Elevating gifted learners through deeper, real-world engagement

St Andrew’s Cathedral School New Enrichment Programme

St Andrew’s Cathedral School is excited about the addition of a new enrichment programme for gifted and talented students at the School, which will strengthen the School’s existing provision for high-ability learners.

The School has a long-standing, highly regarded gifted education programme that is both responsive to student needs and grounded in evidence-based practice. This year, 21 Middle School students (Years 7–9) are enjoying being stretched by tackling real-world problems through the Future Problem Solving (FPS) enrichment programme.

The evidence-based, internationally recognised programme takes an interdisciplinary approach in its focus on real world issues. Ms Estee Stephenson, Head of Gifted Education and Visible Literacy Coordinator, says that the focus of the School’s gifted education programme is to foster not just talent, but purpose, so that students develop ethical insights and contribute socially. This year the range of topics studied include food security, rising sea levels and issues around nanotechnology.

The decision to take part in the programme was influenced by the School’s highly successful gifted education tour to Japan last year, which will be followed up with another international gifted tour in the 2025 September-October school holidays.

“The Japan tour confirmed that our students are globally minded and eager to make meaningful change in the world,” Ms Stephenson said. “Introducing the Future Problem Solving programme this year reflects the desire and need for deeper, real-world engagement among this cohort of learners.”

The programme aligns with key strengths of St Andrew’s Cathedral School’s approach to teaching and learning, including teaching students through the lens of the International Baccalaureate’s Middle Years Programme (MYP). The MYP is particularly well-suited to gifted students, as it incorporates best-practice instructional models for high-ability learners, alongside its focus on developing active, engaged, and internationally minded young people.

“The Future Problem Solving programme aligns beautifully with the MYP framework,” Ms Stephenson said. “By identifying problems, generating solutions, and creating action plans students practise skills such as research, note-taking, negotiation, and collaboration. They apply knowledge across disciplines and engage with issues that often align with the MYP’s global contexts, building reflective, creative, and proactive learners.”

The programme also reinforces St Andrew’s Cathedral School’s focus on Character Strengths, as students demonstrate perseverance, open-mindedness, and leadership throughout the problem-solving process.

Lily (Year 8) believes the knowledge she has gained through the programme has been invaluable. She particularly enjoyed the opportunity to work in a team, examining global issues from different perspectives. “My favourite topic this year was agriculture,” she said, “I was fascinated by how complex it is and how it is linked to so many factors, from climate and technology to trade and food security, and how solutions in one area can impact so many others. I enjoyed the programme because it challenged me to think creatively about how to make the world a better place.”

Join our Gifted and Talented Information Evening to find out more about the School’s inspiring Gifted & Talented Programmes.