Ealing Learning Partnership

MAGT definition

This definition of giftedness is the broadest and most comprehensive and is constantly changing.

A few years ago ‘gifted pupils’ term was used to define those pupils with academic ability which placed them significantly above the average for their year group.

‘Talented pupils’ defined those pupils whose abilities in art, music, dance or sport were significantly above average.

Professor Deborah Eyre, Director of the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth provides this definition:

Pupils who achieve, or have the ability to achieve, at a level significantly in advance of their peers. This may be in all areas of the curriculum or in a limited range

The terms “more able” and “most able” are also used, often interchangeably.

DCSF (2008) defined this group of pupils as:

Children and young people with one or more abilities developed to a level significantly ahead of their year group (or with the potential to develop those abilities).

Most recently Ofsted has been using the term ‘most able’ instead of ‘gifted and talented’.

However, semantics should not become a barrier to providing for the needs of this group of pupils.

The Ofsted school inspection handbook (January 2014) states that it is 'important to test the school’s response to individual needs by observing how well it helps all pupils to make progress and fulfil their potential' and that it may be relevant to pay particular attention to the achievement of ' the highest attainers'.

For more information you may also visit the Department for Education web page ‘Academically more able pupils’.

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Last updated: 04 Jan 2022