Schooling Central

As far as I know there are no state/public primary schools that offer G+T education anymore due to "funding". Does anyone know if this has changed or is there anything else other than the G+T Association run classes on the weekend?

Sorry, I'm not familiar with the S.A. funding situation. If it is still funded, the following programs at secondary level look interesting:
Ignite Program.

Even if a school doesn't receive extra funding for gifted programs, some schools will be able to cater for gifted children better than others. Things to look out for would be a differentiated curriculum, where children are taught in small groups within their class at their appropriate level or a vertical subject program where children leave their own class and join others from different year levels who are at the same level for that subject. I think the most important thing is that the school has a commitment to meet the needs of gifted children, and isn't simply paying lip service to the idea.

I don't know if you've seen this site -some of the information is a bit old now, but you might find it useful:
http://home.alphalink.com.au/~drednort/schoolsinsa.html

I hope to have an updated list of schools with gifted programs in other states soon (NSW/VIC/WA all had easy to find descriptions for their government schools, the other states are a bit trickier).

Annabel.

Hi Rosie,

While there is no government funding, there are a number of public primary schools which claim to offer G+T education. Probably the best way to get information on various schools is to talk to parents of children at Saturday Club run by GTCASA.

My own experience with two public schools was not very good and I now have my son at an inexpensive community school called KIrinari http://www.kirinari.sa.edu.au/
While this school makes no claims regarding gifted children, this is the first school where my son is happy, feels accepted by other children and is given appropriate work without regard for year levels. There are many gifted kids at Kirinari, as much as a half in my son's class this year. There is also a terrific after hours care program, something that is most important for me.

Anna

Hi Anna,

Thanks for your feedback - it sounds like you have found a fantastic school for your son. If you have time it would be great if you could write a quick review of the school for other parents looking for a good option for their gifted child. You can add a review here: http://schoolingcentral.com/Details/Kirinari-Community-School-7706.html

Thanks

Annabel.

There are 3 public High schools that offer the IGNITE programme in SA. Each school gets approx $70,000 a yr extra for the G&T activities. The IGNITE class is a select entry class of incoming yr 8 students. Yr 6 or 7 students can choose to sit the ACER test and attend an interview for selection. Great programme but only 90 yr 8 students get in from the whole state. The IGNITE classes has been running for 12 yrs so is fairly well established. The students remain together all day, for socal reasons and have gifted maths, science, english and SOSE among others. At the end of yr 8 the whole class skips to yr 10, where they remain together for at least 3/4 of the day before moving onto electives of their choice. In yr 11 the class again meets at homegroup but by this stage all the G&T kids are in many different classes for their subjects.

One of the IGNITE schools is The Heights School in Modbury. They have been running G&T programmes for at least 20 years and have had two students featured in Miraca Gross's book on exceptionally Gifted children. The school would have at least 100+ students at any one time who have skipped at least one year. They also offer a co-companion class for yrs 8-10 for gifted students who are not in the IGNITE class but need acceleration in some form. The school is a kindy to yr 13 school so G&T provisions are infused throughout all the year levels. All staff have inservice G&T on entry to the school and the Principal, plus many staff have G&T post-grad qualifications.

I contacted the education Dept a few months ago to be told that all state schools should be able to cater for gifted children.

My FIL used to run the gifted program at the hieights and of course had a few choice words to say about this policy.

He told me that the current Principal at Keithcott Farm Primary did the gifted training with him and is passionate about it. (He is also willing to accommodate our DD3 if she can't get into Pedare)