Metacognitive Teaching: How to narrow the attainment gap and promote equity in the classroom

Every teacher knows the frustration: despite your best efforts, some pupils still struggle whilst others race ahead. This game-changing toolkit reveals the research-proven solution that's transforming classrooms across the UK. Disadvantaged children often arrive at school without the 'invisible' learning skills their peers take for granted—like knowing how to break down a tricky problem, check their own work, or recognise when they're stuck. Metacognitive teaching makes these thinking skills visible and teachable.

Anoara Mughal, metacognition specialist and 18-year teaching veteran, translates cutting-edge educational research into immediately usable strategies that work in real classrooms. No complex theory—just practical techniques that help every pupil develop the thinking skills they need to succeed.

Pupils who once said "I can't do this" start saying "I don't know how to do this yet, what's my next step?" Children develop confidence, independence, and resilience that serves them across every subject. This isn't another add-on to your already packed curriculum—it's a way of teaching that embeds naturally into every lesson, every subject, every day.

This isn't another add-on to your already packed curriculum—it's a way of teaching that embeds naturally into every lesson, every subject, every day. With step-by-step guidance, real classroom examples, and troubleshooting advice for common challenges, Metacognitive Teaching finally makes closing the attainment gap achievable for every teacher.