League tables for gifted pupils

The government wants all schools to identify gifted pupils

The number of high-achieving "gifted and talented" pupils is to appear in secondary school league tables for England, ministers have said.

The government wants all schools to identify gifted pupils, as part of a drive to help such youngsters.

The data will be published with the results of tests taken by pupils at 14. Gifted pupils will achieve two or three levels above the ability expected.

But teaching unions say such data could further skew school league tables.

'Often unrecognised'

At present, 91% of secondary and 65% of primary schools identify gifted and talented pupils - with 733,000 children so far in this high-ability category.

But the government wants all schools and colleges to identify and provide additional support for the most gifted pupils - of whom it estimates there could be one million.

Gifted pupils will either be in the top 5% across the country - or very high achievers relative to their school.

Including information about them in the league tables will be a further pressure on schools not to overlook these children.

"There are very able pupils in every school but they can often go unrecognised," says Schools Minister Andrew Adonis.

"Identifying and celebrating high attainment encourages schools to focus on those who need extra help because they have particular abilities and talents, which is just as crucial as helping those who are at risk of falling behind."

Parental pressure

The first performance tables including this information will be based on tests taken in 2008.

Lord Adonis says that once these children have been identified there can be support to make sure they reach their potential.

There have been particular concerns that bright pupils from poorer backgrounds can underperform in exam results and university places.

The call for specialist support for the most academically able is also part of a drive for more "personalised" learning that reflects pupils' different abilities.

But teaching unions warn that listing gifted pupils could tell parents less about a school's quality and more about its intake.

Steve Sinnott, general secretary of teaching union the NUT, said: "Parents will look at performance tables, and ask how many gifted and talented results there are in particular schools, and then the encouragement for parents with the wherewithal to go and seek out what they consider to be the best schools will actually be increased."