Gifted & Talented

As an academic, selective school, many of Dartford Grammar’s students can be described as ‘Gifted and Talented’. This is the reason why the provision of a G&T programme here is an integral part of our teaching. Every term, specialist teachers from each of the school’s disciplines meet to discuss ways in which to stretch our most capable students, both in lessons and out, to help capture the imagination and to inspire a life-long love of learning.

G&T identification of our students is informed by their teachers and is based on, but not limited to, performance in academic examinations. In addition to this, we use a specific set of criteria for each subject based upon findings from the National Association for Gifted Children (www.potentialplusuk.org). G&T students are likely to display a number of the below characteristics:

• Rapid learning
• Extensive vocabulary
• Excellent memory
• Robust reasoning
• Strong curiosity
• Maturity for age
• Keen observation
• Compassion for others
• Vivid imagination
• Ability with numbers
• Concern with justice and fairness
• Sensitivity
• A wide range of interests

Students categorised as G&T in a particular subject are tracked closely by the staff G&T subject representative. Students categorised as G&T in four or more subjects are also tracked by the school’s overall G&T Coordinator.

The school offers a wide range of G&T activities and this evolves from year to year. The Middle Years Programme and its Areas of Interaction form a focus for these activities, but we also ensure the offering is cross-curricular (with particular focus on our specialisms of MFL, Science and Sport ) and vertical wherever possible, meaning older students can provide guidance, support and mentoring for younger students.