FIND OUT HOW OUR STUDENTS ARE DEVELOPING THIS ‘LEARNING SUPERPOWER’.

METACOGNITION. PREPARING BIS WASHINGTON STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS—IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND.

WHAT IS METACOGNITION?

Metacognition is an important skill everyone can develop, when you know how.

It’s understanding how you learn best and using this knowledge to adapt your thinking style to thrive in different situations. Because everybody has a different way of learning.

At Nord Anglia Education, we’re helping our students develop their metacognitive skills.

This helps them to become confident learners and creative problem-solvers, so they’ll achieve more than they ever imagined possible no matter what they choose to do a or be in life.

Metacognition. It’s a learning superpower.

EXPLORE HOW CHILDREN CAN BECOME BETTER THINKERS

BUILDING BETTER THINKERS

At BIS Washington, we believe metacognition is essential to unlocking students’ potential. That’s why – as part of Nord Anglia Education - we’re collaborating with world-leading institutions like Boston College and Project Zero, a research centre at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, to ensure our students develop the skills they need to succeed.

We embed metacognition into learning through Nord Anglia’s Learner Ambitions, helping students think critically, adapt, and thrive beyond the classroom:

Creativity: Encouraging innovative problem-solving
Curiosity: Inspiring a lifelong love of learning
Compassion: Building empathy and global awareness
Collaboration: Strengthening teamwork and communication skills
Commitment: Developing resilience and determination
Critical Thinking: Enhancing decision-making and analysis

And the impact is clear: 84% of students in our global research study say metacognition is unlocking their strengths and learning potential.

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METACOGNITION IS A LIFE SKILL

The benefits of metacognition reach far beyond the classroom. Strong metacognitive skills empower students to navigate social interactions, adapt to new environments, and build meaningful relationships.

Our research with Boston College found that:

75% of Nord Anglia students say metacognition has boosted their independence.
71% of Nord Anglia students say their social skills improved because of metacognition.

Why? Because metacognition gives our students the ability to assess challenges, adjust their approach, and make informed decisions—whether tackling a difficult subject, preparing for exams, or building connections with others.

At BIS Washington, we nurture these skills so students can thrive in an ever-changing world.

AND OUR STUDENTS ARE STARTING TO NOTICE ITS IMPACT

Nord Anglia's global research also shows 61% of our students believe that learning to understand their thinking is essential for thriving both in and out of school.

Why? Because metacognition gives them the tools to tackle challenges head-on, from studying and taking exams, to navigating social situations and life, in general.

Developing their metacognitive skills helps them to reflect, adapt, and make better decisions, whether they’re solving a problem in mathematics, or building friendships.

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF LEARNING

At BIS Washington, our commitment to metacognition is just one of the ways we provide an exceptional, research-backed education.

By developing self-awareness in our students, we help them develop the confidence, resilience, and creativity needed to take on any challenge.

Dr. Damian Bebell, Assistant Research Professor at Boston College, highlights the significance of our work:

“Our global research partnership with Nord Anglia Education is one of the first large-scale studies of metacognition and skills development. It’s very encouraging to see the first year’s results, which will help us to further shape teaching practices and learning outcomes.”

Metacognition isn’t just an academic skill—it’s a mindset for success. And at BIS Washington, we’re making sure every student has the opportunity to use its true power.

EXPLORE HOW CHILDREN CAN BECOME BETTER THINKERS

METACOGNITION. PREPARING BIS WASHINGTON STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS—IN SCHOOL AND BEYOND.

WHAT IS METACOGNITION?

BUILDING BETTER THINKERS

METACOGNITION IS A LIFE SKILL

AND OUR STUDENTS ARE STARTING TO NOTICE ITS IMPACT

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF LEARNING

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