Independent Thinking
@itlworldwide.bsky.social
There is always another way. Inspiring educators since 1994 - online, in print and in real life. Posts by founder Ian G 🕊️ www.independentthinking.com www.independentthinkingpress.com
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This is our manifesto - what's yours?
www.independentthinking.co.uk/resources/th...
www.independentthinking.co.uk/resources/th...
Many of our education speakers are also successful authors. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat about booking who wrote the book www.independentthinking.com
February 13, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Many of our education speakers are also successful authors. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat about booking who wrote the book www.independentthinking.com
For online education training that goes in a flash, get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat www.independentthinking.com
February 11, 2026 at 9:06 AM
For online education training that goes in a flash, get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat www.independentthinking.com
Speaker pulled out at the last minute?
Take a breath - it happens.
Independent Thinking can step in with short-notice speakers, INSET and CPD, delivered with care, credibility, laughter and sometimes...tears.
📞 Need support now? Call +44 (0)1267 211432 and Dave Harris will be happy to help.
Take a breath - it happens.
Independent Thinking can step in with short-notice speakers, INSET and CPD, delivered with care, credibility, laughter and sometimes...tears.
📞 Need support now? Call +44 (0)1267 211432 and Dave Harris will be happy to help.
February 9, 2026 at 8:06 AM
Speaker pulled out at the last minute?
Take a breath - it happens.
Independent Thinking can step in with short-notice speakers, INSET and CPD, delivered with care, credibility, laughter and sometimes...tears.
📞 Need support now? Call +44 (0)1267 211432 and Dave Harris will be happy to help.
Take a breath - it happens.
Independent Thinking can step in with short-notice speakers, INSET and CPD, delivered with care, credibility, laughter and sometimes...tears.
📞 Need support now? Call +44 (0)1267 211432 and Dave Harris will be happy to help.
Reposted by Independent Thinking
Click here to listen to David Cameron, Ian Gilbert, Dr Cathy Francis and her husband Mark Paterson pay tribute to a global influence in outdoor education: buff.ly/hFtCHTD
@itlworldwide.bsky.social
@itlworldwide.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Click here to listen to David Cameron, Ian Gilbert, Dr Cathy Francis and her husband Mark Paterson pay tribute to a global influence in outdoor education: buff.ly/hFtCHTD
@itlworldwide.bsky.social
@itlworldwide.bsky.social
CPD stress? Nope. Not today. Drop us a line: learn@independentthinking.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 7:49 AM
CPD stress? Nope. Not today. Drop us a line: learn@independentthinking.co.uk
No more scrambling for INSET ideas - we’ve got you covered.
February 2, 2026 at 7:47 AM
No more scrambling for INSET ideas - we’ve got you covered.
23. Is that your best answer or your first answer?
32 questions to help move beyond the "guess what's in the teacher's head" game.
New on our blog this week
www.independentthinking.co.uk/resources/32...
32 questions to help move beyond the "guess what's in the teacher's head" game.
New on our blog this week
www.independentthinking.co.uk/resources/32...
32 Questions to Help Them Think | Independent Thinking
Improve your questioning strategies in the classroom to deepen and stretch their thinking and learning - here are 32 questions to start with from Ian Gilbert
www.independentthinking.co.uk
January 31, 2026 at 1:00 PM
23. Is that your best answer or your first answer?
32 questions to help move beyond the "guess what's in the teacher's head" game.
New on our blog this week
www.independentthinking.co.uk/resources/32...
32 questions to help move beyond the "guess what's in the teacher's head" game.
New on our blog this week
www.independentthinking.co.uk/resources/32...
Reposted by Independent Thinking
I am from a country formerly colonised by the British, one famous for tea. I have found that the best way to annoy British people is to casually drop a teabag in a mug of cold water and stick it in the microwave. I don't even like tea. I do it just for the trolling entertainment.
January 28, 2026 at 8:20 PM
I am from a country formerly colonised by the British, one famous for tea. I have found that the best way to annoy British people is to casually drop a teabag in a mug of cold water and stick it in the microwave. I don't even like tea. I do it just for the trolling entertainment.
Reposted by Independent Thinking
For years I knew what I was going to say as father of the bride at my daughter's wedding. It was poignant, funny and I knew she would love it. Then she ended up marrying someone I can't stand and I had to redo the whole thing. The speech is now for my younger daughter.
January 29, 2026 at 1:20 PM
For years I knew what I was going to say as father of the bride at my daughter's wedding. It was poignant, funny and I knew she would love it. Then she ended up marrying someone I can't stand and I had to redo the whole thing. The speech is now for my younger daughter.
Karma
I work at a major body. As a good deed we regularly give our old computers to local cash-strapped schools. I used to assign only the best to my child's school. Due to their poor response to my child being bullied, I now ensure that school only gets the shittiest machines.
January 30, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Karma
Reposted by Independent Thinking
I've been a stage hand for a while now. Every time I do a mic check I say something like "hey google, set an alarm for 3am". Serves them right for enabling a stupid feature with no secuirty.
January 30, 2026 at 3:20 PM
I've been a stage hand for a while now. Every time I do a mic check I say something like "hey google, set an alarm for 3am". Serves them right for enabling a stupid feature with no secuirty.
We'll bring your education audience to life after lunch - guaranteed. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat www.independentthinking.com
January 29, 2026 at 7:41 AM
We'll bring your education audience to life after lunch - guaranteed. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat www.independentthinking.com
For keynote speakers guaranteed to hit all the right notes, get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat www.independentthinking.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:38 AM
For keynote speakers guaranteed to hit all the right notes, get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat www.independentthinking.com
‘But Sir Iain said the out-of-work figures showed the consequences of an education system "obsessed" with university, which he said overlooked vocational training and a changing job market.’
