I have advocated successfully for cluster grouping at my DD's school. It can be very successful, but requires a teacher who will differentiate for the group, so we have found 5 or 6 to be a good number. It has been fantastic for my daughter, who is in the cluster, with "top 5%" being the criteria. This, along with subject acceleration up 2 years for math (into the year 5 cluster group!) has been magic. In literacy, it is easier for the G&T teacher to do a pullout if all kids are in one class as in a cluster. I requested "subject acceleration" for the novel study pullout too, which was granted, so again she is grouped with an older cluster for this.
For everything else, she remains with her sameage cluster group. Socially this has been good for her. There is probably only one other HG+ in her age cluster............but for us it has worked magic.
It took a couple of years to convince the Principal that the clustering was in the kids best interests academically and social/emotionally. Initially, lots of teachers wanted the cluster, thinking it would be teacher-pleaser easy kids. Within a year, they realised it was darned hard work, and now only G&T trained teachers get (or even want) the cluster ;-o
I have heard of teachers who "add" students to the cluster group however, and do not differentiate adequately, and then there is little to be gained.
Hope this helps
Steph
