GKP: the Gifted Kids Programme

“Coming to GKP has been an experience like no other. The atmosphere and the people here have made me feel I have something worth sharing. I can join in, feel challenged and not feel judged by anyone. I have no peer pressure here so I can be myself.”

Some of New Zealand’s most gifted and talented students are getting the help they need to realise their intellectual and emotional potential through an enterprising initiative called the Gifted Kids Programme (GKP).

Established in September 2000, the Programme aims to celebrate excellence and provide a stimulating and challenging environment for this unique group of people.  Starting with 14 students drawn from four schools and based at a classroom in Tamaki Intermediate (Auckland), it has grown rapidly. Today, GKP has six additional school clusters, where more than 450 students, aged between six and 14 years and drawn from over 100 schools, attend for one nominated day each week.

The differentiated curriculum highlights the explicit teaching of critical, creative and caring thinking skills, as well as offering chess and language tuition. Annual learning adventures outside the classroom include ‘Business Week’, ‘Intelligence in the Wild’ and ‘Future Problem Solving’, and key study themes in 2004 examined ‘The Brain’, ‘Inventions’, ‘Forensics’ and the ‘Gift of Poetry’.

GKP recognises that giftedness is found throughout society and draws on students from all areas, in particular those from lower-income communities. Crucial to its success are its unique partnerships with host and contributing schools – and with funding partners such as the Todd Foundation. The Programme has also received specific grants to help with workshops for the parents of gifted children and for research into expanding the Programme through a franchise model.

The Gifted Kids Programme: www.giftedkids.co.nz