The Detective Club
Critical Thinking · Reasoning · Problem Solving
For the child who wants to know how to think, not what to think.
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Critical thinking, reasoning, problem solving. Every list of the skills children need puts them at the top, and no timetable has an hour for them. And now that a machine can produce an answer to anything, judging the answer is the part left to your child.
This club builds those skills the only way children actually take them in: by having fun. Every Monday there's a sealed case file on the table, and the children work in teams to crack it. Evidence to weigh, a witness to cross-question, numbers to work, a verdict to defend out loud. An hour of proper reasoning and problem solving every week. Ask the children and they'll tell you they solve mysteries.
REASON IT OUT
Every case file holds more than one story. The children learn to weigh the evidence, spot what's missing, and reason their way to the truth instead of jumping at the first answer. Slowing down to think is a skill, and this is where they practise it.
SOLVE IT TOGETHER
The cases are cracked in teams. The children share clues, argue their theories, listen to each other and change their minds when a teammate spots what they missed. Problem solving with other people is the version they'll use for the rest of their lives.
THE MATHS OF A MYSTERY
Somebody emptied the sweet jar, and the case can't close until the children work out how many sweets were inside. Real maths, hiding inside a mystery, done because they want the answer. Numbers stop being homework when they're evidence.
Confident enough to argue. Careful enough to change their mind.
EVERY WEEK, A CASE
A fresh case lands every Monday: suspects, clues, and a witness in the chair to cross-question. The children reason their way to a verdict and defend it to the room. Standing by your answer, out loud, in front of everyone, is confidence you can watch grow week by week.
THE ONE LIE
Once a session, the coach tells the children exactly 1 lie, announced in advance. Catching it wins a point. It teaches them the habit that matters most now: don't switch off just because the person talking sounds sure. Even the coach gets checked.
BUILD THE TRAP
The thief strikes again next Monday, so the children design a trap to catch them, and every trap is tested live. Most fail first time. They fix them and test again, and nobody sulks about a failed trap for long. Trying, failing and going again is the whole lesson, and they learn it laughing.
THE PARENTS' CASE
At the end of term the children build a complete mystery of their own, and you come in to solve it. You will fall into their traps. Then your child explains, step by step, exactly how you were fooled, with a term's Casebook as the proof. It's the showcase parents talk about afterwards, because for one evening the child is the expert in the room.
Reviews
What parents say
My daughter was very nervous about speaking in front of others, even in a small group. Since joining the club, I've noticed such a lovely change in her. She is speaking more clearly, joining in more, and she seems much more comfortable sharing her ideas. It has been really nice to see her confidence grow in a gentle, natural way.
Young Founders House has been a great experience for Georgie. It introduced her to completely new concepts, and she loved learning how money works and how to turn investments into profits. A wonderful, unexpected bonus was seeing her teamwork and friendships grow. Georgie took part in two markets this term and made over £100 after costs, she was thrilled to see her hard work pay off.
A really lovely club that helps children build confidence, speak more clearly and believe in themselves a bit more each week.
I love how practical the Young Founders House club is. The children were not just sitting and being told about money or business. They were thinking, planning, making decisions and learning by doing. My child really enjoyed it, and I could see how proud she was of what she had created.
The children's market was brilliant. It gave the children a real chance to sell, speak to people, manage money and feel proud of themselves.
I highly recommend Young Founders Club. It's a fantastic opportunity for children to learn about business, develop creative ideas and gain practical skills! The program helps build confidence and turn ideas into reality.
Questions parents ask
What happens each week?
A sealed case file lands on the table: evidence, suspects and a witness to cross-question. The children work in teams, weigh the clues, do the maths a case needs and defend a verdict out loud. Ages 8 to 12.
What is my child actually learning?
Critical thinking, reasoning and problem solving, the skills every list puts at the top and no timetable has an hour for, taught the only way children take them in, by having fun.
What is the One Lie?
Once a session, announced in advance, the coach tells the children exactly 1 lie. Catching it wins a point. It teaches them not to switch off just because the person talking sounds sure.
Are there screens?
None. Every case is worked with paper, objects, people and their own eyes.
When does it run?
Mondays, 5:30 to 6:30pm in term time at Patch, 42 York Street, Twickenham.
Do parents get to see it?
At the end of term the children build a complete mystery of their own and you come in to solve it. You will fall into their traps, and your child will explain exactly how.
What ages is it for?
The Detective Club is for children aged 8 to 12.
What does it cost?
Membership is £65 a month for 1 club, with reduced rates across 2, 3 or all 4 clubs. Everything is included.
Who runs it, and are they DBS checked?
Yes. Orgesa Meli, who founded and leads Configur Academy, is the designated safeguarding lead and holds an enhanced DBS check. Our practice follows the Department for Education's guidance for out-of-school settings, and the full safeguarding statement is on this site.
How do I sign up?
Through this website. Choose your child's clubs and follow the steps on the join page. If the club is currently full, join the waitlist and we will be in touch as soon as a place opens.
Join The Detective Club
Choose your child's clubs and set up your monthly membership. You pay one simple amount each month, the same every month across the year.
Membership can be cancelled at any time with 30 days' notice.
Membership is paid monthly, the same amount every month, spread evenly across the year.
Secure your child's place.