Academically Talented Underachievers at the End of High School

Abstract

Out of a total of 92 pupils, identified as talented in their primary schools, over 3% (N=3) left school before the end of year 11 and 17% (N=15) failed to gain a score in the Higher School Certificate (HSC) that would place them in the top 25% of candidates. An examination of their responses to questionnaires, completed during their six years at a high school, has identified affective factors leading to inappropriate study patterns and/or a lack of motivation to achieve highly in HSC. The excitement of learning had faded for them in the school setting. Discussion as to how “excitement” in school studies might be generated concludes the paper.