Gifted & Talented Education at UC SSC Lake Ginninderra
The ACT Education Directorate is committed to ensuring that the needs of gifted and talented students are catered for in all ACT public schools to support them to reach their educational potential.
The Directorate uses Gagné’s definitions for ‘giftedness’ and ‘talent’:
GIFTEDNESS designates the possession and use of outstanding natural ability in at least one domain (intellectual, creative, socioaffective, sensorimotor), to a degree that places an individual in the top 10% of age peers.
TALENT designates the outstanding performance or competency in at least one field of human activity (academics, arts, business, leisure, social action, sport, technology) to a degree that places an individual in the top 10% of age peers in that field (Gagné, 2009).
At UC SSC Lake Ginninderra College, we provide educational programs and services for gifted and talented students that include:
- A differentiated curriculum that supports extended and personalised learning within a child’s classroom.
- Grouping strategies that provide opportunities to work with like-ability peers
- Extension tasks that deepen a student’s knowledge and understanding beyond what is expected of the whole class
- Individual inquiry opportunities as enrichment for gifted students through variety of programs (Ex: Academic Excellence Program, GSTEM, Global Classroom Partnership)
- Flexible learning environments that promote student choice and access to resources
- Case coordination for individual learning programs when required
- Access to events such as Maths Olympiad & Ethics Olympiad
As part of our assessment processes, we use evidence from multiple sources to identify potentially gifted and talented students. These include:
- Ability and achievement tests
- Teacher nominations
- External cognitive assessments
- Academic Excellence Program Aptitude Test
- Elite sports application
Our Gifted and Talented Liaison Officer (GaTLO), Rachel Regan is our point of contact between our school, the Directorate and parents regarding the needs of gifted and talented students. Please contact Rachel at Rachel.Regan@ed.act.edu.au should you wish to discuss the learning needs of your child.
Please visit the ACT Education Directorate’s website for further information about gifted and talented education in ACT public schools, including factsheets and a copy of the Policy and Procedures.
In addition, the ACT Gifted Families Support Group is a not-for-profit association that promotes the needs and challenges of raising and educating gifted children.
Reference: Gagné, F., 2009. Françoys Gagné - Differentiated Model of Giftedness and Talent (DMGT).