How do you develop critical thinking skills in students?

One of the fundamental aims of our Key Stage 3, GCSE and A-level programmes is to develop critical thinkers who can solve problems, make their own judgements, and express their views clearly. Our teachers use a range of methods to help our learners refine these skills. They also develop critical thinking activities for them to apply their skills in practice. These include: Facilitating open discussions. Encouraging questioning. Focusing on problem-solving. Encouraging creative thinking. Providing support. Analysing information.

What are the benefits of being a ‘critical thinker’?

There are countless advantages to being a critical thinker. These include: 1. Better decision-making Critical thinkers tend to make better choices. They’re experts at understanding and dealing with everyday problems, developing thought processes that can become subconscious. Critical thinkers also excel at weighing pros and cons, considering alternatives, and anticipating potential consequences. 2. Being well-informed Critical thinkers actively seek out diverse sources of information, which ensures they have a comprehensive understanding of complex issues. This gives them the confidence to engage in meaningful discussions and contribute constructively to their communities. 3. Being curious Critical thinkers are curious about everything. They also tend to have a wide range of interests. Critical thinking means asking questions and wanting to know the why, what, who, where, and how. This helps them to make sense of a situation or concept, and ensures they never take anything at face value. 4. An ability to identify misinformation In a world filled with misinformation, critical thinkers are well-equipped to discern fact from fiction. They scrutinise sources, verify information, and avoid being misled by fake or biased content, particularly online. 5. Being creative Critical thinking encourages innovative, out-of-the-box problem-solving. By considering multiple angles and challenging conventional ideas, critical thinkers arrive at inventive solutions to complex challenges. They’re patient and committed to finding workable solutions, too. 6. The ability to self-reflect By fostering a habit of introspection, critical thinkers become more self-aware. This helps them to recognise their own biases and limitations. This heightened self-awareness allows them to continually improve and adapt their thinking patterns.

WRITTEN BY

d'Overbroeck's Oxford

12 September, 2025

SpongeBob the Musical: The Undersea Spectacular

What a show!

This year our whole annual school production was The SpongeBob Musical, an amazing spectacle of song, dance and top class acting.

Performing four nights to a packed Cohen Hall, the cast of The SpongeBob Musical brought Bikini Bottom to life with a burst of colour, music and incredible acting. The performers carried the story with confidence as they danced and sang through a plot that follows the Bikini Bottomites facing an unexpected crisis.

The optimism of SpongeBob (played by Joe in Year 13) never wavered and the supporting characters created a world filled with humour, heart and genuine emotion. Everyone involved, from the musicians to the behind the scenes crew, created an incredible performance, and the level of professionalism was truly exceptional as an unlikely hero rose to the challenge.

Joe Swarbirck, Director of Drama and Head of Creative Arts said, "When you find the right show for the right students, it’s like a firework display! We were all so proud of our cast and crew – an amazing example of our diverse, talented and energetic school. The whole process was an absolute joy – so much laughter and play alongside a genuine dedication from everyone to create something so weird and wonderful."

The Music of SpongeBob

Modern musicals typically come in two flavours: those traditionally created by a lyricist, composer and book writer, and those of the jukebox variety where the back catalogue of a recording artist is raided for hits and woven into a narrative. The SpongeBob Musical is a third flavour or possibly all flavours at once. It is a thrilling and strange patchwork of styles and genres and, much like the weather in the UK, it changes every five minutes.

Richard Poyser, Director of Music said: "The music for the show, given that it is based on a children's cartoon, is surprisingly challenging, but our students (and staff!) worked tirelessly over the course of several months to master it. I think that the audience realised immediately that they were in safe hands - that those in main roles could be counted on to belt it out and that the chorus knew it backwards- and so they relaxed, sat back and enjoyed the show! The range of musical styles encompasses everything, from rock to hip-hop to bouncy pop to gospel, and our audiences seemed to embrace it all. It was great working with a band comprising professionals, students and ex-students, and the cast loved singing with a live band. Long live live music! We loved working with our positive, enthusiastic and talented students, and thought they did themselves proud."

Designed by d’Overbroeck’s

In a world where arts are significantly under threat from generate AI, d’Overbroeck’s was proud to present a production where everything is profoundly human.
Everything on the stage, was created by our students and teachers, each costume and prop, carefully curated, hot-glued and sewed by our incredible team of designers, our set panels built and textured by hand by d’Overbroeck’s students. This was by far, our most visibility ambitious production yet and couldn’t have been possible without the Art Department and co-ordinating a vast team of students and an ocean’s worth of props and costumes. Thank you for you all your hard work.
Huge congratulations to everyone involved in putting together this incredible show.

Our students have access to an incredible amount of information – more so than any other generation before them. This brings both benefits and challenges. It’s also why it’s so important that we, as a school community, teach our learners how to think, not just what to think.

So, what does it mean to be a ‘critical thinker’?

It means having the ability and awareness to analyse information, ask thoughtful questions, and make considered judgements. Whether that’s assessing the legitimacy of an online news article, navigating social challenges, or finding a solution to complex STEAM problems, being able to think critically and creatively, both in and beyond the classroom, is crucial.

What is critical thinking?

Critical thinking is the art of making clear, reasoned judgements, based on interpreting, understanding, and applying evidence.

