Sixth Form Critical Thinking
Trinity School
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Welcome to Sixth Form Critical Thinking
Critical Thinking can be defined as a form of reflective reasoning which analyses
and evaluates information and arguments by applying a range of intellectual skills
in order to reach clear, logical and coherent judgements within a given context.
The curriculum brings together the skills involved in thinking and arguing in a
critical and logical way. The aim is to provide candidates with a framework which
can be applied in a practical manner to a range of materials, situations, problems
and issues. The course therefore is beneficial to all areas of academic study and
to decision making in life.
Candidates doing this course learn to:
- understand and apply the language of reasoning;
- understand and apply different patterns of reasoning;
- recognise and evaluate special kinds of reasoning;
- judge the credibility of sources;
- assess arguments;
- develop and present relevant arguments;
- recognise and apply basic logical ideas.
Many of the Russell group universities use critical thinking tests in addition to
A level grades as part of their assessment process. Completing the AS course therefore
will stand students in good stead for this assessment. In addition to this, professions
such as medicine, nursing and dentistry have recently concluded that critical thinking
skills are positively correlated with success in these fields.
Aims & Curriculum
The critical thinking department aims to provide a stimulating and supportive educational
experience to all of its students regardless of their gender, cultural origin or
special educational needs. The department aims to provide students with an educational
experience that facilitates their achievement in academic qualifications equivalent
to, or in excess of those predicted by baseline assessment. In addition to this,
the department aims to provide students with evaluative and cognitive skills that
will enhance their performance in other academic subjects and in all areas of their
life. The nature of the subject is such that students are anticipated to develop
higher order thinking skills that will be of benefit to them in their other academic
skills, in their university applications, their careers, and as a life skill.
The department is firmly committed to the use of varied interactive teaching methods
that facilitate the development of understanding and the acquisition of knowledge
for all students. The use of differentiated teaching resources is an integral part
of the department’s ethos.
Structure of the A level:
Students study AS critical thinking at Trinity School. This is examined in two one
and a half hour examinations. Both examinations require the students to read stimulus
material such as articles from a number of different newspapers and to address questions
relating to them. The students are assessed on their knowledge of argument structure;
their ability to produce reasoned arguments and their ability to assess the credibility
of information from sources, documents and settings.
Exam Results
The department aims to facilitate the development of learners’ accurate assessment
of their performance against the assessment criteria of the examining body (AQA)
and to enable them to identify areas of improvement that will result in the achievement
of higher grades.
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