Guidance for Parents on Gifted and Talented Registers

There are gifted and talented learners in every year group in every school. The government defines gifted and talented pupils as those children who are achieving, or who have the potential to achieve, at a level substantially beyond the rest of their peer group. “Gifted” describes pupils who have the ability to excel in academic subjects such as maths and English. “Talented” describes those who have the ability to excel in practical and creative skills such as sport, music and art.

The register lists the children who have been identified by the school as gifted or talented in each year group. It may also indicate the areas in which they are gifted and/or talented and include the results of any school assessments. Generally, the register should identify the top 10% of the population of each school. Schools are not required to keep a register of their gifted and talented pupils but national guidance suggests that it is good practice for them to do so.

All schools are required to indicate which of their pupils are gifted and talented on a termly basis when they complete their School Census. Those children identified as part of the school census will be included in the new National Register of gifted and talented learners. They will automatically become members of Young, Gifted and Talented and will have access to their resources and events.