only on pitched roofs in the leafy suburbs." | "When the stork delivering gifted babies to the families of this country flies overhead, it doesn't carry instructions to land only on pitched roofs in the leafy suburbs." |
| Separate schools | Separate schools |
| There has been some resistance to the whole issue, however - with a third of secondary schools currently having no pupils registered at the national academy. | There has been some resistance to the whole issue, however - with a third of secondary schools currently having no pupils registered at the national academy. |
| Responses to an article in the official Teachernet newsletter included these comments: "As I understand it, we give the pupils a test when they enter the school (just after age 11, I think), and those who pass, benefit from lessons with their peers, rather than with those who are not so gifted or talented." | Responses to an article in the official Teachernet newsletter included these comments: "As I understand it, we give the pupils a test when they enter the school (just after age 11, I think), and those who pass, benefit from lessons with their peers, rather than with those who are not so gifted or talented." |
| The writer added: "as this is so good for them, it would obviously be even better for them to have all their lessons like this. | The writer added: "as this is so good for them, it would obviously be even better for them to have all their lessons like this. |
| DID YOU KNOW? Pupils whose usual mode of travel is by Scooter, Skateboard or Roller Skates/blades should record their usual mode of travel as Walking Official pupil census guidance "Perhaps we could set up a pilot school on this basis. I wonder what we would call such a school?" | DID YOU KNOW? Pupils whose usual mode of travel is by Scooter, Skateboard or Roller Skates/blades should record their usual mode of travel as Walking Official pupil census guidance "Perhaps we could set up a pilot school on this basis. I wonder what we would call such a school?" |
| Another asked what to tell a girl who said: "Miss, I really wanted to go to the giant insects workshop today, but I'm not clever enough," adding that the criteria for inclusion should be "good attendance, good behaviour, good citizenship - anything but natural ability". | Another asked what to tell a girl who said: "Miss, I really wanted to go to the giant insects workshop today, but I'm not clever enough," adding that the criteria for inclusion should be "good attendance, good behaviour, good citizenship - anything but natural ability". |
| The government said those letters "recycle two old myths". | |
| Readers were assured the scheme was "not about selection" - and nor would other children be neglected. | Readers were assured the scheme was "not about selection" - and nor would other children be neglected. |