Excellence in Cities Definition

Broadly speaking, ‘gifted’ pupils are defined as those with ability in one or more curriculum subjects, while ‘talented’ pupils are those with talents in sports or creative arts. It is recognised of course, that some are ‘all-rounders’. Multi-dimensional models of ability are included, such as the ‘multiple intelligences’ approach.

The national strategy concentrates on two overlapping populations: 

• First, a ‘relative population’ typically comprising 5-10% of the pupils in each school. This applies regardless of the school’s ability profile, so a highly selective grammar school and a school with a depressed intake each focus on their most able pupils. This approach is designed to emphasise that all schools have gifted and talented pupils, even the most depressed. There is no logical reason why a highly selective school should be inherently better at providing for its most able pupils than a school catering for pupils with a much wider range of ability;
   
• Second, an ‘absolute’ population comprising 5-10% of pupils who are gifted and talented in national terms. The Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth is catering for the needs of this group. Some schools with high ability profiles will find that most, if not all, of their gifted and talented population falls within this subset; others will have relatively few pupils that qualify.

        (Department for Education and Skills. Autumn 2002)