TEACHER STANDARDS

Developing Critical Thinkers in the Classroom

Do you want to unlock your primary pupils' potential to become truly independent thinkers? This course empowers primary school educators with practical strategies to cultivate critical thinking across the curriculum.
You'll learn to define critical thinking in an educational context, explore
age-appropriate methods, examine effective questioning techniques, understand the role of metacognition and develop engaging activities that embed problem-solving, debates and enquiry-based learning into
everyday teaching.
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Yiotina Achilleos-Dania
Jess Hursit
Carly Watkins

2 hours

Online Course

By completing this course, you will:

define critical thinking in the context of primary education and explore its importance in developing independent, reflective learners;
explore age-appropriate strategies and classroom approaches that promote critical thinking across the curriculum, with a focus on key stages 1 and 2;
examine questioning techniques and dialogue structures that encourage pupils to reason, justify opinions and consider multiple perspectives;
understand the role of metacognition and self-regulation in supporting pupils to plan, monitor and evaluate their own thinking processes;
develop practical activities and tasks that embed critical thinking into everyday teaching, including problem-solving, debates and enquiry-based learning.

Course Lessons

Written by Yiotina Achilleos-Dania

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Yiotina has spent over a decade immersed in the world of primary education. Most of her teaching career, she juggled the roles of Science and Maths subject leader, while working across key stage 1 and 2 (mainly based in Year 2 and 6) — because why settle for just one challenge? Armed with degrees in Marketing Communications, Business Analysis and Primary Education (plus a National Qualification of Middle Leadership), she’s been at the forefront of introducing new initiatives, reshaping curricula and championing practical, hands-on learning to ensure every pupil thrives.

From training staff to supporting long-term skill progression, Yiotina has always been passionate about helping both pupils and teachers grow. Now, as a CPD content writer and editor, she’s swapped the classroom for the creative space of professional development, using her expertise to craft engaging, impactful resources that continue to support teachers, leaders and learners—just this time, it’s done from behind the scenes!

Presented by Jess Hursit

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Jess Hursit is an experienced teacher with a strong background in maths education. As a former maths lead, she worked closely with Maths Hubs and supported the development of her school’s maths curriculum. Jess has worked in a leading training school, where her teaching was regularly observed by visiting educators, and she served as a mentor to trainee teachers and early career teachers.

In collaboration with Carly Watkins

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Carly is the Quality of Education Lead at Twinkl PD, overseeing the development of Teachers' Standards courses. She is an experienced primary school teacher and senior leader with a MA in Education Practice and NPQ in Leading Teacher Development. Carly also facilitates the ECF, delivering training for current mentors and ECTs; she is passionate about accessible and actionable professional development for all educators at all levels.