ADDITIONAL NEEDS AND GIFTED AND TALENTED
The Additional Needs Co-Ordinator, Miss R Kellow, is responsible for the management of Special Educational Needs and the development of Gifted and Talented provision throughout the school.
Miss R Kellow liaises with staff and other agencies to provide appropriate support on individual and group basis. She will be available at all Parents’ and Students Consultation evenings to discuss ways in which the school can support and extend individual students in their learning.
For students who are joining the school Miss Kellow would be grateful if parents would inform her of any additonal needs that their son or daughter may have. This will ensure that a smooth transition can be planned and support such as arrangements for examination concessions can be made.
Once students have settled at the school any new concerns in the first instance should be raised with the subject teacher, tutor and head of year who will refer to the Additional Needs Co-ordinator as necessary.
THE EXTENDED STUDY PROJECT
The extended study project was first offered in 2006/7 and is now in its third year. A number of outstanding projects have been produced and displayed for judging and viewing by the entire school. Details of the project for 2009 and the permission forms can be found below.
Examples of projects from previous years can also be viewed on the relevant pages. The letter below is for students who would like to sign up for the 2009 Extended Study Project.
Dear Parent/Guardian
Re: Year 7 — 10 Gifted and Talented Extended Study Project 2009
Your son/daughter has expressed an interest in taking part in the Extended Study Project. This is an exciting venture being offered for the third year now, in which the students will explore a theme, an interest or an idea of their own. It is an entirely voluntary undertaking. The project may be presented in a variety of ways and they should choose the medium that best reflects their skills.There are many ways in which your son/daughter will benefit from this scheme:
- They will gain satisfaction and enjoyment.
- They will get to know themselves better and be clearer about their capabilities.
- Their knowledge will grow and at the same time they will have completed a worthwhile piece of research.
- This may in turn prompt them to carry out further investigation, when the opportunity arises.
- The experience should be a good preparation for GCSE, and in particular for coursework. It should also give them the confidence that they can do well at GCSE.
- They will have substantial achievements to record in their record of achievement and something of quality to show to their family and friends, and even talk about at an interview one day.
- They will achieve a sustained piece of thinking.
- They will feel great pride at the Presentation Evening when the completed projects are on display.
- They will develop many skills whilst undertaking their study; such as research, analysis and presentation, and will be able to evaluate the end project.
It is a requirement of the project that every student has a Personal Tutor and in keeping with the ethos of the project, it will be the student’s responsibility to find their own tutor. The tutor may be a parent, teacher, grandparent, friend of the family or any other adult but they should be someone who the student feels can be relied on to assist and advise. It is important to note that the role of the tutor is to provide help, support and guidance but not to participate in the content. In addition a sixth form mentor will also be assigned to offer support and guidance.
The project may be on any subject or topic but must be original ie. unique/their own piece of work. It can be written, drawn, designed or made by the student and must involve problem solving, answering questions or investigative work - a kind of pursuit. It must also include an explanation of their ideas and full details of their findings or conclusions. It should have a shape to it; a beginning, middle and end eg. Designing, making and completing.
It is important that any work on the project is carried out when all schoolwork has been completed and other commitments have been honored; consequently it should be fitted in during spare time and after homework is finished. It should be viewed as an extra piece of work to challenge and interest.
The deadline for completed projects is 1st May 2008 when students will receive feedback and advise regarding the best way to present their work in June. When assessing individual projects, we will be looking for quality ie work well done, accuracy, thoroughness, liveliness, enjoyment, enthusiasm, and evidence of imagination and creativity in the way ideas have been developed. In June all of the students’ projects will be displayed and judging will take place. The participating students and their parents/guardians will be invited to attend in the evening when adjudication and the presentation of awards will take place.
The first step on what I am sure will be a very exciting journey is to complete the permission slip below and return it to the school reception, no later than Friday 7th November.
Please note that you are agreeing for your son/daughter to undertake a project and that you are confident of their ability to do this in addition to their other commitments. The form also requires the support of the student’s form tutor for this same reason. An information pack will then be issued to students providing more detailed information and a project proposal form.
In the meantime, if you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact myself, Miss R Kellow or Mr J Smith, the Head Teacher.
I look forward to working with your son/daughter on their Extended Study Project.
Yours sincerely
R Kellow
Additional Needs Coordinator.
Please complete and return to the school reception by Friday 7th November
FAO: Miss R Kellow Year 7 — 10 Extended Study Project I am happy to support my son / daughter taking part in the Extended Study Project and would like them to receive an information pack. Student’s Name:
Tutor Group: Signed:
Date:(Parent / Guardian)