Webinars

We regularly host short webinars and podcasts that are open to Thinking School Network members, as well as other schools and educators from all over the world. The topics range from schools sharing their journey to becoming accredited Thinking Schools to relaying their best practice in key areas of pedagogy.

Upcoming Webinars: Book your place

Book your FREE online seat at our live CPD webinars, introducing this year’s speakers at the Festival of Metacognition, as we explore the development of metacognitive, self-regulating learners.

Enculturation: Raising Attainment and Monitoring Impact - A Thinking School JourneyHear from Charles Dickens School's SLT on their experience of how becoming an accredited Thinking School has supported their ambitions to develop metacognitive, self-regulating learners. Thursday 1st Feb 4:00 - 4:20pmView Webinar
Strengthening the Student Toolbox Amarbeer Singh Gill, author of 'Strengthening the Student Toolbox - in Action', introduces us to ideas from his influential book on how to help students consolidate knowledge and enhance their learning.Tuesday 12th Mar 4:00 - 4:20pmView Webinar
'Thinking Aloud' Developing Metacognition Through Peer Collaboration and TalkDr. Kirstin Mulholland shares her work on 'Thinking Aloud', sharing practical ideas on harnessing the power of collaborative talk for metacognitive development.Thursday 21st March 4:00 - 4:20pmView Webinar
Successfully Motivating Students - How to Apply Self Determination Theory In The ClassroomHear from Dr. Claire Badger (FCCT), who shares her insights in to motivation and the practical application of self-determination theory in the classroom. Thursday 25th April 4:15 - 4:30pmBook your webinar place
Metacognition and Memory: how are they related and what does that mean for learning and teaching?Prof. Daniel Muijs, author of the EEF's guidance report on 'Metacognition and Self Regulated Learning', provides an insight in to his workshop on metacognition and memoryThursday 2nd May 4:00 - 4:20pmBook your webinar place

Oct 2023

Through following Stanton Bridge's 'thinking' journey, the webinar explores:
→ The considerable benefits and impact of a whole school approach.
→ How to successfully incorporate metacognition into a school.
→ What decisions will leaders have to consider.
→ What challenges to look out for and the key learnings from existing Thinking School leaders.
Panellists: Sofina Islam, OBE, Head Teacher, Stanton Bridge Primary School, Coventry.
Host:Lorna Gardiner, Thinking Matters Consultant.


Mar/Apr 2023

Designed for primary school and KS2 leaders. This short webinar will highlight the powerful effect and how to use metacognitive tools to benefit learners as they prepare for their SATs.

Panellists: Lorna Gardiner & Arabella Northey, Consultants.


Designed for school leaders. Hear from Charles Dickens School's SLT on their experience of how becoming an accredited Thinking School has supported their ambitions to develop metacognitive, self-regulating learners. Dr. Dave Walters from the University of Exeter will explain the accreditation process.

Panellists: Kristy Harrison, DHT & Alastair Weller AHT, Charles Dicken School, Kent. Dr. Dave Walters, University of Exeter.
Host: Adam Broad, Thinking Matters.


Oct 2022

Designed for School SLTs, this webinar will cover the key principles which underpin successful implementation of metacognition in your school.

Panellists: Lorna Gardiner, Consultant Thinking Matters, Teresa Williams, Consultant Thinking Matters and Adam Broad, Consultant Thinking Matters.
Host: Ali Wade, CEO, Thinking Matters.


May 2022

Designed for School SLT's, this webinar will cover the key principles which underpin successful implementation of metacognition in your school.

Panellists: Teresa Gardiner, Consultant Thinking Matters and Arabella Northey, Consultant, Thinking Matters.
Host: Ali Wade, CEO, Thinking Matters.


Jan 22

How to develop metacognitive, self-regulating learners as a whole school. This webinar explores how to successfully incorporate metacognition in a whole school, the decisions will Leaders have to consider, what challenges to look out for, the benefits of a whole school approach and the impact and key learnings from existing Thinking School leaders.

Speaker 27th Jan: Matt Lowe, Thinking Schools Lead Practitioner, Barton Court Grammar School, Kent.
Host: Alisdair Wade, CEO, Thinking Matters.


Nov 2021

Richard Reid from Headroom (curious conversations for leaders in education) recently interviewed Thinking Matters Consultant, Lorna Gardiner, for their episode on 'thinking about thinking'. In this podcast they discuss the importance of a whole school approach to developing thinking skills.


Sep/Oct 2021

The webinar explores how to successfully incorporate metacognition in a whole school; what decisions will Leaders have to consider; what challenges to look out for; the benefits of a whole school approach and the impact and key learnings from existing Thinking School leaders.

Speakers: Maddie Jenson and Carla Ruocco (Thinking Leads, East Sheen Primary).
Host: Alisdair Wade, CEO, Thinking Matters.


Jun/Jul 2021

This webinar explores how to develop self-regulating 'meta' learners as schools prepare for the new Curriculum for Wales. It includes looking at pedagogical approaches that encourage children to be active participants in the learning process and addresses how the Thinking Schools approach supports the aims of the Curriculum for Wales.

Panellists: Lizzie Charles, Deputy Headteacher, St Andrew’s Primary School and Dan Jones , KS Phase Leader, Maindee Primary School.
Host: Paul Tyack, Thinking Matters Consultant.


This webinar looks at what oracy means in a classroom context, explores the importance and impact of oracy, how it can be developed successfully and it's connection with metacognition and the Thinking School's approach.

