When planning how to use out-of-school learning to support gifted pupils effectively, consider:

• using suspended timetable, homework and out-of-school activities, such as national competitions, to challenge gifted pupils
• reviewing school, local or national competitions that you can encourage gifted pupils to enter
• how you could use school clubs, master classes, suspended timetable weeks.

Case study: an activity day

Based on the model of using a suspended timetable for one day (as suggested in Unit 7E: Activity week, in the QCA/DfES schemes of work for design and technology), Hassenbrook School developed a programme called 'Mission Impossible' for 24 year 8 pupils who had been identified with special abilities in maths, design and technology and English. Working in groups, the pupils were briefed in a presentation at the start of the day to give them a clear focus. Their mission was to:

• form a company with an appropriate name and logo
• explain the importance of sustainable development
• design a product to meet the requirements of the situation
• design and make packaging for the product
• produce an A4 sheet on their product
• make a group presentation at the end of the day to the head, the local environmental officer and the school's environmental group organiser.
• Pupils had to access all the information for the day through computers in the library and ICT suite. Two teachers were available for consultation and guidance.
• The topic of sustainability, and the pace and group skills demanded by the scale of the tasks, presented a challenging day for the group.

Case study: national competitions

Many schools provide opportunities for gifted pupils to take part in national competitions, such as the Young Electronic Designer Awards (YEDA).

Fifteen-year-old Martin Rosinski of Ponteland Community College designed 'Smartlink' and won a prize for the most imaginative concept. Smartlink is the world's smallest data logger, developed for stress measurement in difficult industrial applications where none of the existing measuring systems can be used.

Saqib Shaikh of RNIB New College near Worcester designed 'Braille Magic', a Braille translator for Microsoft Windows, which turns ASCII text into Braille output suitable for driving an embosser.

Arranging activities outside the school in the general guidance

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