More Able & Talented

Recognising, challenging and supporting every student.

More able and talented

Recognising every student's potential

At SHSB, we believe that every student’s potential is unique, and every learner deserves to be recognised, challenged, and supported. We recognise the differences of ability which exist even within a selective school. The school welcomes, and has expertise to support, able pupils with special educational needs. Legally, a child is defined as having special educational needs if he or she has a learning difficulty which needs special help. Although not mentioned in the 1996 Education Act, very able or gifted children can also be said to possess 'special' needs. The school made the move to highlighting ‘more able and talented’ (MAT) students, rather than ‘gifted and talented’ students, to emphasise the fluid nature of ability and dispel the myth that some students are simply more ‘gifted’ than others.

Our policy

Defining our approach

The school's More Able & Talented Policy attempts to define what constitutes ‘more able’ and ‘exceptionally able’, as well as the challenges that may be faced by those who are ‘multi exceptional’ or more able and disadvantaged. There is also documentation outlining how ‘more able’ students are identified, including subject-specific criteria. Departments have also produced parental support sheets, which can be found on this page.

More Able

Students who consistently demonstrate strong ability across one or more subjects.

Exceptionally Able

The very highest attainers — pupils showing depth and independence well beyond the norm.

Multi Exceptional

Pupils who are MA or EA and also have SEND or are disadvantaged — a group we identify and support carefully.

In practice

A dedicated co-ordinator and register

The school has a More Able & Talented Policy in place and a More Able and Talented Co-ordinator, who is responsible for the implementation of the policy. The school maintains a MAT register, which is updated yearly. Students are placed onto the register for different subjects, if they meet the subject-specific identification criteria for those subjects. They can either be identified as ‘more able’ or ‘exceptionally able’ (EA), with differing criteria for both. It is not uncommon for students to be identified as MAT or EA in multiple subjects.

In the classroom

Challenge for every student

The policy ensures that challenge exists for ALL students at SHSB, whilst providing specific guidance as to how to stretch and challenge our most able students. This can range from deeper thinking exercises to extension activities within the classroom to extra-curricular activities and opportunities.

National recognition

First in Essex

2007

Challenge Award

In May 2007, Southend High School for Boys was the first secondary school in Essex to obtain the Challenge Award for the quality of its provision for the more able and talented. The school is currently in the process of applying for its sixth accreditation, having been the first in the world to be receive the award five times. We have also been designated as a NACE Challenge Ambassador School in recognition of our sustained commitment to high-quality more able provision. This means that SHSB acts as a beacon school for others aspiring to become accredited for the first time, highlighting the impact that SHSB has on other local schools, as well as the provision for our students.