MAT Wales

More able and talented

“There are a lot of talented learners in Welsh secondary schools whose potential is not being developed fully enough. Schools need to consider whether they are offering children the full range of experiences and opportunities that will enable them to reach their potential and prosper.” Ann Keane, Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Education and Training in Wales.

This website has been created to support schools (as part of the Pembrokeshire More Able and Talented Professional Learning Community) to feel more confident in their ability to both recognise and challenge their most able learners, to ensure that they are exposed to rich tasks across the curriculum which challenge and extend their thinking. The term ‘More Able and Talented’ encompasses approximately 20% of the school population and is used to describe pupils who require appropriate curriculum structure, enriched and extended opportunities across the curriculum in order to develop their abilities in one or more areas.

These learners respond to high expectations and high cognitive challenge; and cognitive challenge is added by increasing complexity and diversity, not volume. Significantly, by improving the quality of learning and opportunities for more able and talented pupils we raise standards of achievement for all pupils. This initiative is routed in an inclusive agenda aimed at meeting the needs of all learners;

“In the few schools where more able and talented pupils achieve particularly well, all pupils tend to achieve high standards. This is because the teaching and learning strategies that are having a postive impact on the more able and talented pupils also improve standards for pupils of all abilities.” Estyn (2011)

Latest Articles

The Art of the Possible. MAT conference, 13th June,  City Hall, Cardiff. Learners respond to high expectations and high cognitive challenge.  Improving the quality of learning opportunities raises standards of achievement for all pupils. Remain up to date with the latest developments and have access to innovative and proven strategies to create and sustain the growth mindset necessary to enable students to excel. What can I expect? Understand HMI expectations […]

BLOODHOUND for BIG BANG PEMBROKESHIRE Schools Show Led by Dr Ben Evans Swansea University The College of Engineering at Swansea University has been leading the aerodynamic design of the amazing 1000 mph Land Speed Record challenge car BLOODHOUND SSC. Now your school can join the supersonic adventure at BIG BANG PEMBROKEHIRE Suitable for Year 10 and above, the show features the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics that have gone into […]

http://www.history.org.uk/ – The Historical Association provides solutions to history teachers and departments, in both secondary and primary schools, to help them meet their training and development needs.

http://www.geography.org.uk/ – The GA is a UK-based subject association with the charitable objective of furthering geographical knowledge and understanding.

http://www.ukla.org/ – The United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA) is a registered charity, which has as its sole object the advancement of education in literacy.

http://www.ase.org.uk/home/ – The Association for Science Education (ASE) is the largest subject association in the UK. As the professional body for all those involved in science education from pre-school to higher education, the ASE provides a national network supported by a dedicated staff team.

http://www.m-a.org.uk/jsp/index.jsp – The Mathematical Association – Supporting Mathematics in Education.

http://nrich.maths.org/frontpage – The NRICH Project aims to enrich the mathematical experiences of all learners. To support this aim, members of the  NRICH team work in a wide range of capacities, including providing professional development for teachers wishing to  embed rich mathematical tasks into everyday classroom practice.

https://www.iggy.net/ – IGGY is a no fee global educational social network designed to help gifted and talented young people aged 13-18 realise their full potential. They are part of the University of Warwick so their members have access to great educational resources and get to work with top academics and other gifted and talented young people around the world.  

BBC Radio 4 http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b062jsn7#play  - Claudia Hammond presents the history of psychology series which examines the work of the people who have changed our understanding of the human mind. This week she interviews Carol Dweck, who identified that individuals tend towards a fixed or a growth mindset regarding what they can learn and achieve. She also showed that a fixed mindset can be changed, and that once people adopt a […]

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