Why Some Intelligent Children Still Struggle to Learn
Many children who struggle in school are not lacking intelligence or motivation. In many cases, the difficulty lies in the thinking skills that support learning.
Skills such as comprehension, memory, problem solving, evaluation, and creativity all work together to help a learner understand information, apply knowledge, and respond to challenges.
When one or more of these abilities is weaker, learning can become frustrating. A child may appear distracted, slow to respond, forgetful, or resistant to tasks. In reality, their brain may simply be working harder to process information.
The Thinking Skills Behind Learning
The Structure of Intellect (SOI) model, developed by psychologist Dr J.P. Guilford, helps identify the cognitive abilities that support learning.
Rather than measuring intelligence with a single score, the SOI model recognises that learning depends on multiple thinking skills working together.
Some of the key abilities involved include:
Comprehension – understanding information in text, speech, numbers, or ideas
Memory – holding and recalling information
Problem solving – applying logic and flexible thinking
Evaluation – judging accuracy and relevance of information
Creativity – generating ideas and exploring different solutions
When these skills are stronger, learning becomes easier and more confident.
How Executive Functioning Fits In
Executive functioning acts as the brain’s management system.
It helps coordinate thinking skills by allowing a learner to plan, organise, regulate attention, hold information in mind, and adapt when something changes.
For many autistic learners and individuals with ADHD, executive functioning can develop differently. This means children may understand information but struggle to organise it, start tasks, or apply their thinking skills consistently.
Understanding how cognitive abilities and executive functioning interact can provide valuable insight into why a child may be struggling and how support can help.
Bringing SOI Assessments to Coventry and Warwickshire
Over the past few years I have been studying and training in the Structure of Intellect (SOI) approach. I am currently completing the training required to carry out formal SOI cognitive assessments.
I expect to begin offering SOI assessments from July 2026 for families and schools across Coventry and Warwickshire.
These assessments are not free, as they involve specialist training and structured cognitive profiling. However, I will continue exploring opportunities for grant funding and community funding so that some families on lower incomes may be able to access funded places.
My goal is to develop a service where assessments can be accessed through a mix of:
• private assessments
• school referrals
• funded places where possible
Why This Matters
When we understand how a child learns, we can move beyond simply managing behaviour or repeating instructions.
Instead, we can identify the thinking skills that need strengthening, helping children build confidence and find learning easier.
If you would like to learn more about how the Structure of Intellect approach works, you can explore the programme here:
