Bexley
Excellence Cluster
Gifted & Talented Strand
There are many children who have the potential to do very well
at school. Sometimes, these children do not get as much out of school as they
could. The aim of the gifted and talented part of the project is to identify children
with the potential to do very well, and to offer them lots of different kinds
of activities so that they have the chance to really succeed.
Around 5-10% of each year group will be identified as gifted and/or talented.
The idea is that this group of children is decided every year, and so each year
different children may form part of the group.
Some of the activities for the children may take place after school, or during
lunchtime. Others may take place in the school holidays. It is planned that many
normal lessons will contain activities that will "stretch" children
who are capable of doing very well, so all children should benefit from this part
of the project.
There is a difference between what we describe as "gifted" and what
we describe as "talented". "Gifted" usually means that
a child has the potential to do very well in a lot of different subjects. "Talented"
usually means that a child has exceptional skill in a particular subject -
such as in football, athletics or music.
If you have any concerns about your child being identified as gifted and talented,
or if you want more information about how the gifted and talented part of the
project is working in your child's school, then please contact the head
teacher of your child's school.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Gifted & Talented
strand...
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Gifted & Talented Events
The Magic Flute comes to Bexley Excellence Cluster!
 "The Magic Flute" was the vehicle, in Autumn 2005, for an 'educational
journey' into opera for Excellence Cluster Primary and Secondary schools
working with the English Pocket Opera Company (EPOC). The project was focused
around four stages and began with an interactive teachers' inset evening
and a fascinating tour behind the scenes of The Cochrane Theatre in London, where
the final professional performance would be staged.
The second stage was a presentation at each of the schools by members of The
Magic Flute cast. Operatastic was the highly interactive presentation given to
over 2,000 Excellence Cluster primary school pupils. The singers exemplified
the range of skills people require to become opera singers and professional footballers- 'fitness,
fighting, dribbling, acting and stage kissing to name only a few' within
their performance.
Key stage 3 and 4's interactive presentation was entitled Opera
Blocks.
It was inspired by the idea that a difficult concept can be 'unpacked' and
begins with a package arriving in the front room of one of the characters which
on its unpacking turns out to be a flat pack opera!
The third stage involved two full day workshops in music, drama and art with
30 students based in their school. Our students participated in workshops variously
entitled The Baby Birds, The Villains' Chorus, The
Genies, The Prologue,
Score!, The Silent Film and Design Dimensions.
And finally... stage four!
Following lots of staff and student efforts at school, developing and practising
their performances and art work, students travelled up to The Cochrane Theatre
to participate or view their work incorporated in a professional performance
of The Magic Flute. The foyer of the theatre provided an excellent exhibition
space for students' 3D scene designs, films and letters. Different groups
of students sang, danced and acted throughout the performance and to accompany
our ice creams during the interval - students' silent films!
Mbawula
 A hugely successful transition music project took place in spring 2005 across
four London LEAs, including Bexley. Forty-six talented singers from Years 5 to
11 from eight Cluster schools took part in five after school workshops. These
culminated in a final workshop and evening concert, that was a musical extravaganza
with a world class line up of artists and jazz musicians and our enthusiastic
pupils forming part of the hundred strong township choir, at Blackheath Music
Halls in March.
The workshops were hosted at Trinity School and run by the Mbawula Township
choir, led by Paul Bartholomew and Prudence Mampe, who are a cross-cultural collaboration
between South African and British musicians in partnership with Trinity Music
College. The music combines roots in indigenous African folk, Broadway Jazz and
church choral music. These influences make the exploration of township both challenging
and accessible for singers from a variety of backgrounds and ages.
Our pupils were publicly commended as a group during the afternoon and after
their evening performance for their energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the
project and their willingness to work as a friendly team.
The pupils were hugely supported by parents, carers, friends and school staff
throughout the project and that contributed considerably to its success and their
enjoyment.
Pupil comments from the follow up evaluative questionnaire included:
- "My favourite part of the music project was being with people who were really
trying and enjoying themselves."
- "The final performance - it was amazing!"
- "This has made me want to continue with music"
- "It will help because the next time there is a musical thing going on, I
might be volunteered again and it will go in my profile reference and help when
I want to go to a college of performing arts."
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