Case Studies
A growing number of schools across the globe have embarked on a Thinking School journey. Some of these schools have made a record of their journey, which gives an insight into how they prepared for the change, the path they choose to take and what happened along the way. Others have strong views on why there should be a whole school approach to the teaching of thinking.
Each school has encountered and overcome its own individual obstacles along the way – take a look at this small selection from a large pool of inspiring case studies from across the world.
East Sheen Primary School
London, UK
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. With Maddie Jenson and Carla Ruocco (Thinking Leads, East Sheen Primary).
Stanton Bridge Primary School
Coventry, UK
Through following Stanton Bridge’s ‘thinking’ journey, the webinar explores the considerable benefits and impact of a whole school approach and how to successfully incorporate metacognition into a school.
With Sofina Islam, OBE, Head Teacher, Stanton Bridge Primary School, Coventry.
Edgware Primary School
London, UK
Take a look at Edgware Primary School’s thinking page on their website – it gives a great overview of their thinking school journey and what it’s done for their school.
VISIT EDGWARE PRIMARY SCHOOL’S THINKING PAGE
Reculver Church of England Primary School – Aquila Trust
Kent, UK
‘For us at Reculver CEP School it all began 2 years ago when our CEO from Aquila invited me to attend a Thinking Schools Conference. I was most intrigued and remember saying to my Head teacher at the time, ‘What is a Thinking School?’
Millbrook Primary School
Newport, Wales
The start of their Thinking School Journey – helping pupils to reignite their thinking and learning following the pandemic.
Cumran Primary School
Ulster, NI
Cumran Primary School has been developing a whole school approach to developing children’s metacognition for more than a decade and is accredited by the University of Exeter as a Thinking School.
CHILDREN LEAD THE LEARNING AT CUMRAN PRIMARY
Notting Hill Preparatory School
London, UK
Notting Hill as a Thinking School ‘And working at Notting Hill Prep (NHP), a thinking school, means that there’s a constant conversation about pedagogy or happiness or wellbeing going on in staffrooms and over lunch..’
Lithuanian Kindergartens
Vilnius, Lithuania
‘A few Lithuanian schools and kindergartens were interested in the idea of the Thinking School approach and the possibilities of implementing it, so they started to dig deeper into the philosophy, history, as well as the culture.’
Charles Dickens School
Broadstairs, Kent
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.
Glenmoor and Winton Academies
Bournemouth, UK
The TES visited Glenmoor and Winton Academies to explore how ‘Becoming a Thinking School transformed our pupil’s learning.’ You can also find out more about their thinking approach on their website.
Leventhorpe School
Hertfordshire, UK
‘Staff are falling in love with teaching again …’ an article from Teach Secondary.
Maidstone Grammar School for Girls
Maidstone, UK
Having achieved re-accreditation as an Advanced Thinking School, Candice Wood, Thinking School Coordinator from Maidstone Grammar School for Girls, shares their reasoning behind continuing the Thinking School approach.
Barbara Priestman Academy
Sunderland, UK
Barbara Priestman Academy is for students aged 11-19 years with an Autistic Spectrum Disorder or complex learning difficulties. The Academy is also an accredited Advanced Thinking School. Judith Stephenson, Thinking School Coordinator, shares the very positive and rewarding acknowledgement they have recently received for their first class Thinking School practices.
Amnuay Silpa
Thailand’s first thinking school
In 2009 Amnuay Silpa School (ANS) embarked on a Thinking Journey designed to transform the way in which learning took place at the school.
In 2013 ANS was accredited by the Department of Cognitive Education at Exeter University as the First Thinking School in Asia. In 2017 ANS was accredited for a second time and awarded Advanced Status. Take a look through their website at how they’ve embedded thinking within their whole school.
It is amazing to see even the youngest children in Y1 working at such a high level. The FS teacher is introducing new thinking verbs each week and using questions within her learning environment. Year 6 are working at a very sophisticated level, with the children already applying the uses of this thinking language.
Would you like to see a Thinking School in action?
Let us know and we can arrange a visit for you.