What does ‘Gifted and Talented’ Mean?

The description “gifted and talented” applies to a wide range of students with many different abilities and qualities. Some students may have exceptional abilities in science or technology, some in art or poetry, and others in social leadership. It is now generally accepted that the gifted and talented are not only those with high intelligence. Students can be identified as gifted and talented for:

• Intellectual abilities or academic aptitude -  refers to students with exceptional abilities in one or more of the learning areas (i.e., English, the arts, health and physical education, learning languages, mathematics and statistics, science, social sciences, and technology)

• Cultural abilities and qualities - specific abilities and qualities refers to those valued by the student’s cultural or ethnic group, including traditional arts and crafts, pride in cultural identity, language ability, and service to the culture

• Creative abilities - students with general creative abilities as evidenced in their abilities to problem-find and problem-solve, and their innovative thinking and productivity

• Social and leadership abilities - students with interpersonal and intrapersonal abilities and qualities which enable them to act in leadership roles

• Physical abilities - students with excellent physical abilities and skills, as evidenced through sport and/or health and physical education programmes

• Emotional and spiritual qualities - students who have a deep capacity for empathy, a strong intuitive understanding of situations and people, and a profound sense of connection to something larger than oneself

• Abilities in the visual and performing arts - expression through the visual and performing arts refers to music, dance, drama, and visual arts

Learning Programmes

Hub planning is modelled on Universal Design for Learning principles. UDL provides a blueprint for designing learning goals, teaching methods, materials, and assessments that work for everyone. It is a flexible approach that can be customized for individual needs. For gifted and talented students, UDL provides opportunities for them to take their learning to a deeper level. In the Hub environment, the needs of gifted and talented students may be catered for through the use of:

• individual or small group contracts

• ability grouping

• thinking tools such as SOLO Taxonomy

• inquiry/passion/discovery learning

• self-directed learning

Enrichment programmes

Gifted and talented students may also be invited to join special extension/enrichment groups. These groups give students with exceptional abilities an opportunity to work with others who think and respond at the same level and in the same way they do. 

Some extension/enrichment groups offered are:

• Leadership programme for Year 7/8

• Kapa Haka  - South West Cultural Festival

• Cantamath competition

• Christchurch South/West Literacy Quiz

• Choir - Christchurch Music Festival

• Bi-annual production

• Music tuition

• Sports opportunities - Basketball, Winter Sports, Koru Games (Year 7/8), Cross Country, Athletics, Gymnastics, Cricket, Swimming etc.

• Culture Club

• Chess Club & competitions

• Languages (Year 7/8)

• Speech competitions

• Huritini Junior Council

• Writers workshops with Christchurch School of Young Writers

• Additional programmes (dependant on availability) - Inventionator, Kiwi Exams, Jump Jam competition etc.