Value

Recent policy documentation makes a strict distinction between the so-called ‘academic subjects’ (English, Mathematics, Science, History, etc.), and ‘art, music, PE, or any sport or creative art’ (DfES, 2002), with pupils with ability in the former group being labelled as ‘gifted’ and those in the latter group ‘talented’. It is not entirely clear why this choice of vocabulary was made. Nevertheless, there is a clear hierarchy, with schools having to ensure that at least two-thirds of the cohort is associated with ‘gifted’ subjects (DfES, 2002). Moreover, it is note-worthy that the National Academy of Gifted and Talented Youth, at the time of writing, has not set itself a remit to address the needs of ‘talented’ pupils, at all (Champness, 2003).