The Labour government announced a plan to put critical thinking at the front of the curriculum in England and has established a curriculum and assessment review to create a viable plan for change.
Prioritising critical thinking is a common theme in school curriculums globally, but there are barriers to making a dramatic change to our curriculum, primarily due to restraints such as financial, resourcing and time.
So, what does the government mean by critical thinking, and why is it considered so essential to formalise its inclusion in the English curriculum?
What is critical thinking?
There is a close connection between critical and creative thinking.
An Australian study in July 2024 established a definition which can be helpful.
Creative Thinking: Applying knowledge and skills using imagination and curiosity alongside persistence and original thinking.
Daniel T. Willingham, a cognitive psychologist, came up with a remarkably similar definition of critical thinking.
Critical Thinking: Reasoning and logical thinking are achieved by applying knowledge in context to evaluate information, come to informed conclusions, and solve problems.
Why is creative/critical thinking essential?
Think about the growing number of conspiracy theories and misinformation spread on the internet these days. Our young people are growing up with access to a wide variety of influences, not all of which are accurate or substantiated.
The consequences of a lack of critical thinking can be dire. Conspiracy theories led to people not having COVID-19 vaccinations, and more recently, there were riots across the country based on misinformation posted online.
Young people must be taught how to evaluate the sources of information they are exposed to and to navigate the complex barrage of information that assaults them on a daily basis.
Critical thinking is encouraged in England at university but not so much at the school level. Could prioritising it earlier have a positive impact on the next generation?
Assessing Creative/Critical Thinking in Schools
The OECD announced several years ago that they would publish creativity tables in their PISA assessments. They published their first results in 2024, which will likely encourage the government to establish it further in the curriculum to compete globally.
For one term in England, teachers in Key Stages 1 and 2 were asked to embed creative thinking skills in the five core subjects.
Three methods of assessment were trialled and recorded: teacher assessment, pupil portfolios and self-reporting. These reflected the models established by Lucas et al., 2013, 2016 and 2017, which are used in over 30 countries.
The outcome of the trial was that teachers found an increase in pupil engagement, teamwork and confidence. There were some limitations in adding creativity to the existing curriculum.
The Future of Creative/Critical Thinking
At this stage, it seems inevitable that creativity and critical thinking will be included in any new curriculum after a review. Teachers will need extensive CPD to help them develop the skills required for promoting it.
It is exciting to think that our schools could be the catalyst for sparking a generation equipped to solve problems and deal confidently with the challenges of modern life.