Dear Ash Mount Community,
I hope you have all had a positive week and that routines are beginning to feel settled again after the recent changes to the start of term.
Following on from last week’s blog, where we introduced our focus on how learning connects to real life, this week we turn our attention to one of the most important elements of our approach – inquiry.
At Ash Mount, we want children to be curious and thoughtful, confident to ask questions, explore ideas, and make sense of the world around them. Inquiry is not about having all the answers; it is about developing the confidence to ask meaningful questions and the skills to investigate them.
This approach reflects the philosophy found in International Baccalaureate schools, where learning is designed to be inquiry-led. Students are encouraged to explore ideas, make connections across subjects, and develop a deeper understanding of concepts.
When children learn through inquiry, they move beyond surface knowledge. They begin to make connections, see patterns, and build understanding that stays with them over time.
Inquiry helps children connect their learning to meaning and purpose. When students see how ideas fit together and why they matter, motivation increases. They become more engaged, more independent, and more willing to take risks in their thinking.
In the classroom, this might look like:
- students exploring a question from different subject perspectives
- teachers guiding discussion rather than simply delivering information
- children testing ideas, making mistakes, and refining their thinking
- learning that builds over time rather than sitting in isolated lessons
Importantly, inquiry does not replace strong academic foundations, it strengthens them. Knowledge and skills remain essential, but they are developed through meaningful contexts rather than relying on surface recall alone.
Families can support this at home in simple ways:
- encouraging children to ask questions and explore their ideas
- showing interest in how they are thinking, not just what they have completed
- asking open questions such as “Why do you think that?” or “How could you find out more?”
- valuing curiosity alongside accuracy
These small conversations help children see learning as something active and ongoing, rather than something that only happens in school.
At Ash Mount, our aim is to develop learners who are not only knowledgeable, but thoughtful, young people who are confident to question, explore, and engage with the world around them.
Next week, we will explore how learning becomes even more powerful when it connects to real-world experiences, helping children see how their learning applies beyond the classroom.
Best wishes,
Abigail Fishbourne
Founding Principal
Ash Mount School
