More able learners 

At Dogsthorpe Academy all children are valued for their individual strengths, talents and special abilities, whether this is in a core curriculum subject or in any other area. 

We understand that all children, including the more-able pupils, require support and challenge in their learning in order to make progress and reach their full potential. Here at Dogsthorpe Academy, we use the term ‘more-able’ to refer to pupils who demonstrate or have the potential to work at a standard well above their peers; this means they are exceeding the National Curriculum expectations for their age. This may be in one or more areas of learning. 

Provision for more-able pupils 
We endeavour to meet the needs of higher ability children through careful identification and monitoring strategies and by providing access to a curriculum which will not only support the development of the whole child intellectually, socially and emotionally, but will enable them to show aptitudes and quality of thinking. 

We strongly believe that engaging teaching and learning for all is the key to securing achievement for every child. Through creative curriculum activities, more-able pupils are given a wide variety of exciting challenges and experiences, developing the ability to question, explain, persevere, communicate their thoughts and take risks in their learning whilst building relationships. 

We support our more-able pupils by giving them opportunities for open ended tasks, higher order thinking challenges and extension activities. In class children work in a range of ways; ability groups, mixed ability, paired work and independent work. We use a variety of teaching styles and a range of higher level questions to stimulate critical thinking. During English lessons, children are encouraged to ‘deepen the moment’ to improve and extend aspects of their writing further. In maths we provide challenge activities to stimulate and engage.  

 

Enrichment activities

In normal times, we offer a wide of opportunities for children to take part in enrichment activities to help develop confidence and leadership skills. These include Lego league which focuses on STEM skills and sports activities. 

  

What can I do for my child at home? 

There are many ways that parents can support their more able children. Below are just a few ideas that you may like to try. 

• Encourage them to take up a hobby. 

• Encourage independent research (Use local libraries or the school library which has a range of materials for the more able student.) 

• Encourage them to read national newspapers or to watch the news on television, to help their knowledge of current affairs. 

• Talk to them about what they have learnt in school during the day and what has particularly interested them. 

• Support homework activities by ensuring that the work is completed to a high standard. 

• Encourage creative and independent interests using resources either from local libraries, the internet or the School. 

• Help to develop team skills including cooperation and leadership by encouraging your child to take part in team games and sports. 

• Encourage your child’s work in school, providing rewards for good work, to stimulate an environment of positive achievement. 

• Talk to them about Thinking Skills and encourage them to do lateral thinking puzzles etc., to increase and develop these skills 

 

Visit the following websites for resources and ideas to your child’s development: 
http://nrich.maths.org.uk 
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools 
https://www.nagc.org/resources-publications/resources-parents (National Association for Gifted Children) 
http://www.beam.co.uk/ 
http://www.hoagiesgifted.org/ 

 

Examples of work achieved by our able pupils

 

Pine Class