Research evidence suggests that improving teaching and learning for the most able often raises standards across the broader range of ability. School senior management teams are responsible for integrating the approach to gifted and talented pupils with the school’s overall strategic development and planning. Gifted and talented provision often forms a key part of school improvement activities for raising standards in teaching and learning, and increasing access and inclusion. It shares the characteristics of other change management endeavours in schools.











If you are a senior manager in a school aiming to improve provision for gifted and talented pupils, you will find all the units of professional development material helpful as background context. In particular, Unit 3 on Leadership and Management is pertinent to your role. You will also find the Launchpad briefings useful, both for your own information and as overview documents to share with colleagues.

Senior managers are confronted constantly with new directives, initiatives and policies. Gifted & Talented Institutional Quality Standards have recently been launched by the Department for Education and Skills. These standards are designed as second-tier monitoring and evaluation tools, to be used with the school or college Self Evaluation Form. Classroom Gifted & Talented Quality Standards are currently in preparation.

Click here for a link to the Gifted & Talented Institutional Quality Standards.

Click here for a document relating the Institutional Quality Standards to the elements of Every Child Matters.