Classroom Quality Standards for gifted and talented education

Thursday 19/02/2009

A new self-evaluation and improvement tool ‘Classroom Quality Standards’ (CQS) available online and as a DVD has been released by the National Strategies. The tool is designed to help teachers, particularly those leading on gifted and talented provision, to reflect on their practice, evaluate the quality of provision and level of challenge in the classroom, and to take the next steps for improvement. The intention is to support all teachers, to raise standards and improve outcomes for their pupils.

The resource includes generic, cross-phase gifted and talented standards for all classrooms and all stages, subject-specific standards and teaching and learning support for English, mathematics, science and ICT. The guidance, exemplification and resources provide links to the Primary and Secondary Frameworks and include case studies and video material on teaching strategies and approaches to help teachers meet the needs of able, gifted and talented learners on a day-to-day basis.

Carol Singh, Senior Adviser (Gifted and Talented Programme) for the National Strategies said: “The Classroom Quality Standards have been developed to promote consistency and to help teachers to challenge and support their able pupils effectively. They should be of particular interest to subject leaders and teachers involved in the delivery of the core subjects and ICT. The CQS DVD will be distributed to schools via local authorities.”

The new resource can be accessed online at www.standards.gov.uk/nationalstrategies  by searching using the reference number: 00556-2008DVD-EN or ordered by visiting www.teachernet.dcsf.gov.uk/publications or calling DCSF publications on 0845 60 222 60 or emailing dcsf@prolog.uk.com.

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Note to editors:
The National Strategies’ aim is to raise standards of achievement and rates of progression for children and young people in all phases and settings in England through personalised learning with a particular focus on the core subjects and early years.

For further information please contact:
Jane Parrack at the National Strategies on 0118 918 2617 or email jane.parrack@nationalstrategies.co.uk