Mastering Academic Talent Development
BBC Honours Program for highly able students to be introduced in 2021
A BBC education is designed to challenge boys to think critically, engage their curiosity and foster a global outlook. While not an academically selective school, BBC is an academic institution that strives for excellence.
The College’s commitment to knowing each boy and his learning needs, coupled with extensive access and use of various data and student tracking tools, allows staff to identify students who require extra support or challenges to enhance their learning.
In an exciting innovation building on the College’s high quality academic offerings, the BBC Honours Program will be introduced in 2021, providing an enriched curriculum as a catalyst for highly able students to fulfil their talent and realise their potential.
In line with the College’s New School of Thought approach to teaching and learning, Dr Leigh Hobart, Deputy Headmaster Academic Performance and Innovation (P-12) says the program will represent a new way of thinking, teaching and delivering academic talent development at BBC.
“Our Honours Program will engage high performing and high potential students from the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools allowing for academic extension, enrichment and acceleration.
“Classes will provide opportunities for problem-based enquiry and investigation, stimulating curiosity, interest and thought in an environment of like-minded scholars,” said Dr Hobart.
The Honours Program has been developed with the wellbeing of students in mind and will help shape academic talent into strength awareness and ultimately, mastery.
“A committee, comprising of staff, students, and parents, was established to research best practice from the literature and investigate practices around the world. In line with their findings, the formulation of our BBC Honours Program draws heavily on the influence of Francoys Gagne and Joseph Renzulli, noted leaders in the field of gifted and talented education.
“The result is an Honours Program which creates an opportunity for our highest performing students to flourish and extend beyond what they thought possible,” said Dr Hobart.
Interested students will be invited to apply for entry into the program, with Academic Scholarship recipients automatically considered. Suitability will be determined by a number of factors, including academic performance and ranking, but also academic potential as evidenced by qualities such as conscientiousness, deliberate practice, love of learning, will power and grit.
Teachers conducting the program will be provided with specialist training in how to best cater for gifted and talented students to support the teaching and learning demands of the program.
Initially launching to Years 5, 7 and 10 students in 2021, the Honours Program will roll out to additional year levels over the next two years, with the intention for it to be offered to highly able students across Years 5 to 12 by the end of 2022.