News

Take a look at what we’ve been up to and what’s been happening across the globe within the thinking community… and if you have any news you’d like to share – please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Young Plato

24 March 2022

A film documentary by Neasa Ní Chainaín and Declan McGrath

A review by Lorna Gardiner, Consultant, Thinking Matters

Kenneth Branagh’s film ‘Belfast’ has received much critical acclaim and box office success, but another recently released film based in the city of Belfast is also worth a watch – especially for anyone interested in education.

Young Plato is an observational documentary which tells the story of a dedicated and charismatic school principal, Kevin McArevey, who introduced the teaching of Philosophy as a way of encouraging students to think critically and creatively, outside their existing community mindsets.

Cadle Primary School – Our journey so far…

23 March 2022

In October 2019, one of our senior teachers attended a workshop that introduced Thinking Matters and a whole school approach to metacognition at the National Education show in Cardiff. The clear links between the Thinking School approach and the new Curriculum for Wales excited us so, as a leadership team, we decided to do some further research.

Fear is the Mind Killer

8 December 2021

‘Fear is the Mind Killer: Why Learning to Learn Deserves Lesson time – and how to make it work for your pupils’ By Dr James Mannion and Kate McAllister (2020), published by John Catt.

A book review by Dr Dave Walters, BA Ed Hons, MPhil Ed, EdD

Farewell and Thank You!

7 December 2021

Richard Cummins retires after 20 years of founding, leading and growing Thinking Matters – he leaves a lasting legacy.

Thinking for the Future

7 December 2021

East Sheen Primary School was re-accredited as a Thinking School in March 2021 while the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic continued to require us all to think flexibly, think together and listen with understanding and empathy.

Developing Thinking Skills within Forest School

16 June 2021

As an academy for students with Autism/Complex needs, the development of thinking skills is a fundamental part of our students’ learning and impacts positively on all areas of their development both academically and pastorally.

Festival of Thinking

16 June 2021

Two years ago at the Thinking Matters conference Christie Ransom (Assistant Headteacher with responsibility for Thinking Skills) and I got fired up with an idea of promoting thinking through a festival.

Keeping Metacognition ‘the Main Thing’ when Managing Change

15 June 2021

Priory Integrated College, Holywood, County Down is an 11-18, all ability, integrated school which has been progressing the Thinking School approach since 2019. Nicola Wilson, Principal and Deirdre Scarlett, SLT member and Drive Team Leader, recently met with TM Consultant Lorna Gardiner to discuss how they have sustained the focus on whole school metacognition through a time of considerable change.

Range – How Generalists Triumph in a Specialzed World – by David Epstein

12 March 2021

How can I develop excellence in sports, music or science? You might advise me to specialise, and do it early: If I don’t, others will have a head start on me in the 10,000 hours of Deliberate Practice necessary for outstanding achievement proposed by Anders Ericsson and popularised by Malcolm Gladwell. If I don’t develop this specialism and practice, practice, practice, I may have broader experiences, but am likely to end up a well-rounded ‘jack-of-all-trades, master of none’.

Journey of a Thinking School during a National Lockdown

11 March 2021

It’s been quite the journey for us at Sacred Heart over the last four years. We have a whole new Senior Leadership Team in place, a stable staff team, a bespoke curriculum developed and have become a real hub for the community. We were also excited to start the Thinking Matters whole school approach to thinking and to be working closely with Ged Murphy, TM Consultant, who has been integral to our school improvement.

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