Independent Thinking

Beyond the goal of teaching children to know things, to pass exams, to get through school, to find a place in the system, we need to teach children to reflect critically on what is going on around them and to ask whether that’s the way it should be?

Society, success, morals, poverty, social mobility, happiness, values, mental health, relationships, aspirations, self-esteem, equity, opportunity, politics—all are linked to education. The education of individuals, the education of whole generations. But what do we mean by education and what should a "quality education" involve in the twenty-first century?

As one of the United Kingdom's most sought-after speakers and trainers with experience supporting schools across the world for two decades, this controversial book is Ian Gilbert telling it how it is. Drawing on his experience in the United Kingdom, the Middle East, and most recently Latin America, it is a fascinating and controversial collection of articles, reflections, and inspirations to open our eyes to what education is really all about.

Education is one of the hottest topics in the world today but, Ian warns, it is degenerating into a political football passed between politicians and big business. To address the real issues facing individuals, communities, and countries, we need to get education right. This book can help.

Ian Gilbert, award-winning author, entrepreneur, and founder of Independent Thinking, has been at the forefront of educational innovation in the United Kingdom for twenty years and has been referred to as "one of the UK's leading educational philosophers."