P4C Training - Pupil Workshops + Twilight INSET

Do you want to see P4C in action?

For any training, there’s always a slight element of, “It worked with us – but will it work with the kids?”

So our observable workshop days can be very effective as either an introduction or a refresher to combine the demonstration sessions and assemblies with twilight INSET.

This way, staff see P4C in action with their own classes, which is powerful proof of its benefits. It provides visible examples of what our our Philosophy Circles approach looks like in the classroom, and so makes the subsequent INSET all the more grounded and accessible.

What are my options?

Pupil workshop days with INSET

Typically, we can fit in four or five classes in a day - in their spaces, and with their current topics. As many staff as can fit are welcome to observe. The workshops are a CPD opportunity, and are often told how useful they were to watch.

Workshop days can also include assemblies and parent workshops too (more below).

In the INSET session, we cover the three core principles of Philosophy Circles in an interactive and engaging way. The key aim is to empower staff to embed P4C in their own lessons, so it’s another way of doing what they already do, rather than something extra. Staff will leave confident and enthusiastic about embedding P4C the very next day.

"All the positive testimonials provided by other schools was certainly a winning factor for us. The P4C training and workshops were simply outstanding."

I had looked at several workshops and was pleased to stumble across The Philosophy Man website. All the positive testimonials provided by other schools was certainly a winning factor for us. The training and workshops were simply outstanding.

All the staff had basic P4C training but did not know how to use it within their classrooms. This then acted as a CPD opportunity for all staff and this was furthered in the staff meeting. There was a buzz during the staff meeting, which for any member of staff attending a staff meeting at the end of a half term, knows this is a rare thing! All the staff said how enthused and excited they felt to get back into their classrooms and try out the methods they had been shown.

After the workshops, I interviewed some children about their experience. I deliberately picked children who really struggle with the academic side of school life. One child, who had a workshop on bargaining for his life against a Mayan tribe, said “I loved the P4C workshop. It was so much fun to think of reasons why my life was valuable and the best part was, we didn't have to do any work!”. The children saw the workshops as a chance to express themselves.

Thank you so much for inspiring us to continue with the exemplary training you provided and we look forward to working with you in the future!

Sarah Brown

Dulverton Primary School

Fancy a chat about it?

No obligation - just a chat about what might be possible! Book youself into our calendar today.

Book a call

Philosopher in Residence Programme

When you book one of us as your "Philosopher in Residence", teachers see P4C in action before giving it a go themselves using our resources and with our support.

Before the residency:

We'll talk to you to discuss your school’s context and the priorities you have for philosophy.

Week 1:

Your staff try out some taster activities with their pupils. These are sent over in advance, tailored to each year group. They are designed so that they can be run without specialist training in Philosophy Circles by any classroom teacher.

Week 2:

We deliver a day full of pupil workshops, followed by a twilight INSET introducing the key principles of Philosophy Circles, and demonstrating some of the activities the teachers will use in their sessions.

Week 3:

We provide a carefully selected session plan for each class, and each teacher facilitates their own session. They reflect on the session - noting what went well, and any questions.

Week 4:

We run another set of workshops demonstrating answers to their questions. This is followed by another twilight focused on questioning skills that are useful across teaching, not just within philosophy sessions.

Week 5:

Your staff run further sessions with the plans provided. By now, those who have observed a lesson each time, attended a programme and recorded some brief notes will be close to claiming their Philosophy Circles Level 1 Accreditation.

Week 6:

Another full day of workshops - with optional twilight. this time, the option is open for staff to be observed or to team-teach and receive constructive feedback. In the third twilight, we’ll look at how to plan your own sessions.

"Since commencing P4C, we have noticed a dramatic increase in the children's ability to discuss concepts with their peers and they have vastly improved looking at one another when speaking, in actively listening and challenging others' views and opinions"

It has been fascinating to watch the children engage with a range of challenging topics with maturity, enthusiasm and empathy thanks to the facilitation provided by Tom. Their curiosity was inspired by the thought-provoking stimuli in each session and several individuals, who usually find it challenging to share their ideas, came to the fore during the big discussions.

