Challenging Able, Interested and Motivated (AIM) children within and beyond core subjects: a case study

Teacher Reflection

Written by: Adam Burtonshaw and Niamh McGrogan

Published on: September 12, 2019

9 min read

Able, interested and motivated (AIM) is a term used by a small number of schools in the South West of England, to refer to pupils who have the motivation to pursue an area of learning, as well as the talent or prowess to support their determination. The term includes the intellectual, social, emotional, cognitive and physical aspects of children’s talents, rather than solely focusing on attainment (Freeman, 2010). Therefore, the defining feature of the term AIM is that these children are not necessarily the most talented but are motivated to improve their skills or knowledge. Rather than view children’s potential as fixed, the term AIM can be applied to any child with access to either encouragement to pursue a subject or scaffolds to their learning, and therefore every child has the potential to be within this remit. Although advantages and disadvantages of how to challenge AIM children are evidenced across the literature, these are usually discussed within the context of core s

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This article was published in September 2019 and reflects the terminology and understanding of research and evidence in use at the time. Some terms and conclusions may no longer align with current standards. We encourage readers to approach the content with an understanding of this context.