Gifted and Talented Education at Charles Weston School Coombs
At Charles Weston School Coombs we are guided by the current ACTED Gifted and Talented Students Policy (2014). If you have any questions about gifted and talented education at CWSC, whether or not about your child, please contact the school’s Gifted and Talented Liaison Officer (GaTLO), Sharee Harrild (sharee.harrild@ed.act.edu.au) or by calling the school and leaving a message with our administration staff.
Inclusion
At Charles Weston we value inclusion. All students, especially those with additional needs, are supported to engage in high-challenge learning tasks with a cohort of peers.
Giftedness
At CWSC, giftedness is defined according to Gagne’s DMGT (as per Directorate policy) and is viewed as an additional need that must be catered for in order for students to reach their potential.
Identification
Identification of gifted students involves gathering data using objective and subjective measures of both ability and achievement in order to build a picture of the strengths and needs of the whole child.
Objective | Subjective | |
Ability | Group- administered ability test at least twice in K-6 | Teacher observations and nominations Peer nominations Parent nominations Self nominations |
Achievement | Various benchmarked Mathematics and reading assessments (including NAPLAN) | Classroom-based assessments and observations |
Case Management approach
All identification evidence is analysed by the Student Achievement Team in order to:
- Determine the best possible interventions to meet the needs and strengths of gifted students, and
- Evaluate and review current measures being taken.
The Student Achievement Team consists of the Disability Education Coordinator, the GaTLO, the School Psychologist and the Deputy Principal. They periodically review schoolwide achievement data with an aim to maximise the academic, social and emotional progress of all students. Gifted students are analysed particularly closely in order to minimise underachievement.
Grouping
Where possible, gifted students are placed in cluster groups within classes, or given the opportunity to work with each other on group projects across classes.
Programming (extension, enrichment and acceleration)
Enrichment
The Australian Curriculum is taught through rich inquiry pedagogy across CWSC, which meets many of the requirements for effective differentiation for gifted students. Specific examples of differentiation of content, process, product and learning environment can be found below (from Possibilities for Learning).
Content Abstractness Complexity Extracurricular topics Lives & living [Re-]Organization for learning value Real-life topics Self-selected content | Process Complex thinking Expert methods of inquiry Individual pursuits Inquiry-based learning Open-ended experiences Flexible pacing Reflecting & debriefing Self-selected process Variety |
Product Authentic audiences Feedback & evaluation Self-selected products Transformations Variety | Learning Environment Accepting Complex Flexible High mobility Independent Learner-centered Open Flexible groupings |
Extension
Throughout the year, various extension opportunities are offered to gifted students. The AMT Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians and the subsequent Enrichment are excellent extension opportunities offered at CWSC.
The APSMO Mathematics Olympiad is a great opportunity for students in years 5/6.
The Dorothea Mackellar Poetry Competition is something we encourage our students to enter and hope to expand our interest in in the future.
Students/families can choose to do ICAS testing.
Acceleration
There are many different forms of acceleration, and at CWSC we are open to exploring all possibilities, including early entry to preschool, Kindergarten or year 1, curriculum compacting, telescoping curriculum, single subject acceleration, and whole grade acceleration. Decisions about acceleration are ultimately made by the Principal, in consultation with the Student Achievement Team, which includes the school psychologist, the Disability Education Coordinator, and using a range of available evidence.
Planning/Assessment/Reporting
Individual Learning Plans (ILPs) will be developed for (and where appropriate, with) all students who have been whole grade or subject accelerated, students identified as twice exceptional, and students recommended through the case management approach. ILPs will be overseen and coordinated by the GaTLO and the leadership team, and will be reviewed at least annually. The reporting process for students identified as gifted is the same as for other students in their academic cohort- their summative reports will be made against achievement standards for the subject and year level that they have been taught, with reference to any specific reportable goals identified in the student’s ILP.