More Able
Our inclusive ethos enables all children to be challenged in every lesson in every subject. We believe that challenge and support is just as important for more able as for lower prior attainers. We build on prior attainment and develop deep knowledge in order to build confidence and depth of understanding in high prior attaining students. Within this, we also recognise the need to develop and support high attainers with SEND and who are eligible for the Pupil Premium grant.
How do we identify More Able students?
At Aureus, the More Able are identified using a mixture of this three part process:
- Completion of our internal Cognitive Ability Tests (CATs) and/or GL Assessments in English and Mathematics
- Analysis of KS2 entry data - if a student has attained a high scaled score in English and Mathematics they are identified as More Able/High Prior Attainers
- Ongoing attainment/teacher assessment - if students continue to exceed attainment levels appropriate to their age
- Ongoing assessment in subjects outside of the core subjects may lead to More Able status in a particular subject
We support the More Able in a variety of ways, including, but not limited to, the following:
In class differentiation/personalisation
Our quality first teaching pledge applies to students of all abilities. It is an expectation that we will aim high with the content of our curriculum and ensure it is accessible and challenging for all. Lessons will include:
- Variety of questioning
- Providing relevant, engaging, learning opportunities and interesting stimuli
- Higher order and abstract thinking (e.g. handling ambiguity and paradox)
- Problem solving and enquiry
- Tier 3 vocabulary explicitly taught and high quality oracy modelled and applied
- Independent work and self-study
- Development of metacognitive practices
- Transfer of knowledge across disciplines
- Challenge options are flagged up to students using the challenge symbol
- High quality feedback focused on how to achieve ambitious targets.
- Reading Lists
- Signposting opportunities for students to develop their knowledge further through independent study
Extended Learning and Personal Development
With an enormous range of extended learning activities already available, there are plenty of opportunities to develop high prior attainers’ skills, using cross-curricular disciplines.
Careers Education
We work with external organisations to ensure that students have a clear focus on their destination after Aureus. Professionals from local and national organisations are invited to speak to students in assemblies to explore their career pathways and explain their roles, particularly in the ‘STEAM’ subject portfolio. Each year we will create opportunities for students to visit or access Higher Education Institutions.
Provision of leadership opportunities
Students are encouraged and supported to participate a number of leadership roles. The Student Council is a position to aspire to and students have to rise to the challenge of representing the student body. Leadership roles may be offered in a range of disciplines - Sport, Design, STEAM and Languages will require different sets of skills.
More Able Programme
The progress and development of the More Able students is an ongoing research field at Aureus. A carefully designed programme of assessment, intervention and evaluation enables staff to ensure that progress is on track for the More Able. These interventions can take the form of one-to-one progress checks, mentoring, the completion of a Scholars Passport (being updated for 2020-2021) and extra-curricular opportunities for debate and discussion.
Definitions
With the change in national context of how ability is identified, please see below an outline of agreed terminology with definitions from Ofsted.
More Able: high attaining pupils in pupils in primary schools
Most Able/High Prior Attainment (HPA): high attaining students in secondary school - students whose progress significantly exceeds age related expectations
Exceptionally Able: students who are performing above the Most Able. Exceptionally able pupils are those who have the capacity to achieve or perform at the very highest academic levels.
Dual Exceptionality: this is a term for high performing students who also have a complex additional need, such as Autism Spectrum Disorder.
For further details on how to ensure your child makes progress in line with their expectations, click on the link below