Panellists: Gemma Aukett, Thinking Lead, Gordon's Senior School and Emma Clark, Headteacher, Elworth Hall Primary School.
Host: Teresa Williams, Thinking Matters Consultant.


Apr/May 2021

This webinar looks at the research of what works with pupils progress and how that aligns with pupil wellbeing. It then explores how this can be developed as community practice through developing a clear vision, building and empowering a drive team, developing a shared language and aligning classroom practice via tools, strategies and routines.

Tues 27th April Panellists: Rose Cope, Headteacher, Hornbeam Primary School & Katie Robbins, Thinking Skills, Maidstone Grammar School for Girls.
Host: Alisdair Wade, Thinking Matters.


Mar 2021

This 15 minute webinar offers an outline of the content and structure of the Thinking Matters. 90 min, online, interactive Metacognition Workshop. It also highlights the huge benefits to your school, and gives details on cost and how to book the workshop at a time and date that suits you and your school.

The webinar will be hosted by one of our inspirational Thinking Matters experts in metacognition who also facilitate the workshop.


This webinar explores what Thinking Frames are and how they can be used to:
- Develop student’s core underlying thinking processes.
- Organise thoughts ahead of answering questions.
- Improve a student’s ‘higher order’ thinking.
- Enable students to reflect on their thinking and learning behaviours.
- Aid revision and memory.
- Improve EAL learner confidence.
- Reduce teacher workload

Panellists: Dave Harvey (Assistant Head, Leventhorpe School, Herts), Teresa Willams (Director Of Consulting, Thinking Matters).


Jan/Feb 2021
This series of webinars addressed two areas of focus: developing metacognition in your school via online training, and looking at how to motivate learners working from home.

This Webinar explores how motivation theory translates to motivating students; what schools can do to motivate remote learners and Motivational Maps - how they can be used to transform learner engagement, outcomes and wellbeing.

Speakers: Gemma Aukett (Thinking School Coordinator & House Parent, Gordon's School, Surrey), MarkTurner (CEO, Motivational Maps Education), Charlotte Wheeler (Managing Director, Motivation.


This webinar explores whole school metacognition - what it means, the benefits, and how schools can start adopting it through online and blended training - fitting easily into remote and busy staff timetables.

Speakers: Rose Cope (Head, Hornbeam Primary, DEALT MAT), Lorna Gardiner (Head of Consulting, Thinking Matters), Alisdair Wade (CEO, Thinking Matters).


Nov/Dec 2020
This informative new series of webinars explores Visible Thinking and Thinking Routines; key structures and practices for the classroom to support the development of metacognitive learners. And, due to popular demand, we included another webinar on the What and Why of being a Thinking School.

What do we mean by whole school metacognition? This Webinar looks at what it actually means to be a Thinking School, what's different about the pedagogy and the pupils in Thinking Schools and what are the significant benefits involved.

Hosts: Judith Davies, Headteacher, Danescourt Primary School, Cardiff, and Joanne Thompson, Drive Team Leader, Brownlow Integrated College, County Armagh.


Visible Thinking aims to integrate the development of students' thinking with learning of content through effective questioning, listening, documentation and the use of Thinking Routines. Designed for School Leaders and Teachers this Webinar looks at:
- Why is making thinking visible important?
- How can thinking be made visible?
- Which kinds of thinking build understanding?
- What are some of the benefits of using Thinking Routines?
- How can teachers begin to use Thinking Routines?

Hosts: Paul Tyack, Thinking Matters Consultant and Dr Helen Lewis, Senior Lecturer in Education, School of Education, Swansea University.


September 2020
This series of Webinars are designed for School Leadership and those wanting to learn more about adopting a whole school approach to developing metacognitive learners. The Webinars looks at what it actually means to be a Thinking School, what's different about the pedagogy and the pupils in Thinking Schools and what are the significant benefits involved.

What are the benefits of being a Thinking School? How does it impact on your pupils, staff and the whole school?

Hosts: Alison Jacob, Headteacher at Edgware Primary School, London and Belinda Kistell, Asst Head, Leventhorpe Academy.


This Webinar explores what it means to be a Thinking School. What sets a Thinking School apart from a non-thinking school? What does a Thinking Classroom look like and what learning behaviours can one expect to see from pupils?

Hosts: Ciaran Beatty, Headteacher, St James’s Primary, Richmond and Gemma Aukett, Thinking School, Coordinator, Gordon School, Surrey.


July 2020
This series of Webinars focused on the meaning of metacognition, how it can enhance the Recovery Curriculum and ease the process of pupils' return to learning after lockdown. The Webinars are designed for School Leadership and Classroom Practitioners.

This Webinar is the perfect introduction to further online training on the Recovery Curriculum and Habits of Mind.

Hosts: Teresa Williams (Head of Training, Thinking Matters) and Richard Coe, Vice Principal, Glenmoor and Winton Academies, Bournemouth.


This webinar explores sustainable strategies to improve leadership-staff relationships in times of change, optimising staff motivation when there's no time.

Hosts: Sonia Jewers (Occupational Psychologist, Change Management Expert & Thinking Matters Consultant), Charlotte Wheeler (Co-founder, The Oak Montessori).


This webinar examines the evidence for metacognition to transform progress in ‘normal’ times and questions if it is the right approach in ‘unprecedented’ times. It explores how to develop independent learners in the current environment.

Hosts: Dr David Walters (Hon Research Assoc, University of Exeter), Dr Helen Lewis (Senior Lecturer in Education, University of Swansea).


As a thank you for attending one of our webinars on behalf of your school, we will issue the school with FREE Membership to the Thinking Schools Network.

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