NACE Challenge Award

The NACE Challenge Award  Framework is a whole-school evaluation tool and process which allows an in depth analysis of provision for able, gifted and talented pupils, with exemplification of evidence and action planning to improve.

The Framework consists of ten elements which together describe quality provision. Each element contains objective criteria and suggests evidence of what constitutes effective practice. It not only gives benchmarks but, with the supporting documents, shows our school how to improve. 

Before getting the award, we studied the ten elements mentioned above in order to see what we had already achieved, and what we needed to address.  We had already implemented programmes for able, gifted and talented students such as Artists in residence for gifted art students, and a science visit to Disneyland, Paris.  These programmes were aimed at these students, rather than being all inclusive.  Our Teaching & Learning policy also dealt with stimulating and challenging these students using various styles of learning, and the Maths and Science departments had investigated projects to develop the higher order thinking skills.  The college also had measures in place to track able, gifted and talented pupils. 

To gain the award we compiled a whole school able, gifted and talented pupils policy, (to see this policy click here) and compiled tables to show how our school exam achievements were getting better each year, therefore showing that our emphasis on improvment was working.  Student attainment started being tracked, with pupils being awarded for achievement.  Teaching strategies were put in place so that different styles of teaching were used with different pupils in order to fulfill their full potential.