Originally Published 04 March 2002

Warwick has been selected by the Government to host the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth, following an extremely competitive bidding process against at least five other university consortia. The formal announcement was made by School Standards Minister Stephen Timms on Tuesday 19 February.

Speaking at the launch of the Academy at the Department for Education and Skills, the Minister highlighted the vision for the Academy, describing it as "providing an internationally recognised centre for research and development, as well as becoming the centrepiece of our national strategy to support and improve gifted and talented education ...forging a pioneering new partnership between leading exponents of various distinct approaches to gifted and talented education and opening up new opportunities for able young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to win places at our most prestigious universities. We ignore the needs of our most able young people at our peril - if we are to have a truly inclusive education system we must enable every single child to fulfil his or her potential, including those with exceptional ability. "

Working with our core partners, the Center for Talented Youth at Johns Hopkins University in the US and the Research Centre for Able Pupils at Oxford Brookes University, together with a wider network of partner universities - initially the University of Durham, the London School of Economics and the University of York - Warwick will offer, among other provision, a talent search, summer school programmes, an outreach programme, on-line learning resources and a socially inclusive Academy which builds on our long track record in widening participation.

Also speaking at the launch Vice-Chancellor, Professor David VandeLinde commented: "Warwick is delighted to be chosen to deliver the Government's vision for the National Academy for Gifted and Talented Youth. We have the expertise, the partnerships, an environment of excellence and the drive to succeed in establishing a uniquely English National Academy. In my years at Johns Hopkins University, I was privileged to witness the growth and development of a similar programme and to see what a difference it made to the lives of so many young people. I therefore retain a strong personal commitment to the creation of similar opportunities for gifted and talented youth in this country and believe that Warwick and its partners will deliver a National Academy of which we can all be proud."

The pilot three-week residential Summer School will take place from 22 July to 9 August 2002 for around 100 students. Staff interested in becoming involved in the work of the Academy are invited to an open meeting on Wednesday 6 March at 3pm - see InSite for details, email gifted@warwick.ac.uk or contact Interim Director, Paul Greatrix on extension 22707.

Initial information about the Academy can be found on its website at: http://www.warwick.ac.uk/gifted