NACE Challenge Award

Wycliffe College has achieved a unique double first for excellence in teaching gifted and talented pupils and has attracted the interest of the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, who sent a personal message of congratulations to the school.

Wycliffe has become the only independent school in the UK to win the prestigious NACE Challenge Award and the only school in the UK to win it across every one of the six stages of education - from pre-school right through to A level.  NACE is the National Association for Able Children in Education. The Challenge Award was formally presented by NACE at a spectacular Award Ceremony which showcased the talents of Wycliffe students on Friday 15th February.

Inspectors said, “The culture at Wycliffe College is one where pupils’ potential is identified and all pupils are challenged. The College provides a vast range of rich opportunities for learning both in and beyond the curriculum and resources are outstanding.”

The award is especially significant at Wycliffe as the school is not selective and has won awards for its SEN provision.

We were delighted to be joined by John Humphrys from the BBC, who hosted a special Junior Mastermind competition for the pupils.  He then went under the spotlight himself as the Head of the College, Margie Burnet Ward turned the tables on him and asked him some searching questions that he might have been happy to have asked as one of the UK’s most respected journalists.

The evening rounded off with a book signing by John Humphrys, with all monies taken going to his Kitchen Table Charities Trust. The Trust raises money to make grants to tiny charities in the world’s poorest countries which are struggling to provide basic food and education in some of the most needy and most deserving areas of the world.  For further information go to www.kitchentablecharities.org

Wycliffe is also marking the achievement by launching an innovative collaboration with local state schools to share best practice in teaching the gifted and talented. To mark this venture we were delighted in welcoming both pupils and staff from our neighbouring school, Maidenhill, who performed three beautiful dance sequences at the award ceremony.

Wycliffe's Head, Ms Margie Burnet Ward said, "This is a tremendous achievement and rounds off a spectacular year for the school in which we celebrated its 125th anniversary. This affirms our commitment to know every child and to provide learning that is as individual as each of them.”

A seminar will be hosted that day for Gifted and Talented Coordinators and lead teachers from Gloucester Excellence Cluster.

Wycliffe was inspected for the award by NACE's top assessors, including the author of the Challenge Award, Heather Clements, who is a lead OFSTED inspector and Director of Schools and Child Development at Harrow Borough, and Rachel Feneck, Director of the NACE Challenge Award.

In their report they said, "Lessons are brisk and well-paced with challenging tasks. Pupils are taught to evaluate the quality of their learning and even those in the Preparatory School said, ‘teachers are hard to impress and we have to work hard to keep to all the high standards.’ ”

"The pastoral support for pupils is outstanding. Parents said, “this school celebrates all talents and every child is stretched no matter what their ability.”

Only 83 schools have met the criteria necessary to win the coveted Challenge Award which tests provision, planning and teaching across more than 100 criteria in the Challenge Framework.

The Award is given for high quality work by the whole school, managers, teachers and governors, in challenging all pupils, including those with high abilities, to achieve their best.

The Award is given by NACE: the National Association for Able Children in Education, a leading national education organisation and registered charity. NACE was established 24 years ago 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.