Thinking Matters Update - February 2020

Forthcoming Events:

9 March 2020: Northern Ireland, Thinking Schools Conference –Hilton  Hotel, Templepatrick, Country Antrim, NI. A regional event: Learn more about the evidence underpinning this whole school approach.  Keynote Speaker – Professor Steve Higgins. More details.

10 March 2020: Thinking Schools Conference – Sacred Heart Primary School, Liverpool. 9.30 – 12 noon. A regional event: Learn more about the evidence underpinning this whole school approach. More details

4 May 2020: A Pedagogical Approach for the New Curriculum for Wales – Newport (Venue tbc) A twilight session looking at developing cultures of thinking for the Curriculum for Wales.  More details coming soon.

6 May 2020: A Pedagogical Approach for the New Curriculum for Wales– Barry, Vale of Glamorgan at Academy Espresso Bar.  A twilight session looking at developing cultures of thinking for the Curriculum for Wales.  More details coming soon.

15 & 16 June 2020: International Thinking Schools Conference – Copthorne Hotel, Slough. International Event: Don’t miss out on our 12th Annual Conference.  Keynote Speakers:  Lee Elliot Major and Rebecca Tighe plus twenty Thinking School practitioner led workshops. More details

15 June 2020: Introduction to Becoming a Thinking School – Copthorne Hotel, Slough. Running alongside the International Thinking School Conference. More details

Thinking Schools Network (TSN):

TSN – Free Membership Offer:  Many schools have taken us up on our free membership offer, available until the end of this school year.  Members gain regular access to a Thinking Matters Consultant as well as to a wealth of classroom materials, thinking resources and discounts on the services of a range of cognitive education orientated organisations including a 50% Discount for TM Conferences.  If you’ve not joined us yet – get on board now! Membership details.

UK News:

Accreditations: **CONGRATULATIONS** to Portsmouth Academy and Stanley Park Infants School for their recent reaccreditation as Advanced Thinking Schools and to Hillcross Primary for their reaccreditation as a Thinking School. Thinking Schools @Exeter carry out reaccreditation every three years to ensure the required standards to be a Thinking School are maintained.

Training:  Thinking Matters Consultants have been busy and have been working with a number of schools wanting to start or continue their Thinking School journey and take a whole school approach to the teaching of thinking.

Mallusk Integrated Primary School, NI
Gordon’s School, Surrey –See Headteacher’s online supporting statement
Barry Island Primary School, Wales
Radnor House School, Twickenham
St. Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Cardiff
Danescourt Primary School, Cardiff (Motivation Deep Dive)
Priory Integrated College, NI (Developing Cognitive Capabilities)
Brownlow Integrated Primary, NI (Developing Cognitive Capabilities)

If you’re thinking about becoming a Thinking School – we’d be delighted to have a conversation and arrange visits to existing Thinking Schools – Do get in touch to find out more.

Overseas News: 

We are pleased to continue our work with teachers from Lithuania who in March will be coming to visit UK Thinking Schools. There will be three groups of ten teachers, each spending two days visiting four exemplar thinking schools.

We are always delighted to be able to show overseas teachers the work that schools here in the UK are doing and the successes they have with attainment, progress and the development of personal skills. We are also very grateful to the UK schools for giving their time to share their expertise and thinking school experience.

Thinking Matters work in Norway, Dubai, China, Nigeria, Thailand, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Egypt continues to progress well and we look forward to sharing their news in future Updates.

Deep Dive CPD:  Don’t miss out on our ‘Deep Dive’ CPD workshops, focussed on cognitive development, neuro-science and intelligent learning behaviours.  Delivered by experienced trainers, the purpose of each workshop is to equip teachers with a richer level of understanding of how to promote successful thinking, knowledge absorption and learning behaviours within their students. Course titles and more detail.

We’ll be in touch soon to update you on our continuing  developments and all the new support that we will be offering schools on their Thinking School journey.

Richard Cummins
CEO, Thinking Matters