Most Able

At Icknield High School we invest in ‘Raising the Achievement of All’.

Staff work hard with our feeder schools through our robust Transition Process to identify the abilities and talents of all students but pay particular attention to identifying the high achieving, gifted and talented students (known as Most Able) of the incoming year group as early as possible.

Once enrolled at Icknield we use the information provided by the Primary Schools to ensure that all students are challenged appropriately.

The students on our Most Able (HPA) Register are identified through:-

Having a Cognitive Ability Test score of 124+ in two areas (verbal, non-verbal or quantitative reasoning) or with a mean score of 120+ across all three areas;

Having been identified as multiply Able, in three or more subject areas.

The students identified in specific curriculum areas are identified through a combination of primary school identification, CATs data, NGRT data, internal assessments and classroom observation. All departments have published the criteria that they use to identify those students who are Most Able and Exceptionally Able in their subject area.

Once identified students are placed on the Most Able HPA or Subject Area Register which is reviewed annually and their progress is monitored closely.

Where HPA students are identified as underperforming, additional intervention is put in place through the Pastoral System and Pupil Premium grant money may be allocated for this where students are eligible.

Icknield High School offers many opportunities for our Most Able students to be challenged both within the classroom in all subject areas and through extra curricular activities and events. These include events at Oxford and Cambridge Universities  (Years 9, 10 & 11), STEM Club (Years 7-11), Coding Club (Years 7-11), the Leadership Academy (Years 9-11), BBC School Report (Years 7 & 8), Glia Learning Workshops (Years 9-11) & the annual CERN Trip (Years 10 & 11).

If you require further information please contact:-

Mr G Forbes, SLT link to the Most Able - gforbes@icknield.beds.sch.uk        

Mrs J Rankin, Co-ordinator for the Most Able - jrankin@icknield.beds.sch.uk

Most Able Information

• Most Able Policy
• How to support your More Able child?

Useful Links

NACE (National Association for Able Children in Education) -  http://www.nace.co.uk/

Mensa (The High IQ Society) - http://www.mensa.org.uk/

Potential Plus UK - https://www.potentialplusuk.org/

Tomorrows Achievers (Masterclasses for Exceptionally Able Children) - www.tomorrowsachievers.co.uk

GIFT (an internationally respected provider of courses for the exceptionally able) https://giftcourses.co.uk/home-page/

Russell Group (the 24 leading UK Universities) http://russellgroup.ac.uk/

The Complete University Guide (an independent guide to all UK universities) https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/

Apprenticeship Guide (all you need to know about Apprenticeships) http://www.apprenticeshipguide.co.uk/

Grid Club – an online site carrying a large range of highly interactive educational content for use at home. GridClub is one of the most popular educational websites in the UK because of its innovative design and fun approach to learning  https://gridclub.com/

Apply to Cambridge - https://www.applytocambridge.com/camspire/apply/

Tips for Parents – How to help your Able child

1. Read with them, even if they are good readers
2. Able children enjoy learning new words – have a new word of the week at home.
3. Extend their general knowledge with a fact of the week.
4. Encourage physical activity to develop co-ordination and general fitness.
5. Do not always focus on your child’s obvious skills – encourage them to sample new activities.
6. Puzzles, crosswords, logic games, word games, card games, board games all help to develop the thinking skills and social interaction.
7. Learn a new language together.
8. Give your child a broad range of experiences.
9. Encourage children to ask questions and answer them as fully and honestly as possible but admit it when you do not have a full answer.
10. Limit the number of engagements and formal activities that their child is exposed to, in order to ensure that the child has the space and ‘free time’ in which to play, experiment and develop hobbies and interests of his/her own.
11. Talking with, and listening to a child is one of the most important factors in the development of language. Language develops the learning pathways of the brain.
12. Children need to be allowed ‘failures’ and mistakes – they are a necessary part of growing up and learning. Indeed, parents should never be afraid to say they do not understand something or that they made a mistake – it can be reassuring for the most able!
13. Able children can be self-absorbed and need to be encouraged by parents to appreciate and listen to the views of others and learn to interact with others.
14. It is important to compliment what is done at school and not replicate what goes on in school.
15. Encourage your child to watch the news and discuss local, national and international issues with them.