Elaboration of urgent problems of teaching and education by means of complex single-purpose programmes is a productive form of introduction of theoretical psychology into practice. A complex study of the effect of advanced programmes on psychological development of the personality in schoolchildren has been performed. It is shown that advanced programmes facilitate development of particular intellectual skills and habits while being somewhat inefficient in relation to the long-term meaningful verbal memory. Insufficient development of the ability to work independently, low learning and cognitive motivation have been also observed. Some recommendations are given showing how psychological data can help teachers to reduce corresponding general and learning overload of pupils and to overcome other undesirable effects.