Teaching talented youngsters and nurturing their skills has got to start as soon as they begin secondary school, says the Government. Here Education Reporter Haydn Lewis takes a look at what it means to be a Gifted And Talented pupil at Tadcaster Grammar School.


THE Government defines “gifted learners” as youngsters who have one or more abilities developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group, or with the potential to develop those abilities.

According to the Department for Children, Schools and Families, “gifted” describes learners who have the ability to excel academically in one or more subjects, such as English, drama, technology, while “talented” describes learners who have the ability to excel in practical skills such as sport, leadership, artistic performance, or in an applied skill.

The Government encourages secondary schools to have a strong Gifted And Talented programme, and at Tadcaster Grammar School the aim is to nurture pupils from the word go.

Claire Duckworth, a teacher in drama and performance, is a leading teacher for the more able, gifted and talented, and also an advanced skills teacher (AST).

She said: “As an AST in North Yorkshire and across the county, it is my responsibility to provide for more able students and to give staff training.

“At Tadcaster Grammar School, we recognise that all students have gifts and talents and it is our responsibility to nurture them. All teachers are informed of the students in their class who may be extra gifted and talented and are then able to provide material in lessons which is suitably challenging.

“Parents are also encouraged to inform the school if a child has achieved anything special, and it is hoped that this information is provided for students by the time they start in Year 7.”

Miss Duckworth points to several pupils as examples of how the school’s Gifted And Talented programme works.

Adam Udakis, 11, from Tadcaster, attended Tadcaster East Primary School, achieving three of the highest Level 5s in his SATs.

He excelled in maths and had been attending maths masterclasses at Tadcaster Grammar School.

Adam represented Tadcaster East at swimming, tag rugby, cross-country, basketball and cricket, but his main passion is football.

“Adam lives and breathes football,” said his mother, Rachel Udakis. “He has played football since the age of five and has been training with Leeds United Football Club coaches since the age of seven.”

Katie Wannop, of Appleton Roebuck, is Gifted And Talented in all subjects, as are fellow new starters Eva Clavane, of Church Fenton, Abbie Bowes, of Tadcaster, and Jake Buckle, also of Tadcaster.

Katie achieved Level 5 in all her Year 6 SATs tests at Appleton Roebuck Primary School, and straight As in her final school report. Katie also represented Appleton Roebuck Primary School in a number of sports, including football, netball, tag rugby, swimming and rounders.

“Eva loves being an active part of her community,” says her father, Martin Clavane. Not only is she an A student academically, but started ballet at two-and-a-half years old and has achieved several distinctions and merits for both modern ballet and tap. She attends musical theatre, which combines her talents and love of singing, drama and dance. Eva is also an accomplished gymnast and athlete, chosen to represent Selby District Athletics Club at Sheffield Arena, competing against schools from all over Yorkshire.

Tadcaster Grammar’s head teacher, Geoff Mitchell said: “It is hoped that all the school pupils of today will become the university students of tomorrow, and follow the example of this year’s GCSE and A-Level candidates. “At GCSE, 83 per cent of students achieved five Grades A*-C and at A-Level, and 97 per cent of students achieved their first choice of university places, including four to Oxbridge."

Mr Mitchell said exam board Edexcel this year classed Tadcaster pupil Samuel Canham as among the top ten students in the country in maths and physics, in addition to being in the top five marks in the country for systems and control. Samuel achieved a staggering nine As at A-Level and will go to Trinity College at Cambridge University to study mathematics next month.