Page 438 - Week 02 - Tuesday, 18 March 2014
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According to current research, gifted and talented students may be as much as 10 per cent of our student population. In supporting these children, it is crucial that we recognise the role that schools have in determining and identifying how the needs of gifted and talented students are met in their school.
The new policy provides consistent and practical advice on the roles and responsibilities of school principals and teachers in identification and appropriate educational provisions and strategies to meet the needs of all gifted and talented students. The gifted and talented student policy 2014 reflects the government’s continued interest in pursuing the very best provisions to ensure the very best for our gifted and talented students and placing parents and children at the centre of our schools and education system.
Engaging families in a genuine partnership with their schools is paramount so that families see their schools as the hub of their local community. Every public school will have a designated first point of contact for gifted and talented students and their families. Teachers will have ongoing access to teacher scholarships, revised classroom practice, online resources and external expert partnerships.
As a means of maintaining best practice, the ACT government will engage an independent expert to provide ongoing advice to schools on professional learning and best practices in meeting the needs of gifted and talented education. In conjunction with the new policy, the Education and Training Directorate is also in the process of developing clear and consistent transparent advice to parents and carers through a series of fact sheets. They are working very closely with the gifted and talented parent groups and P&Cs in the development of those fact sheets.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Mr Gentleman.
MR GENTLEMAN: Minister, what consultation did you carry out with the community and what expert views did you seek in developing this policy?
MS BURCH: The review commenced in August of last year and is part of the commitment to the national education reform agenda in improving outcomes for all students. Dr Catherine Wormald from the University of Wollongong was engaged as an expert consultant in developing the draft policy. Dr Wormald has extensive qualifications in the field, including a PhD in gifted education, a master’s of education and a postgraduate certificate in gifted education. She has worked with the selective schools unit in New South Wales, done gifted education consultancies for the New South Wales department of education and assisted with the development of New South Wales department of education gifted and talented policy and supporting resources. Dr Wormald was a member of the preconsultation working group, which also comprised representatives from parent organisations such as the Gifted and Talented Support Group, the council of ACT P&C associations and a range of schools.
Community consultation through the ACT government time to talk website was open for six weeks from October to November and a total of 74 submissions providing feedback were received by the directorate. The draft policy was provided to all school
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