Gifted and Talented School Goals

 

A credible, valid, fair, robust, inclusive, pedagogically sound and research-based Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) and identification programme fulfils a number of school goals

1.                  All students become active participants in and managers of their own learning.

GATE gives students the academic, social and emotional tools to become ‘active’ learners, taking responsibility for their own learning and developing the skills of successful life-long learners, carrying these forward into their futures.

2.         Teachers will have a deeper understanding of the ways in which

learning takes place, and will use informed teaching practice.

            The GATE Co-ordinator will continue to develop their own teaching practice by taking up Professional Development opportunities. They will commit themselves to the best teaching pedagogy in relation to gifted children. They will pass on their knowledge and practice to classroom teachers through Teacher Learning Slots and other staff learning opportunities.

3.         There will be a culture of high expectation for each student.

            It will become accepted by all that gifted students do attend our school. These students will be enriched and extended because we have informed realistic and high expectations of their ability to achieve and succeed.

5.        The culture of the school being a learning community will be

           developed.

            GATE students will become ‘expert’ learners, adopting many of the cutting-edge teaching and learning practices which we implement at this school. These students will apply these skills to their own work but also do the work of their classmates in cooperative and collaborative situations.

6.                  The learning and pastoral needs of all students will be acknowledged and met, and specific cultural and religious beliefs will be acknowledged and respected.

GATE will be an opportunity for all students to feel valued, encouraged and supported. Students will be nurtured holistically, in the entirety of their being, their values acknowledged, and their learning responsive to their own unique point of view.

7.                  The specific learning, cultural and pastoral needs of Maori students will be acknowledged and met.

Giftedness will be actively sought among our Maori students and, in part, identified using Maori conceptions of giftedness such as leadership, community service, and knowledge of tikanga and te reo Maori.

8.                  The specific learning, and cultural and pastoral needs of Pasifika students will be acknowledged and met.

Giftedness will be actively sought among our Pasifika students and, in part, identified using Pasifika conceptions of giftedness such as family, church and community service, and culturally  and socially-specific skills and knowledge.

10.              A culture of innovation will be data-driven and founded on research and robust self-review.

Our school’s GATE programme will be frequently reviewed so that it remains relevant and meaningful to its participants. This review will be based on a variety of assessment methods, including anecdotal and statistical methods.

11.       Assessment practices will enhance learning as well as providing opportunities to achieve the best possible qualifications.

Robust and valid GATE identification and assessment practices will be utilised. These will be broad and inclusive, diverse and multicategorical. They will allow students to be accurately and fairly assessed and for feedback to be given.

12.       Diversity within our school community will be recognised and respected.

            Our GATE programme recognises that giftedness can occur in any part of our school population, regardless of gender, ethnicity, first language, ability or disability. Giftedness is sought among all students using valid identification methods, and will be promoted and encouraged in an inclusive way.

17.       Students will be involved in the decision-making processes of the school.

The GATE programme will, to a significant extent, be  formulated by its students. GATE will meet individual student needs, giving them the freedom to make their own decisions about their learning and how it will take place. Students will be consulted during all phases of their gifted education programme where appropriate.

19.       A safe physical and emotional environment will be provided.

            GATE provides students with a safe physical and emotional ‘place’, somewhere they can feel valued for who and what they are. This will be facilitated by their co-ordinater through a Form class.

20.       Processes to report to students and their parents, and to the school’s community on the achievement of students as a whole, will be further developed.

            Students undertaking a programme of gifted education will have their progress reported to themselves and parents. Junior GATE students will receive an end of year report. These will outline areas of giftedness or talent, as well as the activities being undertaken to develop these. GATE will be promoted and communicated to the wider school community through the school newsletter and other appropriate forums, such as community hui and Open Night. 

21.       Students who are at risk and students who have special learning

          needs will have their needs met.

National Administrative Guideline (NAG) 1.iii.c describes giftedness as a “special learning need”. This “special learning need” is to be addressed through the creation of a valid and effective programme of gifted identification and education. These potentially “at risk” students will find academic, social and emotional support through a holistic, inclusive and supportive GATE programme.