Critical Thinkers

This is a new intiative and opportunity for secondary geography departments. Explore the website to find out more about the work of The Critical Thinkers.

Critical Thinkers has partnered with the Geographical Association, and also one of the GA's strategic partners: Discover the World Education.

You can get involved in a pilot of their Critical Thinkers Awards.

These are being run in association with the GA.​ The signed-up pilot schools will trial the delivery of Unit 1: Inquiry from the Bronze Award within their Geography department.

As the pilot awards are tailored toward geography, Critical Thinkers have consulted with the Geographical Association to help develop scheme, so to ensure our approach can better help you back in the classroom.

Unit 1: Inquiry (Bronze Award) – 5 guided learning hours. Bronze Award is designed for Key Stage 3
We suggest that the most appropriate year group for the pilot would be Year 8.


Roles within the pilot
Critical Thinkers Assessors (CTA) – Designated staff from the geography department who will assess the learner portfolios.
Critical Thinkers Moderators (CTM) – Critical Thinkers Staff who will quality assure the portfolios and support schools with collecting evidence for them.

Support for schools
Assessor Training Session with Critical Thinkers ​
Within geography departments, teachers can choose to become designated Critical Thinkers Award Assessors (CTA's). They will attend an Assessor Training session with staff from Critical Thinkers. This will include an explanation of Unit 1: Inquiry and learner evidence that will be required for portfolios. The session will also feature a practical workshop including curriculum mapping to the unit and initial planning for delivery.

Support meeting from Critical Thinkers Moderators (CTMs)
​Each school will be designated a Critical Thinkers Moderator (CTM) to support them with the delivery of the Award. A support visit/meeting will be negotiated with the geography department. The visit will consist of the CTM looking at evidence collated for a sample of learners and giving supportive feedback.

CPD
School CTA’s will have access to online accredited CPD training, covering the topics explored in each unit of the Awards.
Critical Thinkers Moderators will be available to support schools via email/phone call during the pilot and weekly drop-in Zoom sessions will be organised for all schools involved where questions can be raised along with the sharing of good practice.

When
Dates are to be confirmed. We are aiming to support schools to start the pilot in their schools for September 2021
Visit the link above to sign up to find out more about potentially getting involved.


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