Capital College’s Creative and Critical Thinking Initiative
Edinburgh College has taken bold steps to reshape traditional learning and teaching methods by introducing Creative and Critical Thinking qualifications. Recognising learners were disengaged with conventional approaches, the College created a more dynamic, inclusive strategy aimed at empowering students to develop essential cognitive skills.
The need for change
The College's Quality Team realised that traditional pedagogical models no longer met the diverse needs of modern learners. In response, they introduced qualifications spanning SCQF levels 1 to 7, which focus on fostering positive thinking habits and strategic approaches to problem-solving. "We knew it was time to innovate," said project lead Sheila Godfrey. These qualifications equip students with skills like resilience, empathy, communication, and collaboration—vital for navigating today’s complex challenges.
Empowering students
The new qualifications encourage students to go beyond merely absorbing information, empowering them to actively engage, retain, and apply knowledge across disciplines. One teacher praised the programme, saying, “The course is a model for how qualifications can be designed to develop transferable skills, rather than just reciting knowledge.” Students are now learning to think critically and creatively, gaining invaluable tools to succeed in an ever-evolving world.
Training educators: Level 10 qualification
Recognising that effective implementation requires adept educators, the College developed an SCQF Level 10 qualification, 'Teaching Creative and Critical Thinking'. This course equips teachers with the tools to inspire creativity and adaptability in students. One teacher shared, “My time on the Level 10 course has led me to be more ambitious and open-minded in my practice. It’s reinvigorated my teaching and my students have been the main beneficiaries.”
The course delves into the physiological and neurological foundations of learning and explores cognitive frameworks (schemas) that shape our understanding of the world. Educators are encouraged to reflect on inherent biases in traditional pedagogies, fostering environments that support creative and critical thinking.
Implementation
The rollout of these qualifications began with designing unit specifications, followed by piloting them with student groups. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. "In my classroom, students are encouraged to explore their own passions and set their own criteria for success," noted one educator. The results have been both inspiring and transformative, with improvements in student engagement, retention, and overall achievement.
By the 2023/24 academic year, the programme had expanded to local schools, where teachers are now completing the Level 10 qualification while pupils work across levels 1 to 7. Educators who have undergone the programme have reported enhanced outcomes, especially in classrooms where the new methodologies have been adopted.
In 2024/25, the college is delivering the programme to even more students and schools, with staff working with teachers and pupils in schools in Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Scottish Borders.
Recognition
Education Scotland recently recognised the Creative and Critical Thinking qualifications as "a positive catalyst for change.", while the initiative was also shortlisted as a finalist in the 2024 Herald Higher Education Awards. Most importantly, though, is that schools which have adopted the programme have since reported higher engagement, better attendance, and improved academic performance among their pupils.