Over 700,000 graduates out of work and claiming benefits, analysis suggests www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Over 700,000 graduates out of work and claiming benefits, analysis suggests www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Over 700,000 graduates out of work and on benefits, analysis suggests
The government says it has commissioned a review into
www.bbc.co.uk
January 26, 2026 at 5:28 PM
‘But Sir Iain said the out-of-work figures showed the consequences of an education system "obsessed" with university, which he said overlooked vocational training and a changing job market.’
Over 700,000 graduates out of work and claiming benefits, analysis suggests www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Over 700,000 graduates out of work and claiming benefits, analysis suggests www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
After his visit to a Finnish school yesterday, here are Ian Gilbert’s Six Quick Things on Finnish education www.independentthinking.co.uk/resources/si...
Six Quick Things on Finnish Education | Independent Thinking
What makes Finnish education so special? Here are Six Quick Things on Finnish schools and education from Ian Gilbert after his visit to a local school in 2026
www.independentthinking.co.uk
January 24, 2026 at 5:06 PM
After his visit to a Finnish school yesterday, here are Ian Gilbert’s Six Quick Things on Finnish education www.independentthinking.co.uk/resources/si...
We can help you plan then pull-off an amazing INSET day. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat www.independentthinking.com
January 23, 2026 at 7:33 AM
We can help you plan then pull-off an amazing INSET day. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat www.independentthinking.com
Reposted by Independent Thinking
Robert Jenrick helpfully lists all the things he didn't do during his 10 years in government.
January 21, 2026 at 8:07 AM
Robert Jenrick helpfully lists all the things he didn't do during his 10 years in government.
Let us take the CPD stress off your hands — you’ve got enough to juggle.
Drop us a line at learn@independentthinking.co.uk and we'll handle the rest.
Drop us a line at learn@independentthinking.co.uk and we'll handle the rest.
January 21, 2026 at 7:45 AM
Let us take the CPD stress off your hands — you’ve got enough to juggle.
Drop us a line at learn@independentthinking.co.uk and we'll handle the rest.
Drop us a line at learn@independentthinking.co.uk and we'll handle the rest.
Reposted by Independent Thinking
It's Davos this week, so please find attached a list of phrases that you may hear and what they actually mean.
Full phrasebook here 😉 www.ft.com/content/ab4f...
Full phrasebook here 😉 www.ft.com/content/ab4f...
January 19, 2026 at 4:12 PM
It's Davos this week, so please find attached a list of phrases that you may hear and what they actually mean.
Full phrasebook here 😉 www.ft.com/content/ab4f...
Full phrasebook here 😉 www.ft.com/content/ab4f...
You don't become wise by doing what you're told. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat about your conference or CPD needs www.independentthinking.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:54 AM
You don't become wise by doing what you're told. Get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat about your conference or CPD needs www.independentthinking.com
Reposted by Independent Thinking
Those of us who’ve been on the merry go round a while aren’t shocked. It was fidelity for a while, British values before that, community cohesion prior to that (remember that one?), ECM, differentiation…The latest in a long line of Ofsted obsessions appears to be pencil grip and handwriting.
a person is laying on their back on a bouncy castle .
ALT: a person is laying on their back on a bouncy castle .
media.tenor.com
January 17, 2026 at 11:06 AM
Those of us who’ve been on the merry go round a while aren’t shocked. It was fidelity for a while, British values before that, community cohesion prior to that (remember that one?), ECM, differentiation…The latest in a long line of Ofsted obsessions appears to be pencil grip and handwriting.
For education training that's ha-ha as well as a-ha, get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat www.independentthinking.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:44 AM
For education training that's ha-ha as well as a-ha, get in touch for a free, no-obligation chat www.independentthinking.com
Reposted by Independent Thinking
We asked @stephenlogan.bsky.social for his Six Quick Things on how to seriously improve attendance at school.
Here is what he told us:
www.independentthinking.co.uk/resources/si...
We particularly like number 6!
Here is what he told us:
www.independentthinking.co.uk/resources/si...
We particularly like number 6!
Six Quick Things on Attendance | Independent Thinking
How do you improve attendance in schools? How do you ensure students want to attend and also stay there and learn? Here are our Six Quick Things on Attendance
www.independentthinking.co.uk
January 12, 2026 at 10:35 AM
We asked @stephenlogan.bsky.social for his Six Quick Things on how to seriously improve attendance at school.
Here is what he told us:
www.independentthinking.co.uk/resources/si...
We particularly like number 6!
Here is what he told us:
www.independentthinking.co.uk/resources/si...
We particularly like number 6!
"In our latest ‘Assessment 3.0’ article, Ian Gilbert wonders whether LLMs like Chat GPT are in the process of amplifying what is wrong with the curriculum, our pedagogy and how we assess our students."
consiliumeducation.com/itm/2026/01/...
consiliumeducation.com/itm/2026/01/...
STOCHASTIC PARROTS? - Consilium Education
Ian Gilbert wonders whether LLMs are amplifying what is wrong with the curriculum, our pedagogy and how we assess our students.
consiliumeducation.com
January 12, 2026 at 1:52 PM
"In our latest ‘Assessment 3.0’ article, Ian Gilbert wonders whether LLMs like Chat GPT are in the process of amplifying what is wrong with the curriculum, our pedagogy and how we assess our students."
consiliumeducation.com/itm/2026/01/...
consiliumeducation.com/itm/2026/01/...