A new school year brings fresh energy, new opportunities, and a renewed commitment to empowering our students. One of our key priorities this year is developing metacognition, the ability for students to think about their own thinking.
At BIS Abu Dhabi, our teaching community is deeply engaged with the Nord Anglia Metacognition Research Project. As part of this initiative, we are embedding thinking routines into everyday classroom practice. These routines not only strengthen academic learning, but also nurture our six learner ambitions: creativity, compassion, critical thinking, collaboration, commitment, and curiosity.
Through ongoing training with our in-school metacognition leads, teachers are equipped to design and implement routines that encourage reflection and active thinking. Inspired by research from Harvard University’s Project Zero, this approach helps children develop strategies to think more deeply, reflect critically, and apply their learning in meaningful ways. We are excited to share this journey with our wider community.
Recently, our Year 5 and 6 team delivered a metacognition workshop for parents, exploring how thinking routines support children across all areas of learning. It was fantastic to see so many parents actively participating and engaging in rich discussions alongside our teachers.
As metacognition continues to gain importance in both education and day-to-day life, we invite you to explore further through resources like PZ's Thinking Routines Toolbox | Project Zero or our article on Turning Everyday Moments into Learning Opportunities.
We are also proud that members of our staff are leading on metacognition not only within BIS Abu Dhabi but across the region. Their expertise has been recognised in publications such as this EdArabia article featuring The British International School Abu Dhabi at the Forefront of Metacognition research.
Looking ahead, I want to reaffirm the vital role of strong partnerships between home and school in every child’s success. When we work together as a united community, we create the conditions for our children, not only to thrive academically, but to feel truly happy, supported and empowered in their educational journey. Together, we shape an environment where every child can flourish.
Jamie Atkins
Primary Assistant Headteacher
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