Gifted and Talented

We are committed to the development and encouragement of all pupils, whether they need additional support or whether they are considered to be Gifted or Talented.

If your daughter is Gifted (academically across the board) or Talented (in one specific area, either academic or non academic), it will be identified through various levels of testing and she will be added to the Register.

Gifted

In Year 7, girls will take a MidYis test and those achieving a score of 126 or more will be recognised as Gifted. Girls will also be identified as gifted by measuring thier GCSE results - a score of 58 points or more from their top 8 GCSEs where A* = 8 points.
 

Talented

Girls can be identified as Talented in a specific subject(s). Criteria is set per subject but it is generally regarded as the top 10% of a year group. A talented girl will be given access to the Gifted programme, and extension work will be provided to her i.e. enrichment activities linked to each specific subject for which she is regarded as Talented.

Once girls are identified as part of the ‘Gifted and Talented’ programme, they are mentored on a rota during assembly and form times in the Learning Enhancement Centre.

All staff contribute to the Gifted and Talented programme by planning and executing differentiated lessons which include open ended activities to challenge and push our girls to achieve the best they can. In addition, our girls are provided with enrichment opportunities both within school and by outside agencies  These can be in the form of workshops, guest lectures and visits.

In recent academic years, Year 10 and 11 Gifted and Talented girls have attended the Gifted and Talented Study Days in Manchester run bu Richard Huish College which include University style lectures and discussions on controversial andd challenging topics.  

During the last academic year, Key Stage 3 Gifted and Talented girls attended a study day called Bringing Art and Science together at the Manchester Museum and the Whitworth Art Gallery. Selected Year 8 Gifted and Talented girls attended the Conway Challenge and a group of VI Formers attended a fabulous talk on the Manned Mission to Mars by a Russian Cosmonaut.

Girls are encouraged to challenge themselves by participating in Maths Challenges, Linguistics Olympiads, Spelling Bees, Model United Nations, public speaking, debating, academic and sporting competitions and many other enriching activities. Several girls from AESG have taken the MENSA test and been accepted into the high IQ society.

Girls wishing to apply to top universities including Oxbridge are given support in the form of mentoring and preparation sessions as well as practice interviews both in school and at other institutions.

Mrs Walster coordinates the Gifted and Talented programme with support from Ms Hodson. Gifted and Talented sessions take place every Thursday lunchtime where any girl on the Gifted and Talented register can discuss topics, seek advice and learn more about study days.