Philosophy for Children (P4C) empowers students to become creative, caring, critical, and collaborative learners. These “4 Cs” are transferable skills that enrich every area of the curriculum. What makes P4C unique is that the teacher acts as a facilitator, while the enquiry is led by the students. Learners are encouraged to share their opinions about key concepts or “big ideas” in a safe, respectful environment where every voice is valued and meaningful discussion can flourish.

At Newton International Academy Smash, we are proud to have a dedicated P4C Room, fully equipped with the resources needed for high-quality enquiries. Students sit in a circle—facing one another rather than the teacher—to promote true student-driven dialogue. Each lesson begins with a stimulus from which students identify a central concept or “big idea.” Working in small groups, they develop thought-provoking questions to share with the class, which are later captured in our P4C floor book.

We were delighted to recently welcome Nick and Rodger for our P4C Silver Accreditation visit. They were thoroughly impressed by the quality of our practice, noting that both teachers and students
demonstrated exemplary enquiry skills, rich dialogue, and a genuine enthusiasm for learning.