West Monmouth School seeks to maximise outcomes for More Able and Talented learners. More Able students are those who are academically high achievers across the curriculum. Talented students are those who exhibit a flair for a particular subject. These students, normally around 10% of the cohort, are identified according to a variety of assessment criteria and are entered on the More Able and Talented register. Classroom teachers use this to track, support and provide challenges for these students. Provision for More Able and Talented students is monitored by the Assistant Head, Mr Ball.

West Monmouth Learners graduating from The Scholars Programme at Oxford University

 

What does the school provide for children who are More Able and Talented?

West Monmouth School will support your child to maximise their academic and sporting potential. Where possible and appropriate, we offer additional courses aimed at groups of more able students. Examples to date have included Level 2 Additional Mathematics offered to the most able mathematicians in Year 11 as well as fast track courses in Welsh for first language Welsh speakers.

We provide many performance opportunities; in music, sport, the arts, and in many different types of competitions such as debating and public speaking. We encourage all of our students to participate in these activities, which help to enrich school life. At the end of each year, students who have demonstrated high attainment or strong progress in each subject are rewarded with certificates. 

We run an extensive range of enrichment and extra-curricular activities and have a wide range of contacts with companies, organisations and universities.

We track the progress of More Able students as a group over the long term. Where necessary, we enable additional support for those who may need it to fulfil their potential, as we do for all of our students. We pay particular attention to our students from disadvantaged backgrounds, or those who face external challenges which start to impact their progress. Early identification of more able students helps us to adapt our teaching, and tailor our curriculum, to meet their needs.

We review the Register each year - students will never be taken off it, but more may be added as time progresses.

As a parent, what can I do to support my child?

If your child is added to the More Able Register we will write to you to let you know, and we will also talk to your child about what it means. All parents, including parents of more able students, are provided with guidance on how they can support children with their learning.

Extra-Curricular Enrichment

• The Seren Academy
• MENSA puzzles and testing
• VESPA mindset workshops, to develop Vision, Effort, Systems, Practice and Attitude
• UKMT Maths challenges
• Student leadership opportunities such as School Council
• Enrichment assemblies
• Creative and performing arts workshops
• Musical and sporting activities 
• Science week
• Film making projects
• University visits, including New College Oxford as well as local universities
• Careers talks
• Evening enrichment trips, e.g. to the theatre
• Signposts to external competitions, summer schools, university open days etc.

Many of these opportunities are open to all students, some are targeted at specific groups of MAT students, and others are for small groups of students with a particular aptitude or interest.