The Extent, Nature and Effectiveness of Planned Approaches in New Zealand Schools for Providing for Gifted and Talented Students
This research was commissioned in response to a recommendation made in the report from the Working Party on Gifted Education and to inform the Ministry of Education's development of policy for the education of gifted and talented students. The purpose of the research was to determine how schools provide for these students and the efficacy of these approaches. This report highlights the main findings from the research.
Author: Tracy Riley, Jill Bevan-Brown, Brenda Bicknell, Janis Carroll-Lind and Alison KearneyDate Published: 2004
Introduction
Gifted and talented education in New Zealand differs from that of many other countries in several ways. First, New Zealand recognises that giftedness and talent can mean different things to different communities and cultures, and there is a range of appropriate approaches towards meeting the needs of all such students (Ministry of Education, 2002). Furthermore, it is considered essential, and this is perhaps unique to New Zealand, to provide differentiated learning experiences across a continuum of approaches, beginning in inclusive classrooms. And finally, there are distinctive cultural considerations to be taken into account in the planning and delivery of gifted education provisions.
In 2003, the Ministry commissioned research to investigate identification and provisions for gifted and talented students in New Zealand schools. The research, entitled The Extent, Nature, and Effectiveness of Planned Approaches in New Zealand Schools for Identifying and Providing for Gifted and Talented Students, will assist schools in developing and implementing policies and practices required by the change to the National Administration Guidelines (NAGs). The education of gifted and talented students also needs to be informed by theory relevant to New Zealand, and this research contributes to that.
Page numbers linked to the full report are provided throughout the summary.
Related Ministry of Education Documents:
The Gifted and Talented community on Te Kete Ipurangi, including the Government policy statement Initiatives for Gifted and Talented Learners.
National Administration Guidelines (NAGs) relating to gifted children.