Pupils comment that they are thoroughly enjoying P4C and enthusiastically anticipate their lessons with Tom each week; they also site that ‘they enjoy the challenges to their thinking.’

Since commencing P4C, we have noticed a dramatic increase in the children’s ability to discuss concepts with their peers and they have vastly improved in their ability in looking at one another when speaking, in actively listening to one another and in building upon and challenging others’ views and opinions. Before the lessons started, the children were not listening deeply to one another and responding to one another constructively – they had their opinion and that was it. We have also noticed an increase in confidence and concentration.

Initially, the children tended to direct their responses towards the adult. After a couple of weeks however, they were looking at the child they were responding to and dialogue bounced around the room without adult intervention.

The children’s critical reasoning skills were also developed; children were starting to support their views with reasons.

Enquiry based methods are also being instigated by the pupils themselves in other curriculum areas, like Who is the villain in Macbeth?

As teachers, we are excited about working elements of P4C into our day-to-day classroom practice, particularly when creating and discussing questions during class reading sessions.

Sharee Johnson and Jonathan Hall

Year 6 Teachers, Amesbury Primary School

What kind of pupil events do we run?

Many schools choose to run an event for the whole-school, or a particular group of pupils. Our energetic, interactive and challenging days are highly sought after for a number of situations, from activity weeks, to academic challenges to inter-school competitions, to themed days, such as National Interfaith Day.

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We have a range of tried-and-tested events but tailor each one for your requirements.

Recently, we have run:

Alien Adventures in Philosophy interactive storytelling – for 240 pupils
Ethics Workshops and Argumentag Wrestling Finale for 180 Year 10s
Philosothon for groups of pupils from several schools within a cluster
Activity Week days during the Summer Term
Academic Challenge days for prospective new pupils
Interfaith day workshops

Prices are calculated based on an individual basis, so please get in touch using the form below to discuss your schools’ requirements.

"P4C has enabled children to voice their opinions in a calm and controlled manner whilst having their views challenged."

After an inspiring and informative Inset Day, led by Tom, all staff were eager to try out P4C strategies and felt strongly about the principles P4C promoted.

P4C has enabled children to voice their opinions in a calm and controlled manner whilst having their views challenged. It has provided them with time to critically think about their own morals, beliefs and thoughts.

We invited Tom back for Interfaith Day! Through P4C, children naturally made comparisons and built upon their RE knowledge. Children thoroughly enjoyed the current and interactive assemblies, pitched appropriately for each Key Stage.

The weekly bulletins inspire and instigate current discussions with the children which can occur in many curriculum areas. The mini resource booklets are great too as they are concise and clear. The resources are practical, effective and require very little preparation- which is great!

Though we have separate P4C sessions, we have easily and seamlessly begun to use it in other curriculum areas.

Just fantastic!

Kayleigh Dell

Greenway Primary School

Workshops for Parents

Why limit P4C to the school gates? If time allows, we also run parent workshops to help you showcase what the school is doing, and also extend the tools of facilitation to those who speak to our children the most.

We can focus the session on anything you ask:

Do you feel some parents need help understanding the importance of talk at home?
Do some parents just need the confidence to talk more about questions they might feel out of their reach?
Do you want to attract prospective parents to your school by showcasing the kind of lessons you teach?

We help you organise the session, from planning to delivery:

What's the cost?

Workshop days begin at £750+VAT and reasonable expenses to travel to and from your school.

We have special, bespoke rates for the Philosopher in Residence programme.

Pupil event days will depend on the number of students involved - and therefore how many philosophers we need to bring!

Contact us below to talk more about how we can work with you.

Interested in pupil workshops?

We'd love to hear from you. Contact us through any of the means below.

01245 830123

office@thephilosophyman.com

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PS. If you are looking for the answer to the riddle in the email you received, it’s “a ship”.