Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) in Rangitoto College

Gifted students are those who perform or who have the ability to perform at a level significantly beyond their chronologically aged peers and whose special abilities and characteristics require special provisions and social and emotional support from the family, community and educational context. They may be found in all races and cultures, in every socio-economic group, amongst the disabled, and in both sexes. They appear in every field of human endeavour, where innate capacity is transformed into performance through its interaction with motivation and commitment, with the learning or working environment, and with the opportunity to learn and practise.

Making ongoing provision for gifted and talented students is a matter of equity and is necessary to enable them to reach their potential. Whenever a student is referred to the teacher in charge as being in need of curriculum extension/acceleration this will be investigated. Identification of needs will occur and appropriate activities to meet the learning needs of the student will be put in place.

Teachers will be expected to deliver courses and activities which meet the educational needs of GATE students. This may involve enrichment and/ or acceleration activities. Heads of Department will be responsible for making sure that this is the case and for selecting teachers with appropriate skills where possible. Teachers will incorporate the most up-to-date technology available to support student learning. Individual students/small groups may be withdrawn from class to participate in enrichment activities depending on the assessments made of the students needs.

Through involvement in the activities provided students will learn about and meet with individuals who share the same and different gifts/talents. Opportunities will be available across the school to develop and examine personal and societal values and to establish a personal value system. Communication skills will be developed to enable students to share and exchange ideas, to understand and relate to the society in which we live. A guidance counsellor will have responsibilities for the psychological and emotional needs of the GATE students.