.jpg?h=2953&iar=0&w=4430&rev=1639baab60684355860a6031bd2f4274&hash=BFFA420FEFF4CB88D98A155541FB02EE)
Lately, I have been reflecting on how important curiosity is - not just for children, but for us as adults too. Through my own learning with coaching through Making Stuff Better and alongside our EYFS and Year 1 team's work with The Curiosity Approach, I have seen how curiosity can transform the way we learn, teach and create spaces for exploration.
Are we still curious as adults?
When was the last time you asked a question just to learn, not just to know the answer?
Our EYFS and Year 1 team have been taking a deep dive into The Curiosity Approach. They are reminding us to capture the essence of childhood and create beautiful, thoughtful environments that inspire wonder. It encourages us to move away from plastic toys and overstimulation, offering real, authentic experiences that spark exploration. Children don’t need to be taught to be curious - they already are. Watching my two-year-old daughter explore every gadget, button, or stone reminds me that our role is to protect and nurture that natural curiosity.
Curiosity is also one of our key 6C’s linked to metacognition supporting our children to think about their thinking, ask meaningful questions, and remain engaged in their learning journey. Curiosity is currently our whole-school Learner Ambition focus. For children to truly develop their curiosity, they need the metacognitive tools to think curiously. They need regular opportunities to question, explore, and make connections. At BIS Abu Dhabi, we are fostering this through a whole-school culture of thinking - one that purposefully integrates Project Zero Thinking Routines (a set of simple yet powerful strategies that help children slow down, reflect, and explore ideas more deeply) across the curriculum to scaffold curious thinking and spark wonder in every subject.
And it’s not just our students: we are building a coaching culture across the school, where teachers are learning to stay curious in conversations, to listen deeply and to ask thoughtful questions. Through coaching, we are creating an environment where curiosity leads to real reflection, innovation and growth for everyone.
As we move forward with The Curiosity Approach, we are committed to protecting wonder - for our children, for ourselves and for our whole school community.
So today, I leave you with this:
"What are you curious about?"
Leah Atkins
Assistant Head of Primary
A few weeks ago, as part of our IB DP Language programme, Year 12 students in the French Ab Initio and French B classes united to celebrate Mardi Gras (Shrove Tuesday). Originally a catholic event welcoming the ritual fasting of Lent, Mardi Gras is celebrated in France with festive parades and sumptuous public celebrations.
At BIS Abu Dhabi, students came together to not only recognize the festivity but rejoice at the opportunity to share and learn about the international traditions fostered within our community. With the help of Monsieur Depose and Mademoiselle Merchadier, the French DP classes baked tasty treats, including crepes, waffles, brownies, and traditional beignets!
As a teacher at BIS Abu Dhabi, I have the privilege of watching students grow — not just academically, but as young people finding their path in a complex world. One thing I’ve learned time and again is this: success doesn’t come from rare moments of brilliance — it comes from the quiet power of habits.
Research tells us that up to 40% of what we do each day is driven by habit, not active decision-making. That means the routines our students form — the way they begin their morning, how they handle a setback, whether they choose to read or scroll — are shaping who they become.
I was really touched by Áine’s newsletter piece last week, posing the question: ‘What would I tell my younger self?’
I spent some time afterwards thinking about my own parenting journey, and what it’s all been about, now that my two are adults and have ‘flown the nest’. Parenting isn’t easy for any of us, and that’s true even if you’re an experienced school leader – at home, I’m just Dad.
You might have seen the trend going around - “If I could tell my younger self one thing…” - a moment to reflect, to offer advice we wish we’d heard earlier, or to remind ourselves of what truly matters.
As students prepare to cross some of the biggest milestones in school life, it feels like the perfect time to pause and join in that conversation. But it’s not just our students who are preparing — so are we, as parents. These milestones don’t just belong to them. We’re living every part of it too: the anticipation, the pride, the nerves, and the quiet hopes. Sometimes, it’s the hardest thing in the world — to watch them take these big steps, to stay strong when they wobble, to let go just a little more. It’s a milestone for us as much as it is for them — and we’re walking it together.
.jpg?h=3723&iar=0&w=5584&rev=8eac03bc3fbb4516b0c80a2618ee5eb8&hash=CD74C9E72284B395151C53385E14FEE4)
.jpg?h=4160&iar=0&w=6240&rev=3a6f2141dddc472fb958169bb826c0d8&hash=73AB5BCB0D6782A16236413B7A9C7618)
.jpg?h=3648&iar=0&w=5472&rev=db1214d9abbf4d408432e5aef1f2d79a&hash=CC6C47871ABC9A2A697D7DF50D798106)
.png?rev=1619813b30a347d9bc71977e2cfe09d2&hash=66B98CDC659BBF07EB36660B4381E1E7)
