More Able Pupils

The National Association for Able Children in Education (NACE) has named Hugh Myddelton Primary School the 144th school to be accredited for the second time with the NACE Challenge Award. The award is given in recognition of school-wide commitment to high-quality provision for more able learners, within the context of challenge for all. NACE CEO Rob Lightfoot said: “Hugh Myddelton Primary School has worked hard to attain reaccreditation through the NACE Challenge Award. It has displayed a continued commitment to develop an environment in which all learners are challenged and supported to be the best they can be.”

The award is based on the NACE Challenge Framework, which sets out criteria for highquality provision for more able learners within a wider ethos of challenge for all. The framework is available as part of the NACE Challenge Development Programme – a suite of resources developed by NACE to help schools evaluate and improve their provision for more able learners.

NACE’s assessor reported: “The school’s ethos and commitment to meeting the needs of More Able pupils has continued to grow and develop. The school has a culture of continuous innovation and improvement. “Teachers are highly committed and know their pupils well so that they are able to quickly identify gaps in learning and where to provide additional challenge. As a result, pupils are confident and fully engaged in their learning – they value the education they receive and the additional opportunities that the school provides beyond the formal curriculum. Teachers are skilled, lively and enthusiastic ensuring that learning has pace and that children are actively engaged throughout the lesson. Pupils are encouraged to take risks and, as a result, are resilient ‘Making mistakes is good – if you never make mistakes you won’t learn from them.’”

Improving provision for the more able remains a priority for many schools and has been highlighted by Ofsted and the DfE as a key focus. The experience and evidence gathered by Challenge Award-accredited schools also shows that effective strategies to improve provision for the more able are likely to have a positive impact on the achievement of a much wider group of learners.

To attain the Challenge Award, schools must complete a detailed self-evaluation using the NACE Challenge Framework, submit a portfolio of supporting evidence, and undertake assessment by a NACE associate. The assessment process includes examination of school data and key documents; lesson observations; and interviews with school leaders, learners, parents and governors.

CEO Rob Lightfoot said, “The Challenge Award is presented in recognition of whole-school commitment to and achievement in providing effective challenge and support for all – spanning school leadership, curriculum, teaching and learning, processes for identification and tracking, extracurricular opportunities, strong communication and partnerships, and ongoing evaluation.”

Hugh Myddelton Primary School will now remain part of the international community of Challenge Award-accredited schools which have demonstrated a sustained and effective commitment to meeting the needs of more able learners, and an interest in sharing expertise for the wider benefit of the education community.

Find out more: www.nace.co.uk/challenge