Gifted and Talented

Discussion of the 11 Plus

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Lulu
Posts: 52
Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2008 9:20 pm
Location: essex

Post by Lulu »

Personally, whilst keeping a close eye on his progress in maths, perhaps just be grateful that he is doing so well in the subject and concentrate his (and your) efforts on something he is less strong in. At such a young age I think encouraging your son to be an allrounder will be much more beneficial. He will have plenty of time to show his strengths as he gets older, challenge him in other directions first.

In my experience year 3 is only the beginning and even for very able children, something will come along to challenge them. Teachers in older year groups can make a a huge difference. (Unlike being on the G&T register!) :D

Lulu
Glos_Mum
Posts: 660
Joined: Sun Mar 30, 2008 11:05 pm

Post by Glos_Mum »

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Last edited by Glos_Mum on Sat Aug 22, 2015 2:05 am, edited 2 times in total.
Bexley Mum 2
Posts: 851
Joined: Sat Nov 17, 2007 9:55 pm
Location: Bexley

Post by Bexley Mum 2 »

Josa - getting your son to do kumon maths and having him tutored in core subjects will possibly place him even further ahead than his classmates, when it sounds as if he's doing really well anyway. Perhaps you could pull back on this and get him involved in some other challenging activities such as chess, learning a musical instrument, doing fun science projects at home. My youngest child, currently in year 4, is particularly bright and he has been having piano lessons for a couple of years. He enjoys this - it challenges and stretches him mentally and gives him a great sense of achievement.

I agree with Glos mum that pushing for your son to be on the G&T register might not be the best approach, but, when you meet his teacher there's nothing to stop you asking casually what the school's policy is. They must have some firm criteria, such as a child achieving a certain standard above average in end of year tests - I can't believe it's left to the subjective opinions of teachers on how he is performing in his day to day classwork.

I hope, when you sit down and discuss this in detail with his teacher, you will be presently surprised. At my sons' school, even before we had setting for maths, I remember my eldest's year 4 teacher saying he was doing year 6 maths.

If all else fails, become a parent governor which will help you understand how the school operates, and give you a chance to influence things!

Good luck!
Guest55
Posts: 16254
Joined: Mon Feb 12, 2007 2:21 pm

Post by Guest55 »

Kumon maths is not a very inspiring diet for an able child either ...
perplexed
Posts: 490
Joined: Wed Jan 02, 2008 1:18 pm
Location: kent

Post by perplexed »

No I remember looking at some Kumon maths that my nephew was doing when he was at primary school. He said "Mr Kumon was a nutter" and I could see why. The questions were so repetitious over the week ------- great if you need that but it bored him silly. I told my sister what I thought and she stopped paying the money. He told me with great joy next time I saw him that Mr Kumon was dead.

I agree with Bexley Mum 2. Do some enriching things with him - visit art galleries, listen to music, learn an instrument, go to the theatre, do some new sports, join the scouts, climb mountains, learn to mapread, look down a microscope, learn a language, do some photography, keep a pet, breed stick insects. If your child is gifted, the primary school curriculum will be "child's play" (forgive the pun) and he should have the time to do some things that the child who has to struggle over it will not have the time to do.

Good luck.
Josa
Posts: 224
Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2008 10:57 am

Gifted and Talented

Post by Josa »

Thank you all so much for your comments/advices, greatly appreciated and I have taken everything you've said on board. When I attend the meeting on Thursday, I guess my focus now will be Differentiated work rather than G&T register (really if I knew that existed I would have pushed for that rather than G&T as all I wanted was for my son to be challenged so he doesn't get bored) and will certainly challenge my son been used as a class assistant. I must add though that my DS is involved in other activites - Cobs, swimming, french lessons, recorder lessons and ofcourse football which he is absolutely mad about, he plays for our local Sunday league. Thank you once again to you all. :D :D :D
neurotic kent mum
Posts: 970
Joined: Wed Mar 07, 2007 12:40 am

Post by neurotic kent mum »

I think my son is on the GT register - couldnt say definitely as not something the school cares to share.Love the school but G AND T not its thing.
Bougalou
Posts: 435
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2008 12:23 am

The irony

Post by Bougalou »

DD has just been invited to a G&T summer school at the very school which has rejected her :cry:
Jazz
Posts: 41
Joined: Sun Aug 24, 2008 9:01 pm

Post by Jazz »

The G&T Register is meaningless.

Schools are required to identify the top percentage of pupils in each subject; these are not, therefore, necessarily truly G&T pupils, they are simply more able than others in their year group at that school.

Move them to a different school, and they might very well not be on THAT school's register.
blackwellmum
Posts: 33
Joined: Sat Aug 16, 2008 3:07 pm

g and t register

Post by blackwellmum »

My two girls have been on it and to be honest it hasn't made much of a difference. If you have a good teacher and differentiation in the classroom they shouldn't need it. I hate to say this, but why so much so young. There is always a chance that he will peak too soon and by the time year 9 kicks in, won't want to be doing so much hard work. Let him be a little boy, play, have fun and get muddy. Its not just about hard work its about being able to socialise, have fun and enjoy being little. (sorry but I work in child mental health and see the results of too much too young!!)
good luck with it all.
Claire
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