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While all individual students have strengths and abilities, gifted and talented students have exceptional abilities.  They have certain learning characteristics that give them the potential to achieve outstanding performance.

 

Giftedness and talent can be seen in the following areas:

  • Intellectual/Academic refers to students with exceptional abilities in one or more of the essential learning areas (i.e. language and languages, mathematics, technology, health and physical education, social sciences, science, the arts).
  • Creativity refers to students with general creative abilities as evidenced in their abilities to problem-find and problem-solve, and their innovative thinking and productivity.
  • Expression through the visual and performing arts refers to music, dance, drama and visual arts.
  • Social/Leadership refers to students with interpersonal and intrapersonal abilities and qualities which enable them to act in leadership roles.
  • Culture-specific abilities and qualities refers to those valued by the student’s cultural or ethnic group, including traditional arts and crafts, pride in their cultural identity, language ability and service to the culture.
  • Expression through physical activity/sport refers to students with excellent physical abilities and skills, as evidenced through sport and/or health and physical education programmes.

Description

Giftedness is a complex phenomenon and because of this, our identification process is multidimensional.  We draw upon a selection of objective and subjective sources to gather the information.  These include using valid and reliable instruments such as PAT results, specific selection tests, teacher observations and parents’ knowledge. Creativity is a key characteristic of giftedness and this is valued and nurtured at our school.

All students who meet the criteria will be involved in our specialised programmes.  Information gathering is also on-going to ensure we have detailed and accurate information that assists in planning suitable strategies and curriculum adaptations to enhance the learning of these students.  We also appreciate cultural perspectives when collecting data on students.

We have staff who have been identified as having skills and being passionate about working with gifted students and they are continuously involved in professional development.  We are aware of the vulnerability of highly gifted students in areas such as: uneven development, adult expectations, self-definition, inappropriate environments, perfectionism, alienation, intense sensitivity and role conflicts, and ensure that the environment is supportive in order to assist students to cope with these vulnerabilities.

Extension opportunities may include:  Music Composition, Visual Arts, Dance and Drama, Design, Computer Skills such as web page design and presenting, EPRO8, Robotics, Science, Philosophy, Mathematics, Japanese, Technology and Leadership.

Students gifted and talented in the area of psychomotor aspects of education such as athletics, dancing/mime and sporting disciplines are given the opportunity to participate in elite skill opportunities and activities.

Incredible Minds Overview

The Incredible Minds Extension Programme provides targeted enrichment opportunities for Year 7 and 8 students with identified gifts, talents, and high performance across academic, digital, sporting, and artistic domains.

The programme runs on Fridays and complements differentiated learning within students’ home classes.  Students may participate in one Academic High-Performance Class or Academy per year.

Programme Goals

  • Extend and challenge gifted and talented learners.
  • Foster creativity, innovation, and critical thinking.
  • Develop leadership and performance excellence.
  • Provide pathways toward future academic, sporting, and artistic success.
  • Complement classroom differentiation.

Programme Strands

Academic High-Performance Classes

For students with special abilities in core academic areas

Our Year 7 and 8 Academic High-Performance Classes for Children with Special Abilities (CWSA) operate during Blocks 2 and 3 on Fridays.

There are two Year 7 classes (Mansfield and Pearse) and one Year 8 class (Rutherford). The Year 7 classes have an even balance of students, with neither class representing a higher level than the other.

These classes are designed for students who demonstrate giftedness and talent in the areas of science, mathematics, and literacy. They are intended to complement the differentiated learning that takes place within home classes for CWSA student groups.

Entry into the programme is by invitation and is based on a range of academic data, including previous achievement and current assessment information.


Classes Offered (Years 7 & 8):

  • Rutherford – Year 8 (25 students)
  • Mansfield – Year 7 (25 students)
  • Pearse – Year 7 (25 students)


Selection Criteria:

To be selected, students must be achieving at a minimum of stanine 8 or 9 in PAT tests and asTTle Level 5.  The top 25 students will be selected for these programmes.


Programme:

The programme is structured into three rotations across the year, with students completing two options in each rotation.  This allows students to experience a total of six different options throughout the year.

These options include:

  • Japanese
  • Food Technology
  • Science
  • Mathematics
  • Engineering / Building & Design
  • Digital Technologies

Sports Academy

The Sports Academy provides opportunities for two different groups of school athletes, namely those identified through individual learning pathways as being our top achieving elite athletes and those students selected to represent the school at selected tournaments.  There will of course be many students who fall into both of these categories. The Academy will provide a programme of seminars and practical training sessions for those identified through individual learning pathways.  Seminar and workshop topics will include:

  • Fitness and training.
  • Professional sports career pathways.
  • Sports physiology.
  • Tertiary training options.
  • Sport BOP.
  • Guest speakers.
  • Skills workshops.

The core group of students selected for this academy will be drawn from Year 8 with students having demonstrated their ability during Year 7. Students will be invited to apply for the Sports Academy early in term 1, 2025.

Arts Academy

The Arts Academy provides opportunities for three different groups of students in the disciplines of Visual Art, Dance/Drama and Music.  The Arts Academy programme runs simultaneously with the academic classes and other academies as part of our school’s Incredible Minds programme. It involves students who have been identified as being our top gifted and talented students in these three disciplines.  Selection to the visual arts, music and performing arts classes in this academy will be by application in the first weeks of term 1, 2025.  Students will be invited to complete an application form followed by auditions. Students will be selected from these auditions and all applicants advised of the outcome of their application.

Successful applicants will spend each Friday involved in extension activities in visual arts, drama/ dance or music.

Programmes include:

  • Advanced tutoring individually and on a group basis.
  • Workshops with experts from the community.
  • Out of school visits and tours.
  • Entry to a variety of competitions and productions.
  • Individual coaching towards career opportunities.
  • Guest speakers and mentors.

Student Leadership Programme

Student Leaders are selected at the end of their Year 7 year. Students are observed during the course of the year by all staff members, and then in term 4, are nominated by classroom or technology teachers to take part in Student Leader selection trials. During the trials, the nominees are given a series of individual and group activities to participate in. A selection panel observes these activities, and based on their observations of leadership qualities displayed, 18-20 students are selected to lead the school in Year 8.

The Year 8 Student Leaders are given a range of responsibilities to perform around the school.  Student Leader responsibilities include:

  • Collection and delivery of morning and afternoon messages.
  • Hosting assemblies and public speaking.
  • Litter monitoring and hat checks in the summer terms and awarding house points.
  • Lunch duties.
  • Engraving services to name student stationery and sunglasses.
  • Welcoming families and groups touring the school.
  • Delivering speeches at the Year 6 Information Evening and familiarising families and children with the school environment and facilities.
  • Attending the transition visits to contributing primary schools with Senior Management to address the Year 6 Q&A sessions.
  • In general, being amazing role models for our incoming Year 7 students and our Year 8 students.

The aim of the Student Leader programme is to empower Ōtūmoetai Intermediate students who demonstrate leadership attributes and skills. It gives them the opportunity to mix with other students who demonstrate these skills and provides them with experiences that will grow them as future leaders in our community.

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