The National Association for More Able Children in Education (NACE)Â has reaccredited Danes Hill School with the NACE Challenge Award. This is our second accreditation. The award is given in recognition of school-wide commitment to high-quality provision for more able learners, within the context of challenge for all.
NACE Director of Challenge and Curriculum Development, Christabel Shepherd said:
“It was an absolute pleasure to visit Danes Hill. We were very impressed by the school’s work in providing a breadth of rich opportunities – both within and beyond the classroom – for pupils’ abilities and talents to be identified and strengthened. You have clearly made good progress in further addressing the needs of more able and talented learners and in developing a culture of challenge for all. This whole school commitment was reflected by your staff and students.”
The award is based on the NACE Challenge Framework, which sets out criteria for high-quality provision for more able learners within a wider ethos of challenge for all. The framework is available as part of the NACE Challenge Development Programme – a suite of resources developed by NACE to help schools evaluate and improve their provision for more able learners.
Improving provision for the more able remains a priority for many schools and has been highlighted by Ofsted as a key focus. The experience and evidence gathered by Challenge Award-accredited schools also shows that effective strategies to improve provision for the more able are likely to have a positive impact on the achievement of a much wider group of learners.
To attain the Challenge Award, schools must complete a detailed self-evaluation using the NACE Challenge Framework, submit a portfolio of supporting evidence, and undertake assessment by a NACE associate. The assessment process includes examination of school data and key documents; lesson observations; and interviews with school leaders, learners, parents and governors.
Christabel Shepherd continued:
“Many congratulations to everyone involved, and I hope that this reaccreditation will provide further external recognition of your school’s commitment to quality whole school provision for more able and talented pupils.”
