Private School News

Pilgrims School, Bedfordshire, is the first Pre-Preparatory School in the UK to achieve the prestigious National NACE Challenge Award for excellence in provision for able, gifted and talented pupils.

‘At Pilgrims School there is a strong ethos of achievement. Developing effective learning skills and high aspirations for all pupils is at the heart of the school’s work. Pupils show very good attitudes to learning and are taught how to assess their own achievements.

Lessons are challenging and pupils say that teachers help them to “stretch their thinking.” The broad and exciting curriculum is rich in problem solving activities and opportunities for independent learning. Sports, arts and academic prowess are equally valued. Parents appreciate the opportunities for children to develop leadership and organisational skills.

Parents are fully involved in identifying and nurturing their child’s gifts and talents. They say that communication between home and school is very effective.’
Extract from Challenge Award Assessment Report March 2008

The NACE Challenge Award is given for high quality work by the whole school, teachers and governors, in challenging all pupils, including those with high abilities, to achieve their best.
A total of 99 schools have been awarded in England and Wales.

The Award is given by NACE: the National Association for Able Children in Education, a leading national education organisation and registered charity established for 25 years. The Association exists to help the daily work of teachers providing for pupils with high abilities whilst enabling all pupils to flourish. It provides advice, training and resources for teachers, including The Challenge Award Self-Evaluation Framework which Pilgrims Pre-Preparatory School has used to audit and plan what it provides for able, gifted and talented pupils.
Many thousands of primary and secondary schools are using The Challenge Award Framework to develop their work.

Assessors, who spent a day in the school, were impressed by the effective coordination of gifted and talented education, fully supported by the Headteacher; rigourous planning for pupils’ learning, effective tracking of pupils’ progress which ensures that any underachievement is addressed, the pupils’ competence with technology and the very good relationships between teachers and pupils.

Assessors judged the quality of the school’s work by observing lessons, interviewing the pupils, teachers, parents and governors and by looking
at the pupils’ work. The Award is given when schools demonstrate that they meet the criteria of the Award and are committed to continuing high-quality provision for able, gifted and talented pupils.

May 2008 Julie Fitzpatrick. Chief Executive