Welcome to Gifted and Talented at Mossbourne

Mossbourne is committed to ensuring that the most able students, and indeed all students, are stretched and challenged. This happens both inside and outside the classroom.

The students of Mossbourne have been exceptionally busy being gifted and talented this year. In the industrious beehive that is Mossbourne we have been cooking tortillas in Spanish, blogging in assumed identities and even creative music with a professional quartet. However, the industrious buzzing does not stop there. Our geographers have mapped the Downs, explored the Olympics and investigated Kew Gardens; our artists have considered, contemplated and critiqued the work of Gehard Richter; our mathematicians have conducted top secret spy missions and the historians have visited the horrible histories. We have, quite simply, swarmed the city.

Key Stage three students should look out for the annual G&T challenges next year whilst Key Stage four students must brace themselves for an aspirational futures evening and the launch of our new ‘What’s the Point?’ challenges.

Remember, intelligent people thrive on challenge so keep busy, keep thinking and keep discovering.

At Mossbourne Community Academy we aim to provide a fully inclusive environment where young people of all abilities may flourish. The Gifted and Talented initiative recognises that students who possess exceptional ability and talents should be granted the direction, time, encouragement and resources to maximize their potential, whether it is in the area of intellect, specific academics or in the expressive arts.

Benjamin Davis is the Gifted and Talented coordinator for the academy: Bdavis@mossbourne.hackney.sch.uk

How are you identified as Gifted and Talented?

At Mossbourne we aim to provide an enriching and challenging curriculum to students of all abilities. With this in mind, it is our duty to provide for the particular learning needs of Gifted and Talented students. According to the DCSF, Gifted and talented children are:

“Those who have one or more abilities developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group (or with the potential to develop these abilities).”

In England the term 'gifted' refers to those pupils who are capable of excelling in academic subjects such as English or History. 'Talented' refers to those pupils who may excel in areas requiring visio-spatial skills or practical abilities, such as in games and PE, drama, or art.

Students are identified as Gifted and Talented by means of data analysis and teacher nomination. There is also an opportunity for parents to nominate their children for consideration. If your child has exhibited certain characteristics which are indicative of high performance and you wish to nominate them for consideration, please complete the form below and send it to Beatrice Hunter (bhunter@mossbourne.hackney.sch.uk)

Gifted and Talented Parent Nomination

G&T Saturday

An eerie silence had descended upon Mossbourne –the sky was brooding and all that could be heard was a gentle murmur and

the scratching of pens. This was odd as it was mid-morning on Gifted and Talented Saturday. But this year the day was full of trips. All around London Mossbourne students were listening, looking, laughing and learning. The historians took an atmospheric walk around Whitechapel in the drizzle, tracing the grisly tale of the ripper murders. In nearby Bethnal Green a group of year 8s found their inner peace at the London Buddhist Centre, and the Geographers took an architectural walk around Dalston. Our samba band yet again proved themselves to be consummate professionals as they wowed the crowds at the Petchey Carnival.

On the South Bank our students stormed the Tate Modern on two fronts. The linguists attacked the Miro exhibition armed with contextual knowledge of the life and times of the Spanish giant. Meandering more quietly between them were our Gifted and Talented artists, who spent the entire day marvelling at the wonders of contemporary art and picking up tips and inspiration. Meanwhile back at Mossbourne, although things were quiet they were not quite silent. The mathematicians were using their brains and their bodies to actively solve maths problems (it all seemed rather exhausting). Puzzles also had a place in the poetry slam, as the young bards became story solving detectives… their discoveries can be found… The day was, as ever, rich, varied and incredibly industrious. The

students demonstrated intelligence, independence and integrity throughout the day. A huge amount was achieved by all until, with a crash of thunder as the heavens opened, we all returned home saturated both literally and figuratively.