Higher Ability and Gifted Students
At River Academy we provide enrichment opportunities, to ensure pace and challenge in lessons for all students, including the higher ability and gifted.
On arrival in Year 7, students are identified as more able based on their Key Stage 2 scores. Class registers will identify these students and teachers will use this information to ensure that lessons and homework tasks stretch them sufficiently. All departments will have specific strategies for meeting the needs of high-ability students, and schemes of work will show what provision is made for them.
In 2024/2025 seventeen different extra-curricular activities were scheduled. Gifted and Talented students were targeted for these events, but all students could attend. 43 out 45 students attended at least one event and 66% of all River Academy students attended a gifted and talented activity across the academic year.
These events included:
| History Public lecture on the History of Reading |
| Holocaust Memorial Day Webinar |
| Royal Academy of Arts - planning of ideas for Young Artists’ Summer Show |
| Roman Board games, what did the Romans do for fun? |
| Beak Buffet Biology workshop |
| Villains - why do we love them so much? |
| UK Maths Trust Junior Challenge Preparation Session |
| Climate Change Masterclass |
| Public Lecture - Pets in Ancient Greece |
| Public Lecture - Seals from Space |
| UK Maths Trust Junior Challenge |
| Oxplore Essay Competition |
| Italian for beginners |
| Foyle Young Poets of the Year Award |
| Royal Holloway University: Myth and Voice Project |
| Brains behind the Brawn sports science workshop |
| Ignite Programme university visit for Pupil Premium students |
Additionally, 43 of our students achieved an award in the Junior Maths Challenge. This demonstrates the impact our stretching curriculum is having on students' outcomes.