This page contains information for the following people:

Parents

Students

Here at Jo Richardson we are committed to helping our pupils to achieve their very best.  Departments across the school work extremely hard to ensure that all pupils are catered for, including our most gifted and talented pupils.  Every member of staff is dedicated to challenging pupils and providing work that is engaging.  Teaching strategies are used to differentiate work that challenges all pupils, including those with high potential.  As well as work in lessons, staff also dedicate time to extra curricular activities and clubs that support higher end learning and achievement.

Each year the top 10% of each year group are placed on our gifted and talented register.  This register is reviewed regularly and a student can be added or removed from the register.  Being ‘gifted’ refers to academic subjects such as maths, science, English, history and ICT.  ‘Talented’ refers to practical subjects such as drama, music, PE, DT and art.   The school uses both student data from test and exam results coupled with teacher nominations to produce the gifted and Talented register.

Here at JRCS there are three of us dedicated to supporting both pupils and staff across the school:

Mr M Williams –Assistant Head

mwilliams@jrcs.bardaglea.org.uk

Miss N Foreman - GT Co-ordinator.  

nforeman@jrcs.bardaglea.org.uk

Mrs P McTaggart - GT Learning Mentor

pmctaggart@jrcs.bardaglea.org.uk

However, all staff are aware of who these students are and aim to provide as much challenge as possible for them.  

How can I best support my child?

Ensure your child understands the school code of conduct

Report to us any concerns you may have about their well-being and work with their tutor to resolve issues.

Encourage excellent attendance and punctuality. Please avoid booking family holidays in term-time.

Sign their planner

Monitor progress in attainment made by your child

Providing Extra Support

Our annual interviews with our cohort clearly reveal how important it is to make their parents proud.  Let your children know when you are proud.

Provide a distraction free environment for homework to be completed on time.

Make yourself aware of National Curriculum levels and GCSE grades. Ask teachers to explain when necessary.

Show a particular interest in your son/daughter’s development by asking about their work in specific subjects.  Ask them questions and get them to teach you about things they are learning.  Ask open ended questions where they have to explain in more detail, go off and find out more or even pause to think!

Encourage your son/ daughter to participate in extra-curricular activities – these will keep them off the streets, keep them busy, fit and often boost their confidence.

Watch the news with them or at least the headlines

Encourage them to have high aspirations and dream big.  Help them to find out what they would need to do with their education in order to get there.

Encourage them to read newspapers, novels, magazines, poetry or anything that they find of interest.  Even better, read to them or have them read to you.  

Praise and give them some ‘tough love’ when they need it.

So I am Gifted or Talented, what does that mean?

If you have been told that you are on the gifted and talented register then it means that either teachers have spoken about you being particularly special in their subject or your past test results have shown you to have exceptional skills or talents.  Sometimes it is a mixture of both!  It means that in one or more subjects we believe you are very gifted or talented.

Gifted relates to subjects like English, maths and history.  Talented subjects include PE, music, drama or art.

Being gifted or talented gives you some responsibilities.  It is important that you really push yourself in all of your subjects so that you achieve your best.  Also it would be brilliant to see you involved in as many different types of extra-curricular activities as possible.  They do not all have to be in school and they will really help to interest, motivate and challenge you.

Drama clubs and performances

Public speaking – Speak Out Challenge and the Citizenship Challenge

Interschool sports

Revision and Intervention sessions

Flyer Club (school magazine)

Language trips

Duke of Edinburgh

How to Fossilise your Hamster (science club)

Detonate and Addiction dance companies

Enterprise events

Many more - see the ‘Extra Curricular’ page on this website

What do I do if I’m not doing as well as I could be?

You need to speak to your subject teacher as soon as possible and then, if needed, speak to Mrs McTaggart about how we can help and possibly mentor you.  Mrs McTaggart can be found in the DT department; in the first office on the right.  

Where can I find more information?

www.bbc.co.uk/schools/revision

This is a great place to revise for exams or look for help on subjects and topics.  It is really clear and easy to use.