Gifted & Talented

Our most able students are stretched both through the curriculum and through off-timetable activities. These are co-ordinated by a member of staff who is specially responsible for the Gifted and Talented. We also have a specialist Oxbridge Adviser.

The academically gifted are identified through our screening system - the 'Midyis' and 'Yellis' tests run by Durham University which predict likely future performance at GCSE and beyond. Those who score highly are invited to go on the summer courses run by the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth at the University of Warwick.

Gifted pupils are guided towards subject options at GCSE and A-level which which will particularly stretch their individual aptitudes. Critical Thinking is offered in the Sixth Form. The Stride-Darnley Society provides a forum for high-flying Sixth Formers to give papers they have reseached to an audience of students and staff.

Mandarin and Ancient Greek are both taught in off-timetable 'clubs' (Mandarin is also offered as an option in Year 9). Those students who progress rapidly through the ICT course (the 'European Computer Driving Licence') can not only take additional modules but can then move on to do programming. Activities such as Science Club and Chess - while open to all - are well-suited to providing extra stimulation for bright pupils. Our brightest young scientists take an extra GCSE in Environmental Science in an after-school group and have field trips as part of this programme.

Students who are talented in music, drama or sport will have their talents developed through performances and matches. Musicians and actors are strongly encouraged to take the grade exams and to perform in Festivals. Sportsmen and women go for County and National trials. One of our sportsman won a Gold Medal for Javelin at the Youth Commonwealth Games - see Sporting Honours for further details.