The landscape of gifted and talented education in England has changed in the past decade when the UK government launched an education programme for ‘gifted and talented’ pupils as part of its Excellence in Cities policy initiative. The policy was initially intended to raise educational achievement of higher ability pupils in secondary schools in socially deprived urban areas and was subsequently extended to all age groups and schools in England. This article reports the findings of official reports and reviews and includes the reflections of a local authority adviser of a large education district within a socially deprived area of London. The adviser had the responsibility for implementing the policy through working with schools and practising teachers.