ABSTRACT

Over the past seven years, I have had the privilege of being the course leader for the national primary gifted and talented (G&T) co-ordinators’ training programme within Excellence in Cities, a government funded British programme with the aim of driving up standards in schools in major cities to match the standards of excellence found in our best schools. Over two thousand primary teachers have participated in this training, and through this work, I have met a remarkable group of teachers from schools in the most deprived parts of England, working in challenging circumstances. Most had ‘been volunteered’ to be the G&T co-ordinator and many did not at first realise that this involved taking part in a five-day assessed course. All had been subjected to the intense barrage of strategies and initiatives that have been the lot of English primary teachers in recent years. However, once convinced that providing challenge for gifted and talented learners will raise standards for all, and will really benefit the children in their schools, they were prepared to go to all lengths to develop appropriate provision. I take my hat off to them – these are very special people, and I have learnt so much from them. This chapter contains my reflections upon what I have gained from working with these professionals.