It’s a fundamental skill that goes beyond the acceptance of information at face value. Critical thinkers have a desire to delve deeper, question assumptions, and explore different perspectives to arrive at well-informed conclusions.

Why is critical thinking important for students?

In a world full of complex challenges and constant change, there are many benefits to being a critical thinker.

The ability to think critically is essential to success in school, work, relationships, and life in general. Questioning, analysing, and synthesising what we see and hear enables us to solve problems and form considered opinions.

In the classroom, critical thinking skills are important in all subjects and disciplines – whether that’s science and engineering or the arts and humanities.

Outside of lessons, being able to critically assess information helps students to make decisions and navigate the maelstrom of information they have access to.

How do we develop critical thinking skills in students?

One of the fundamental aims of the English National Curriculum, which we teach at d’Overbroeck’s, is to give our students the tools to be critical thinkers who can solve problems, form opinions, and clearly articulate their views.

Through Senior School, the International School, and Sixth Form our teachers use a variety of age-appropriate methods and critical thinking strategies to help our learners develop these skills.

We facilitate discussion

Meaningful conversations give our students the chance to explore different viewpoints. We encourage active participation, respectful listening, and constructive criticism. By engaging in intellectual discourse, our learners refine their critical thinking skills while honing their ability to articulate and defend their positions. One of the ways they do this is through our Model United Nations programme.

We encourage questioning

Curiosity is a fundamental pillar of critical thinking. We encourage our students to ask questions and challenge assumptions in a safe and supportive environment. By nurturing our learners’ inquisitive nature, we seek to stimulate critical thinking and empower them to explore different perspectives.

We evaluate information

In a world of information, it’s important to evaluate everything we see and hear. We give our students the critical thinking tools that help them to assess credibility, bias, and relevance. We also emphasise the importance of distinguishing fact from opinion and encourage learners to question the validity of claims.

We focus on problem-solving

At GCSE and A-level, lessons are packed with critical thinking activities that enable expert problem-solving. Students engage with real-world scenarios that require analysis, synthesis, and decision-making. These activities include group projects and hands-on experiences, including those delivered through our STEAM collaboration with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

We encourage creative thinking

One of the ways we inspire our students to think creatively is through open-ended projects. These require them to think outside the box, come up with innovative solutions, and analyse potential risks and benefits. Our teachers use a range of critical thinking strategies, including brainstorming, divergent thinking, and the consideration of multiple perspectives.

We provide support

Developing effective critical thinking skills is an ongoing process. Our teachers offer guidance, modelling, and feedback to help our learners navigate tricky tasks. Learning is personalised to the needs of each student, and the complexity of coursework and curriculum content evolves as our students progress through the age groups.

Is critical thinking the key to lifelong success?

Why is critical important for our students? For many reasons!

An ability to think critically helps them to better understand and interact with the world around them, grow their knowledge, and manage the challenges posed by misinformation.

Academically, being a critical thinker enables students to evaluate the validity of sources, come to reasoned conclusions, and form coherent arguments or positions.

Critical thinking is, therefore, a universal skill – it’s an attribute that will always be relevant, no matter what path, university degree, or profession our students go on to pursue.

For more information about how we develop critical thinking skills in students, please get in touch with our Admissions Team.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Why is critical thinking important for students?

Critical thinking is important for students because it helps them to become better learners, problem-solvers, and decision-makers. These skills are essential both in school and in life.
How do you develop critical thinking skills in students?
One of the fundamental aims of our Key Stage 3, GCSE and A-level programmes is to develop critical thinkers who can solve problems, make their own judgements, and express their views clearly.

Our teachers use a range of methods to help our learners refine these skills. They also develop critical thinking activities for them to apply their skills in practice. These include:
- Facilitating open discussions.
- Encouraging questioning.
- Focusing on problem-solving.
- Encouraging creative thinking.
- Providing support.
- Analysing information.
What are the benefits of being a ‘critical thinker’?

There are countless advantages to being a critical thinker. These include:
1. Better decision-making

Critical thinkers tend to make better choices. They’re experts at understanding and dealing with everyday problems, developing thought processes that can become subconscious. Critical thinkers also excel at weighing pros and cons, considering alternatives, and anticipating potential consequences.

2. Being well-informed

Critical thinkers actively seek out diverse sources of information, which ensures they have a comprehensive understanding of complex issues. This gives them the confidence to engage in meaningful discussions and contribute constructively to their communities.

3. Being curious

Critical thinkers are curious about everything. They also tend to have a wide range of interests. Critical thinking means asking questions and wanting to know the why, what, who, where, and how. This helps them to make sense of a situation or concept, and ensures they never take anything at face value.

4. An ability to identify misinformation

In a world filled with misinformation, critical thinkers are well-equipped to discern fact from fiction. They scrutinise sources, verify information, and avoid being misled by fake or biased content, particularly online.

5. Being creative

Critical thinking encourages innovative, out-of-the-box problem-solving. By considering multiple angles and challenging conventional ideas, critical thinkers arrive at inventive solutions to complex challenges. They’re patient and committed to finding workable solutions, too.

6. The ability to self-reflect

By fostering a habit of introspection, critical thinkers become more self-aware. This helps them to recognise their own biases and limitations. This heightened self-awareness allows them to continually improve and adapt their thinking patterns.