In education 2007 the phrase "G and T" doesn't stand for a teacher's stiff drink at the end of a long day. To hundreds of youngsters in York's secondary schools it means Gifted and Talented. Education reporter Haydn Lewis went to Manor School to find out about a major event for "G and T" students.

THE Government has in recent weeks been pushing schools across the length and breadth of Britain to sign up their most able youngsters to a national Gifted and Talented Register.

Here in York, however, we are way ahead of the pack, and the scheme is in its fifth year at Manor School, where later this month about 200 of the brightest and most motivated - representing the top five or ten per cent of able-minded kids in the city - will be gathering as part of a special conference.

On Saturday January 20, the school is hosting a full day conference for gifted and talented pupils from across York. The LEAD (Lead Educate Achieve Direct) conference is the first of its kind in York, and has been billed as a great opportunity for all involved.

What makes LEAD particularly special is that it is being organised by pupils of Manor School for the benefit of pupil delegates from the six schools attending - Manor, Archbishop Holgate, Fulford, Oaklands, Millthorpe and Burnholme.

Manor's Gifted and Talented co-ordinator, Annette Aylett, said the aim is to develop leadership and motivation skills and to increase self-confidence.

Guest speakers are coming from fields as diverse as film production, professional football, theatre, and business, delivering up to 30 workshop sessions.

The hope is that through these workshops, the adults will share their leadership experiences and inspire the students.

Among those attending will be Paul Birch, of Riding Lights Theatre Company, writer Richard McCann, professional football referee Mark Granger, and film producer Peter Bevan.

Youngsters will get the chance to listen to the speakers and ask them about their experiences, as well as take part in specially-designed workshops.

Mrs Aylett said: "The children taking part from Manor have been chosen by their form tutors, not just on their academic record, but on their leadership skills and ability to motivate themselves - pupils who can get teams together and help pull them together, motivating others."

Ella Simpson, 15, has helped head up a team in charge of design for the event.

She said: "We have been in charge of making everything look co-ordinated for the day, doing advertising for the event, designing posters and getting a colour theme together - red and black, which is the school colours.

"I think the event is such a good opportunity for us to prepare for what life is going to be like outside of school."

The event follows news reported yesterday in The Press, of £100,000 Government funding, for a partnership between independent and state schools in York, aimed at raising academic achievement among gifted pupils.

The initiative will help up to 800 York students aged 12 and over improve their understanding of the applied sciences. It will enable joint working between the city's 11 state secondary schools, York College, and Bootham, The Mount and St Peter's Schools, to support special masterclasses for able, gifted and talented pupils.

The classes will start in September, and will focus on the application of science skills in five areas: health; society; the humanities; art; and the creative industries.