How we build students’ critical thinking for real-world challenges

At King’s InterHigh, we believe our students deserve an education that goes well beyond rote memorisation and textbook learning. We want to help them build the skills they’ll use throughout their lives, which is why our teaching philosophy emphasises helping students become critical thinkers who can venture into the unknown and approach new challenges with inquisitive minds and well-equipped analytical abilities.

As the Head of Humanities, I see every day how our teachers and our online learning environment nurture these skills to prepare them for academic success, but most importantly, for life in the real world.

So, what is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is about being able to analyse information, weigh up evidence, spot when someone (including yourself) may be biased, and come to sensible conclusions. It involves questioning things everyone accepts as normal and making decisions based on rigorous assessment of the evidence at hand. These are skills that matter just as much in everyday life as they do in the classroom.

When students develop strong critical thinking skills, they become better decision makers. They build the ability to balance logic and intuition, thoroughly analyse evidence, and consider the consequences at hand. Time and time again, I’ve watched students excel in creative problem-solving after building these skills. They become effective communicators who can articulate their ideas persuasively and collaborate effectively, which will set them apart from many of their peers at university, in their careers, and beyond.

Our curriculum at King’s InterHigh also helps students become more adaptable, more resilient, and more flexible, with an openness to new information and situations. Perhaps most importantly, they develop real self-awareness about their own biases and assumptions, which supports them to make more objective, fairer judgments.

The key components of critical thinking

To prepare students effectively, we focus on developing the essential skills behind critical thinking:

• Analysis – Breaking down information to understand it objectively
• Interpretation – Drawing conclusions from data to understand its meaning
• Evaluation – Assessing whether information and arguments are valid and reliable
• Inference – Making logical deductions from available evidence
• Problem-solving – Identifying problems, analysing them, and coming up with solutions
• Communication – Clearly and persuasively expressing ideas
• Adaptability – Adjusting when new information or contexts arise
• Decision-making – Making choices based on solid evidence
• Open-mindedness – Being receptive to diverse perspectives
• Creativity – Coming up with fresh ideas and innovative solutions
• Bias recognition – Identifying personal biases and those of others

How we develop critical thinking in humanities subjects

In our humanities classes, we use several approaches that really help students become stronger critical thinkers. These methods work well in our online environment, which gives students plenty of opportunities to practice these skills.

Opening the floor to questioning

A curious mindset is at the heart of critical thinking. At King’s InterHigh, our teachers promote an environment where students feel comfortable asking open-ended questions like “how,” “why,” or “what if.” These types of questions push students beyond surface-level understanding and dig deeper, rather than just accepting things at face value.

For instance, instead of simply asking students to list the causes of World War One in history, we might ask “Why do you think World War One led to such significant changes in society?” This underscores the importance of understanding complex historical events and gets them thinking about connections and consequences.

In religious studies, rather than asking “What are the tenets of Buddhism?” a wider approach to encourage deeper thinking might be: “Why do you think these particular beliefs emerged?”

Using problem-based learning

Problem-based learning (PBL) puts students right into real-world scenarios where they need to apply their knowledge and thinking skills to find solutions. This immersive approach gets students actively involved and challenges them to think critically as they work through complex problems.

In Geography, for example, students might tackle environmental issues like deforestation, exploring practical solutions while considering the causes, effects, and what might actually work in the real world.

Teaching the importance of evidence

Learning to evaluate evidence properly is central to good critical thinking. King’s InterHigh students learn how to identify credible sources, differentiate between fact and opinion, and support their arguments with reliable evidence.

In subjects like law, politics, and international relations, students complete research tasks related to current events and present their findings with the backing of robust evidence. This develops their ability to analyse sources and find trustworthy information while building strong research skills.

Fostering debate and discussion

Classroom discussions and debates are fantastic for demonstrating critical thinking skills. When students articulate their viewpoints, engage with classmates’ ideas, and challenge information respectfully, they learn to evaluate different perspectives and build strong arguments.

By organising debates on topics like the ethics of artificial intelligence in our law and politics classes, we encourage students to engage in discourse that sharpens their argumentative skills and teaches them to think through complex issues.

Modelling critical thinking

Our wonderful teachers at King’s InterHigh also model the process of critical thinking directly by verbalising their thought processes while tackling problems. This transparency gives students an insight into breaking down complex issues and applying critical analysis.

For example, as a teacher works through an IGCSE History or Geography exam question, they might use our state-of-the-art virtual classroom tools to break down exactly what a good response looks like. Discussing the steps and reasoning shows students how to evaluate their own thinking, which ensures they meet the criteria for great grades in their final examinations.

Providing constructive feedback

As students build their critical thinking skills, the feedback we give them really matters. Rather than simply pointing out mistakes, we guide students to refine how they think. Questions like “Can you explain your reasoning a bit more?” help students investigate their reasoning to understand their own thought processes better.

Promoting regular reflection

Reflection is an integral part of the learning process at King’s InterHigh. In fact, ‘Reflect’ sessions are one of the four lesson types in our learning model. We encourage students to think deeply about their learning journeys, consider how they make decisions, and work out how they can improve in future work.

After completing a project or assignment in psychology, as an example, students will receive detailed feedback from their teacher. They will then be tasked with writing short reflections in their ‘Reflection Journal’ about what they learned and what challenges they faced. This builds self-awareness and helps them take more responsibility for their own learning.

Encouraging creativity and innovation

Creativity is a cornerstone of critical thinking, and we want our students to think beyond conventional solutions, exploring fresh approaches outside the box. In all our humanities subjects, we use different methods to let students show these skills.

For example, multimedia ‘Apply’ tasks (homework assignments) using one of our project presentation tools, as well as competitions in our subjects, prompt students to be creative in how they present their ideas. In geography, they might create solutions for real-world issues such as how to be more eco-friendly.

Building tomorrow’s thinkers at King’s InterHigh

What excites us most at King’s InterHigh is watching students become confident, thoughtful individuals who can tackle whatever comes their way. Whether through debate, reflective exercises, questioning strategies, or creative problem-solving tasks, we make sure we equip students with the analytical skills essential for their future careers and personal growth.

Critical thinking prepares our young people to face the complexities of life with confidence and competence. As students progress through the school years, these foundational skills serve as stepping stones toward becoming lifelong learners and effective leaders, capable of navigating an ever-evolving world.