The Talented Student Programme

Lead Teacher: Mr D Morgan

At Chelmer Valley High School Talented students are identified in each year group. They are monitored throughout their time at Chelmer Valley and the register is continuously updated based on government testing results and teacher’s national curriculum assessment levels. Each student will be involved in a mentoring programme and their workload in all subjects will be monitored. Enrichment and further development will be offered throughout the year in a number of subjects.

While parents will know their child’s achievements and potential, they will be informed formally of their inclusion in the Talented programme during the Autumn term. The Talented register is a working document and as such will be reviewed at the end of each academic year.

How we define able Talented students

Talented - students who have a specific academic ability or affinity for any curriculum area, subject or aspect of a subject.

The top 8-10% of each subject in year group.

How do we identify Talented students?

Chelmer Valley High School uses a range of methods in the identification of Talented students. The identification of students from each cohort is therefore made using the following methods:

Information from primary schools.
Internal and external assessment and formal testing.
Specific criteria developed by curriculum area/subjects.
Teacher/parent/peer/self-nomination.
Each department has their own policy.

How will we support your child?

All students have an entitlement to the following:

Lessons which stimulate, interest, challenge, inform, excite and encourage through partnership and dialogue with teachers and other students and active participation in the lesson.
Courses that lead to additional examinations and accreditation.
An entitlement beyond subject teaching, including preparation for adult life, further education and as competitive candidate in the world of work.
One to one mentoring and guidance to ensure your child’s all round well-being as they strive to achieve their challenging targets.
Access to extracurricular activities to enrich their learning across all subject areas, for example Saturday master classes and residential weekends. Examples within department's Talented page.
Through links with local schools (CSI Group) and external providers (e.g. GIFT).
Skilled, well prepared and informed staff who have a commitment to develop your child’s full potential at all times.

Department Programmes

As Talented students are defined as those who excel in one or more particular subject(s), all departments that have their own Talented programme. These include: English, Maths, Science, Technology, Humanities, Physical Education, Drama, Art, Music, MFL, Business Studies and Computer Studies.
Each department has a Talented booklet that outlines provision.
Students are tracked each year and their achievements monitored. The cohort is revised at the end of each year in the light of the student’s performance. While parents will know their child’s achievements and potential from subject reports, they will usually be informed formally of their inclusion in the Talented groups during the Autumn term.

What Can You Get Out of the Talented Programme?

Push students as far as possible and start to recognise potential.
Strike a careful balance between all aspects of school and home life.
Maximise exam preparation and obtain the best possible results.
Realise and achieve personal learning pathways.
Become more rounded individuals in preparation for adulthood.

Policy into practice

Overall responsibility for all students lies with the Talented Lead Teacher. At present this is: Mr D Morgan

Each subject area/department has a teacher responsible for Talented provision for their students. These are:

English Mr G Harries

Maths Mrs K Cohen

Science Mr J Scammells

Technology Mr N Edwards

Humanities Mr J King

Physical Education Miss J Hilton

Drama Miss G Peacock

Art Mrs S Bedford

Music Mrs A Cussell

MFL Mr M Smart

Computer Studies Mr A Barker

Business Studies Mr J Beadle

Click department to view their Policy, Register & Masterclasses.

There is a Learning Support Assistant who is responsible for student welfare and mentoring of those students on the Talented programme: Mrs J Hampel

Developments

The Chelmer Valley High School Talented programme is currently run by Mr Morgan, an Advanced Skills Teacher who specialises in Talented education.

Chelmer Valley High School is now linked to a number of schools in the ‘Consortium for School Improvement’. These schools are; the two Chelmsford Grammar Schools, King Edward VI Grammar School for Boys (KEGS) and Chelmsford County High School for Girls (CCHS), Bromfords, Billericay, Helena Romanes, King Harold Philip Morant, West Hatch High, King Harold, The Plume and Fitzwimarc. These schools are involved in various initiatives to promote the teaching and learning of Talented students.

Chelmer Valley is also a key part of KEGs’ Talented Lead School partnership. This provides regular staff and student opportunities for development.

The school’s highest priority is to continue to provide worthwhile enrichment activities for Talented students and to review the teaching and learning in the classroom environment to stretch the most able.

Chelmer Valley has a number of links with and has been involved in a number of activities run by companies/institutions who specialise in Talented education and excellent provision has been offered as a result. These include Gift, Twenty20 Learning, Essex University and Essex County Cricket Club.