A gifted child can need a special school

It's essential that gifted children realise they're not so unusual and that others have the same aims and aspirations - it makes for a very focused and united cohortNicolas Chisholm, headmaster, The Yehudi Menuhin School

Mahad Ahmed is the Under-13 Scottish champion in the 200m and holds the British record in the 100m. He attends Glasgow School of Sport at Bellahouston Academy, which excels in coaching athletics, badminton, gymnastics, hockey and swimming. Pupils have eight hours of sport coaching a week which fits in around their academic commitments and entry is by selection only."One of the school's hockey coaches saw me running and suggested I had a trial,” says Mahad. “My parents were really proud when I was accepted. Yes, I study hard but I also get to run the 60m, 100m and 200m, which is great!”

Glasgow School of Sport is the first academy of its kind in Scotland and one of an elite collection of UK schools for talented children. These adapt the curriculum specially for pupils so that they can focus on core academic studies and develop their talent in tandem.

Inevitably some subjects have to be sacrificed, but many of these schools achieve excellent academic results. In 2007, 84 per cent of pupils at The Purcell School for Young Musicians in Hertfordshire achieved grades A or B at A-level and the overall pass rate was 100 per cent.

‘Results’ take on new meaning in these remarkable schools. “By nurturing our pupils and creating individualised programmes, our coaching teams have had some outstanding results – more than 60 pupils have represented Scotland in their sport,” says the school’s director, Angela Porter.

Gifted or talented?

How do you know if your child is gifted enough to warrant a place at a specialist school? The Department for Children, Schools and Families defines gifted learners as ‘those who have abilities in one or more academic subjects such as maths or English’ and talented learners as ‘those who have particular abilities in sport, music, design or creative and performing arts’. To give an approximate guide numbers, the most talented children represent the top five per cent among their peer group.

If teachers believe that your child falls into this category and your son or daughter is passionate about developing a talent, it may be worth talking to them about a specialist school. There are various ages for admissions so if a child has qualms about boarding or attending a new school perhaps they could join in sixth form.

A nurturing environment

Children with great talent may need the kind of nurturing that these schools provide. Yehudi Menuhin was conscious that children specialising in music often struggled in the school system, so in 1963 he founded what was to become a world-famous music school.

Based in peaceful surroundings at Cobham in Surrey, the school is home to 60 musically gifted children from all over the world. Pupils are not only taught by excellent teachers, they are given plenty of time to practise and the chance to perform regularly both solo and as part of an ensemble.

“I believe specialist schools are necessary because children need the atmosphere, environment, special curriculum and above all the specialist teaching if they're to develop their talent,” says Nicolas Chisholm, the headmaster of school. “It's essential that gifted children realise they're not so unusual and that others have the same aims and aspirations - it makes for a very focused and united cohort.

Small classes, bright children

“Inevitably, the curriculum is restricted but the classes are small and the children are bright," Nicolas continues. "We cover two thirds of the curriculum in half the time, leaving the remainder for music. Our pupils have many wonderful opportunities to perform and they learn a great deal from each other.

The selection process at the school is thorough and rigorous: “We spend a great deal of time selecting our pupils,” says Nicolas. “They must have the potential to be world class and we only select those pupils that meet our standards – it's just like choosing a world-class football team.

“Pupils from the UK get bursaries from the Department for Children, Schools and Families, but these are means-tested so the parents pay what they can afford. It's great because those parents on extremely low incomes get their child's education free. We have a stock of valuable instruments that we lend to pupils, although some are able to purchase their own.”

Bursaries for talented performers

The bursaries at The Yehudi Menuhin School are funded via the government's Music and Dance Scheme, which enables young, talented dancers and musicians to receive full-time education and training at a specialist school irrespective of their parent's finances. Support is provided for almost 800 pupils at nine specialist music and dance schools, including Chetham’s School of Music, in Manchester. 

“Schools like Chetham’s are essential,” says Nick Oliver, Joint Head of Accompaniment. “The students are surrounded by others with the same passion and staff who teach to the highest standards. I believe such standards are unique to specialist music schools.”

The concept of specialism is being extended to secondary schools, with private sponsors and the government providing extra funding for state academies that specialise in one of 10 disciplines. These include arts, business and enterprise, engineering, humanities, languages, mathematics and computing, music, science, sports and technology.

State schools are required to identify a number of gifted and talented pupils in every year group (usually around 10 per cent). Research suggests that this happens in well-run schools, but falls by the wayside in others. In another initiative, the government launched a national register of gifted and talented children, the Young, Gifted and Talented Learner Academy. Registered pupils receive e-learning opportunities and vouchers for extra lessons. 

Nicolas Chisholm recognises the advances made in the UK but acknowledges there are limitations, also: “It's great that there are lots of opportunities for young people. At least we have an education system now that recognises the gifted and talented, however blunt that recognition can be.”

Read our feature on the opportunities offered by private schools for children who excel at sport

Case study

Life at a school of music: "As soon as I arrived I felt at home"

Case study

Alex Edmundson is head boy of Chetham’s School of Music in Manchester. “I started learning the French horn after hearing my mum and dad's amateur orchestra playing the Mozart Horn Concerto when I was seven. I loved listening to their rehearsals but would never have guessed that at 18 I would be auditioning for the Royal Academy of Music, the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and the Royal College of Music.

“I joined Chet’s when I was nine, after auditioning with the Head of Brass, the musical director and all the heads of department. As soon as I walked through the gate I felt at home. It was heaven compared with my previous school and I loved being around people with the same passion. I've met such a diverse range of people and my friends here will be the best I ever have.

“I'd love a career playing the horn and have been a member of the National Youth Orchestra for five years. I would also like to teach because I believe it's important to give something back. I’d recommend Chetham's to any aspiring young musician. Who knows, it could change your life!" 

Alex's mother Heather adds, “Since Alex has been at Chet’s, he's changed considerably. He became so much happier and went from being a victim to being very well liked. It was like having a different child.”

Have your say

Do you think there should be more schools of this kind in Britain, or that facilities and teaching should be improved in all schools to help gifted children? Post your comments below