11/7/2016

PotentialPlusUKSchools

IdentificationinSecondary
WestminsterGovernmentGuidance
TheWestminsterGovernmentguidanceonidentifyingstudentswithhighlearningpotentialinschools,dated2008,states
"Children and young people with one or more abilities developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group (or
withthepotentialtodevelopthoseabilities)."
IdentifyingGiftedandTalentedLearnersGettingStarted,DCSF,2008
Further,schoolsareencouragedtofocusonidentifyingstudentswhoareaged419whoaregiftedandtalentedrelativetopeersin
their year group, those who demonstrate a range of abilities including in the arts and sport, and to look for ability rather than
achievement,sothatunderachieversareamongstthoseidentified.
There are high potential learners in every year group in school. Schools are free to determine the size of their high potential
populationbutmustbeabletojustifythisintermsofimprovedstandardsforalllearnersidentified.Schoolsshouldalsoidentifyand
trackthetop1%and2%oflearnerswhoselearningneedsareverydifferentyetagain.
IdentifyingGiftedandTalentedLearnersGettingStarted,DCSF,2008
MethodsofIdentification
Highpotentiallearnerscanbeidentifiedbyany,oracombinationof,thefollowingmethods:
CATsScores
SATsScores
TrackingData
Checklists
TeacherNomination
PeerNomination
ParentNomination
Interview
CurrentThinking
Many schools are uncomfortable with the rigid idea that high potential learners are identified and become an elite group that
receives certain privileges. For this reason, some settings have adopted a more fluid policy where students are identified on an
ongoingbasis,althoughthisapproachpresentsadministrationchallenges.Thetwoapproachesareoutlinedbelow:
DefineIdentifyProvide(DIP)
Thecriteriaforhighpotentiallearnersisdecideduponanddefinedthroughpolicy
Highpotentiallearnersareidentifiedaccordingtothecriteria
Provisionforhighlearningpotentialisdirectedatthoseidentified
ProvideIdentifyProvide(PIP)
Enrichedprovisionisinclusiveandcanbeaccessedbyall,indifferentareas
Highpotentiallearnersareidentifiedbytheoutcomesofenrichedprovision
Extensionisprovidedtothosewhoareidentified
IntheDIPmodel,highpotentiallearnersarenormallyidentifiedbySATsscoresandtrackingdataaswellasteachernomination.In
thePIPmodel,learnersareoftenidentifiedbyarangeofmethodsincludingteachernominationafterobservation.
PotentialPlusUKrecommendsusingacombinationofthesemodelstoensurehighpotentiallearnersaresupportedinthebestway
possible.
DevelopingaPolicy
Whendevelopingapolicyonidentificationthisshouldinclude:
Arangeofaspectsofhighlearningpotential,including
Underachievement
Dualandmultipleexceptionality
Top1%and2%
Variousidentificationmethods
Subjectspecificidentificationaswellasgenericidentification
Aninclusiveemphasis
Basedonanagreedandsharedunderstandingofhighlearningpotential
Linkedtoanagreedandsharedpurpose
Withinaclimatethatcelebratesachievements

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Monitoringandevaluation

ProfilesofHighPotentialLearners
SubjectSpecificIdentificationseeSubjectSpecificAdviceSheets
IdentifyingUnderachievement
IdentifyingDualandMultipleExceptionalLearners
MoreinformationonguidanceforScotland,NorthernIrelandandWales

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