The Gifted and Talented Program displays the whole school practice of differentiated instruction, through the implementation of a variety of teaching strategies that caters for the needs of all students in the classroom.
The definition of Gifted and Talented most widely used, is that of Françoys Gagné (2003). The definition reflects the distinction between potential and performance:
Gifted students are those whose potential is distinctly above average in one or more of the following domains: intellectual, creative, social and physical, to a degree that places an individual at least among the top 10% of age peers.
Talented students are those whose skills are distinctly above average in one or more areas of human performance, to a degree that places an individual at least among the top 10% of age peers, who are or have been active in that field or fields.
To support teachers and identify Gifted and Talented students, a range of evaluation tools may be used. These include standardised assessments, off-level testing and test results from external providers.
The aim of the Ravenswood Gifted and Talented Program is to foster child-centered, divergent learning, whilst being challenging and fast paced. Specialist teachers differentiate the curriculum, providing relevant and engaging learning opportunities which meet the individual learning needs of Gifted and Talented students, whilst making necessary adjustments to meet individual learning styles.
The Gifted and Talented program is supported by the Learning Enrichment Department. In Year 7, the Gifted and Talented Program is delivered in small groups, which are withdrawn from the classroom. The target curriculum areas are English (Literacy) and History. Students are offered an extensive range of learning opportunities designed to develop the talents of each student.
Some students are identified to participate in competitions and may work individually with specialist teachers. These competitions include the da Vinci Decathlon, Future Problem Solving, Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians and Australasian Problem Solving Mathematical Olympiads and various writing competitions.
Ravenswood is a member of the Northside Gifted and Talented Association, where Learning Enrichment teachers and students attend meetings and workshops.