Stretching a high-achieving child

Signs, what they may mean, and what helps

Depth before acceleration

The instinct is often to push a bright child ahead: next year's textbook, early exams, skipping a year. Most of the time, depth works better. In maths, that means multi-step problems, reasoning and proof-style explanations within the current topics. In English, it means reading widely and well above the year group, and writing longer, more crafted pieces. In science, it means asking questions and designing simple investigations.

Acceleration has a place, for example a child far ahead in maths sitting with an older group for that subject, but it is a school decision that should weigh social and emotional readiness as well as attainment. Racing through content at home can leave a child bored in class and missing the deeper understanding later exams reward.

What the tests can and cannot tell you

Many British and international schools in the Gulf use CAT4, GL Assessment's Cognitive Abilities Test, which measures verbal, non-verbal, quantitative and spatial reasoning for children aged 6 to 17 and over. A high score in one or more areas suggests strong reasoning in that area, and comparing CAT4 with attainment can show whether a child is being stretched. Some schools also use Cambridge Primary Checkpoint at the end of primary as an external benchmark.

No single test defines a child. Scores move, and children who are anxious, new to English or unwell on the day can score below their ability. Use results as one piece of evidence alongside work and teacher observations, and avoid sharing labels with the child that could make them afraid of failing.

Questions to ask the school

• How do you identify high-attaining or more able pupils, and is my child on that list?
• What does stretch look like in class: extension tasks, deeper questions, ability groups?
• Are there clubs, competitions or enrichment programmes for able pupils?
• Can my child work with an older group in a subject where they are far ahead?
• What do the CAT4 or other assessment results show compared with my child's attainment?
• If my child also has a learning difficulty, how do you support both needs?

Enrichment outside school in the Gulf

In Saudi Arabia, Mawhiba, the King Abdulaziz and his Companions Foundation for Giftedness and Creativity, runs a national programme to identify gifted students, Mawhiba classes in partner schools, after-school and summer enrichment programmes, and competitions including Kangaroo Mawhiba for mathematics and logical thinking and Bebras Mawhiba for computational thinking, which is open from the third grade of primary to the final year of secondary.

Across the Gulf, schools also enter pupils for international maths, science and writing competitions, and libraries and museums run holiday programmes. A good rule is one stretching activity at a time, chosen by the child's interest rather than the parent's.

Looking after the whole child

Able children are still children. Some are anxious or perfectionist, some find friendships harder when their interests differ from their classmates', and some have uneven profiles, for example advanced reasoning with slower handwriting or a learning difficulty. If you are worried about anxiety, attention or learning, talk to the school first; diagnosis of any learning difference is a matter for qualified assessors, not tests at home.

Protect unstructured time. Play, sport, friendships and rest are part of developing a capable child, and over-scheduling is one of the commonest reasons a bright child loses enthusiasm.

How one-to-one lessons can stretch a child

One-to-one lessons are well suited to stretch, because the pace and depth can match the child exactly. A tutor can work on challenging problems in the current curriculum rather than racing ahead, prepare for a maths competition, or develop extended writing with detailed feedback. The aim is curiosity and depth, not getting a year ahead of school.

LiveTutor lessons are one to one, 60 minutes, online, after school in Gulf time, with experienced tutors who teach primary and lower secondary maths, English and science, interviewed and approved by our team.