1,800 Islington school students disappear
On Wednesday 16 November, 1,800 Islington school students mysteriously
disappeared.
According to the Daily Telegraph, published on 16 November, Islington do
not have any Gifted and Talented
school students. Not a single one.
At 9 o'clock on a Saturday morning,
St Aloysius’ RC College is buzzing with students taking extra maths
classes to help them get the best possible grades in their GCSEs. As it’s
Saturday and the classes are voluntary, the boys are allowed to come in their
own clothes. Two packed classrooms are hard at work. It’s part of the extended
schools initiative that gives all students additional opportunities to learn
and develop.
At the same time, two extra GCSEs - one in law, and one in classical
civilisation – are taught to students as part of the Gifted and Talented
programme.
While the law students are studying the finer points of contract law, the
classical civilisation students are examining the birth of Athenian democracy
in ancient Greece.
14-year-old Mustafa Caglar explained why he was giving up two hours of his
Saturday every week to study.
“A GCSE in classical civilisation is regarded favourably by colleges at Oxford
and Cambridge University – that’s my ultimate aim.”
The Gifted and Talented initiative is there to make sure that students like
Mustafa get the opportunity to make the most of their talents and succeed at
the highest level.
Bill Clark, Director of Schools’ Services, CEA@Islington said:
“We are very proud of our active and well-developed Gifted and Talented
programme in Islington, and strongly encourage all schools to take part. Over
the past year almost 1,800 Islington school students have benefited from our
Gifted and Talented activities. Anybody who believes that we do not encourage
our Gifted and Talented students could not be more wrong.”
Cllr James Kempton explained:
"I know that children of all abilities can excel in Islington. All schools put
on extra classes and activities for children of high ability and those with
special skills and talents.
We are always looking to set up new schemes and this year, our pupils excelled
in science through the CREST awards by taking classes at London Metropolitan
University. I presented their awards and I was in awe of their scientific
ability. Students have received journalism awards from City University and
some are taking extra GCSE's in Law and Classical Civilisation.
Islington nurtures its talent in a number of ways and we will continue to do
everything we can to give our pupils the chances they need to reach their
potential."
Pictured:
Additional Law GCSE being taught at St Aloysius’ on a
Saturday monring
Notes to editors
Current Gifted and Talented initiatives include:
Secondary school:
-
CREST Bronze, Silver and Bronze Awards
-
Journalism @ City University
-
Media Literacy @ Arsenal Study Support Centre
-
University College London Maths Support
-
Morrisby Careers Testing
-
ICT (technology) Summer School (Yr 6-8)
-
Hitch-hiker's Guide to the Environment (half term course)
-
Creative Writing @ City and Islington Sixth Form College
-
Candi Dance Company @ City and Islington Sixth Form College
-
Cineclub - Highbury Fields to take part in this London-wide initiative
-
Visual Learning Foundation - After School Art Class
-
Level 6-8 Maths Booster Day
-
Year 7 English Project with Robert Muchamore
-
Year 8 English Project with London G&T
-
Year 10 English Project on GCSE Poetry
-
Common Purpose
-
Saturday Schools (extra GCSEs) at St. Aloysius
Primary school:
-
Visual Learning Foundation - After School Art Class
-
UCL Maths Support
-
University Challenge
-
ICT Summer School (Yr 6-8)
-
Cognitive Acceleration in Maths/Science Education (CAME and CASE) training and
lessons
-
SEEDS Science Clubs
-
BA Young Passport Award (Science)
-
BXLNT Days (Be Excellent)
Please note that this does not include work carried out by Islington’s
Education Action Zones New River, North Islington and King’s Cross. Each of
these 3 projects has their own programme for Gifted and Talented students.
The Daily Telegraph 16/11/05 cited Islington as having no students
enrolled with the National Academy of Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY), and
concluded that this meant that there was no Gifted and Talented programme in
Islington. NAGTY is just one of a number of organisations involved in
providing courses for Gifted and Talented. Islington students take part in
courses through both London Gifted and Talented and the National Association
of Able Children in Education (NACE)
For more information, please contact CEA@Islington's Communications Department: