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

RELEVANT DOCUMENTS AND LINKS Overview of thinking skills – Flash film on thinking skills and more able and talented. Thinking skills PowerPoint to match Flash animation – Powerpoint presentation (to match flash animation) on thinking skills. Differentiation – Flash film on differentiating techniques. Differentiation PowerPoint to match Flash animation – Powerpoint presentation (to match flash animation) on differentiation. Questioning techniques – Flash film on questioning techniques to use with gifted and talented pupils. Questions PowerPoint to match Flash animation – Powerpoint presentation […]

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    Pembrokeshire County Council County Hall Haverfordwest SA61 1TP (01437) 775094