Thoughtful Society for Philosophical Enquiry

23/06/2026

Attention Sheffield Schools: FREE CPD!

We're looking for 3-4 primary schools to take part in a funded Dramatic Enquiry project during Autumn 2026.

Combining drama, philosophy, and collaborative enquiry, Dramatic Enquiry helps children develop confidence, creativity, empathy, critical thinking, oracy, and resilience while exploring real-world issues that matter to them.

Participating schools will receive free training, classroom coaching, curriculum resources, and ongoing support for up to 12 teachers across the city, with priority given to schools serving disadvantaged communities and pupils with SEND. Places are limited and expressions of interest close on 26 June 2026.

Express interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/LFFSyZNVwS

22/06/2026

"Children's sense of belonging, agency, confidence, and self-worth develops through everyday interactions with teachers and peers. The opportunities they have to express their views, to be listened to, to ask questions, and to engage with complex ideas all contribute to their wellbeing. In this sense, pedagogy matters."

Read our latest guest blog by Rhiannon Love on her new book: Pedagogies of Wellbeing in the Primary School.

At a time when concerns about children’s wellbeing, mental health, and resilience are increasingly shaping educational policy and practice, a new book offers a timely and important contribution to the conversation. Pedagogies of Wellbeing in the Primary School argues that wellbeing should not be v...

16/06/2026

Last call — our Level One P4C course starts next Wednesday.

Booking closes tomorrow!

If you've been thinking about introducing Philosophy for Children into your teaching, there are still a couple of spaces on our online Level One course beginning 24 June.

12 hours of practical, expert-led training — spread across three Wednesday afternoons, so it fits around your working week. You'll walk away confident to run your first philosophical enquiry.

This is Thoughtful's flagship beginner course, recognised across the sector.

Book before 17th June: https://www.thoughtful.org.uk/courses/level-one-course-3/

All Courses are booked and managed via our Arlo platform, clicking the button above will require you to register / login to an account on that site.

11/06/2026

New blog post by Silver Fellow Loli Clarke on using Lego as a stimulus for philosophy - and watching where using your hands takes your thinking: https://www.thoughtful.org.uk/latest/thinking-with-our-hands/

Silver Fellow Loli Clarke describes her enquiry with Year 4 children beginning with Lego and moving into questions of identity and belonging.

09/06/2026

One week to go until our course closes!

Our Begin P4C Level One course starts next Wednesday — and there are still a few places left for teachers who want to bring deeper thinking into their classroom.

Want to see what it actually looks like? Watch P4C in action at Rokeby Boys' School: https://youtu.be/sqWgW0b6_ws?si=hlWuqOLHERwcTfUs

This online course runs over three Wednesday afternoons in June and July — ideal for fitting around end-of-term. No experience needed.

24 June, 1 July & 8 July | 12:30–16:30 | Online | £275

Grab one of the remaining spots
https://www.thoughtful.org.uk/courses/level-one-course-3/

All Courses are booked and managed via our Arlo platform, clicking the button above will require you to register / login to an account on that site.

09/06/2026

Our director gave a lecture today as part of the Women in Philosophy series hosted by at

Given that this year is the this argument might appeal to anyone interested in defending the value of talking and thinking about stories.

https://youtu.be/tUUk5MLJvrA

09/06/2026

Our director Grace Lockrobin gave a lecture today as part of The Royal Institute of Philosophy Women in Philosophy series hosted by Lisa Bortolotti at the University of Birmingham.

Given that this year is the this argument might appeal to anyone interested in defending the value of talking and thinking about stories.

https://youtu.be/tUUk5MLJvrA

As part of a series of talks dedicated to the work of women in phil...

04/06/2026

Our Co-Director Grace Lockrobin joined Jinsella Kennaway from Demilitarise Education (https://demilitariseeducation.com/) and Sarri Bater of Peace Pledge Union (https://www.ppu.org.uk/) for an online discussion about war and the climate crisis hosted by Ministry of Eco Education (ministryofeco.org)

Catch up on the whole conversation here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4UkR8443V0

Jinsella Kennaway - Co Founder of Demilitarise Education. A communi...

04/06/2026

What if every child in your class felt confident asking "but why?"

We're running our Begin P4C Level One course online this June — three Wednesday afternoons (24 June, 1 July & 8 July, 12:30–16:30) that could genuinely change how your pupils think, speak and listen.

Philosophy for Children (P4C) gives teachers practical tools to turn any classroom into a community of enquiry. You'll leave with skills you can use the very next week.

No prior experience needed
Online — join from anywhere
Certificate of attendance included for those who attend 80% of the course
Just £275 for 12 hours of expert-led CPD

Led by experienced trainer Rob Unwin. Spaces are limited — we'd love to have you with us.

Book your place: https://www.thoughtful.org.uk/courses/level-one-course-3

All Courses are booked and managed via our Arlo platform, clicking the button above will require you to register / login to an account on that site.

02/06/2026

And that's a wrap! Thank you so much to everybody who made the 25-26 iteration of our Building Resilience to Extremism project so successful- the participating teachers, schools and pupils, our wonderful P4C trainers, and of course to MOPAC for funding it, with the support of .

We are now recruiting London schools to take part in the next round and receive over £800 worth of training and support per participant teacher, completely free.

Highly regarded by the Mayor of London's Countering Extremism Hub, this is a unique and transformative opportunity for any school worried about extreme views and beliefs amongst its pupils- from misogyny to racism. Its also a fantastic opportunity to improve pupils' oracy skills, and equip teachers with more tools to develop them.

"This has been an eye-opening experience that has equipped me with the confidence and skills to have meaningful, challenging conversations with children. The impact on our setting is likely to be significant, creating a positive ripple effect across the school"

Find out more here:

project funded by the Mayor's Shared Endeavour Fund to support young people to build resilience to extremism and hateful behaviour