"Excellence in Cities" - Gifted and Talented Strand

The broad objectives of this government strategy are to:

• Help improve the attainment and motivation of the most able children in each inner city secondary school - particularly from disadvantaged backgrounds;
• Improve the ability of inner city secondary schools to make effective provision for their most able children, partly by developing local support networks based on a cluster of neighbouring school
• Create a positive perception of city education amongst parents and the wider community

Rationale for the strategy:

• All children have a right to a challenging and appropriate education
• We have to ensure that gifted and talented children have sufficient opportunities to use their abilities and are encouraged to excel
• "If schools are willing and able to meet the needs of able pupils, standards are raised for all pupils" (Mike Tomlinson 1995, Ofsted)