As part of the Nord Anglia Education family, ICS is proud to reflect on the newly released findings from the two‑year Metacognition Research Project, a global study conducted by Nord Anglia Education (NAE) in partnership with the Lynch School of Education and Human Development at Boston College. This study is one of the most comprehensive investigations into metacognition in schools to date, spanning 29 schools across 20 countries, involving 12,000+ students and 5,000 teachers, and analysing more than 500,000 student reflections.
The research demonstrates that metacognition—students understanding how they learn and how to adapt their thinking—significantly strengthens essential future‑ready skills, with growth reported up to 72% across key areas.
Why Metacognition Matters for ICS Learners
The world our students will enter is rapidly evolving. As artificial intelligence and automation continue to shape the future of work, human skills—such as creativity, curiosity, collaboration, and critical thinking—are more vital than ever.
At ICS, metacognition has long been integrated into our teaching and learning culture. This research validates what our teachers and students see daily: when students reflect on their learning, they grow in confidence, independence, and self‑awareness.
Key Findings from the NAE & Boston College Study
Teachers across the study reported significant progress in all major skill areas:
- +72% in collaboration
- +70% in curiosity
- +69% in creativity
- +68% in critical thinking
- +60% in commitment
- +59% in compassion
Teacher Insights
- 96% believe metacognition helps students succeed beyond school
- 78% saw improvements in reflection
- 74% saw improvements in how students communicate their learning
- 71% reported progress in independent work
Student Self-Perception
- 85% reported knowing their strengths
- 76% felt more independent
- 70% recorded improved social skills
Thinking Routines: A Powerful Strategy
Structured metacognitive tools—such as Thinking Routines—led to:
- +21% growth in critical thinking
- +20% in curiosity
With daily use, gains rose to 40–50%across skills like curiosity and compassion.
ICS Perspective: Preparing Students with Human Skills
“The skills and values that students are developing at ICS are human skills that will become increasingly important in an age of Artificial Intelligence. At ICS, students are working with metacognitive approaches, such as Thinking Routines, to understand how they learn best in different situations and to reflect on their thinking. Our action research shows that purposefully implementing metacognition in school leads to more curious, confident, and efficient learners.
We are so excited to see our learners become more self‑aware, gain increased independence, and communicate their learning more proficiently. At ICS, we are preparing students’ future-ready skills and mindsets for life.”
—Jennifer Barnett, Education Research Regional Lead
Looking Ahead
With the project now complete, Nord Anglia Education will continue collaborating with Boston College through a longitudinal study launched in September 2025, focused on the long-term impact of metacognition on learner outcomes. This will further refine the digital reflection platform and expand teacher development so that metacognitive approaches become even more embedded across classrooms.
At ICS, we are excited to continue building on this work—ensuring every student grows as a reflective, independent, and future‑ready learner.
Read Nord Anglia’s full report here.
