What Works in Gifted Education Reflections from No.8 Middle School, Beijing
圖：No 8 Middle School in Beijing is well known throughout mainland China as an exceptional school
No 8 Middle School in Beijing is well known throughout mainland China as an exceptional school.
I was privileged to be invited to this school in September 2012 to see how they deal with gifted students. This article is the first of two that looks at the work of No 8 Middle School, what works best for gifted students in Beijing, and asks if there are any lessons that we could learn in Hong Kong.
In 1985 Beijing No. 8 Middle School established an experimental class for gifted children, admitting students with an average age of 10 years but with an educational attainment at least 4 years higher (ie that of a P5 student in Hong Kong terms). These students take an accelerated 4-year programme which equates to an 8-year programme for a non-gifted student, so that by the age of 14 they reach the academic level of a high school graduate.
The curriculum has to be based on the Elementary Education Curriculum stipulated by the State and so lesson time is strictly regulated. In the first academic year, there are 35 lessons each week, 36 in the second year, 37 in the third year and 36 in the fourth year.
Within each teaching unit there is careful planning to ensure that as much information content is added that can be realistically learned in the time available. The planning sets high expectations on the capacity of young minds to absorb a lot of information.
Students are encouraged to participate in competitions but the School does not provide any training programme for them. The pedagogy sets great store by teaching at a fast pace without sacrificing the quality of learning.
A further novel element of the School curriculum is its Physical Education programme. This programme aims to ensure that all gifted students are physically strong and fitter than non-gifted students and they achieve this by adding 5 PE sessions to the weekly curriculum (more sessions that in the regular curriculum) and a whole afternoon each week to PE in Nature where students are free to enjoy outdoor sports activities like hiking, mountain climbing, swimming, diving, skating, unicycle riding and bicycle travel.
Teachers not only guide students to do the activities but they also add nature-related lessons to take advantage of different and diverse environments.
An analysis of the physical strength of Gifted Children Class students showed that when they first joined the class, their bodily functions, physical qualities, growth, development, were not "supernormal", some were even below normal standard. When they graduated, the indicators, especially fitness, improved substantially. An illustration of their stamina is that between late June and early July this year, the hottest days of the year, the students launched a bicycle adventure to Shanhai Pass, covering a distance of 750km. All completed the journey without feeling ill!
Next week we will reflect on the work of No 8 Middle School and see if there are lessons to be learned for schools in Hong Kong.
Dr Stephen Tommis
Executive Director The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education
香港資優教育學苑院長 湯敏思博士
網址：www.hkage.org.hk
