Thinking Schools Academy Trust

The Thinking Schools Academy Trust is a multi-academy trust serving a family of schools mainly in the Medway authority.

Thinking Schools Academy Trust
Founded27 August 2010
TypeMulti-academy Trust
Registration no.07359755
Location
  • The Thinking Schools Academy Trust, Park Crescent, Chatham, ME4 6NR
Websitewww.tsatrust.org.uk
UID 5049

Thinking Schools philosophy

The Trust bases its philosophy on the work of Bob Burden and the University of Exeter Postgraduate School of Education. [1]

Schools in the Thinking Schools Academy Trust have a shared commitment “to provide outstanding schools which have an ethos of excellence and high expectations; underpinned by the principles of a fully integrated Thinking School.” [2] All seek to obtain Thinking School accreditation.

Thinking Schools

"An educational community in which all members share a common commitment to giving regular careful thought to everything that takes place. This involves both students and staff learning how to think reflectively, critically and creatively, and employing these skills and techniques in the co-construction of a meaningful curriculum and associated activities. Successful outcomes are reflected in students across a wide range of abilities, demonstrating independent and co-operative learning skills, high levels of achievement and both enjoyment and satisfaction in learning. Benefits will be shown in ways in which all members of the community interact with and show consideration for each other and in the positive psychological well-being of both students and staff. " Bob Burden, 2006 [3]

The schools teaching and learning is based on cognitive development and sees its duty as teaching children how to think rather than memorising content.

Thinking tools

Children are taught to discuss their learning, this is done bu using Thinking Tools and Strategies. Such as:

Accreditation

It is an objective of the trust that all its schools will receive Thinking School accreditation. It is a whole school process that starts with the planning:

  • Thinking Skills
  • Reflectional Questioning
  • Visual Mapping
  • Collaborative Networking
  • Developing Dispositions
  • Structuring the Environment

Associated Schools

These schools are all in the Thinking Schools Academy Trust:[6]

Secondary
Primary
  • All Faiths Children's Academy, Strood
  • Cedar Children's Academy
  • The Gordon Children's Academy, Strood
  • Isambard Brunel Junior School
  • Meon Infant School
  • Meon Junior School
  • Moorings Way Infant School
  • New Horizons Children's Academy
  • Newbridge Junior School
Other
  • New Horizons Teaching School Alliance
  • Thinking Fitness[6]

Management issues

In April 2016 the Chief Executive Officer of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, Rochester Grammar School's [8]former headteacher, Denise Shepherd was suspended due to allegations of snooping on staff emails, bullying staff and doctoring parts of an external inspection report.[9] In July 2016, the Thinking Schools Academy Trust Chairman, Peter Martin paid tribute to Ms Shepherd, who had since resigned,[10] stating that: "The Trust undertook a formal investigation, into allegations of misconduct made against Ms Shepherd. This has now concluded, with no further action required to be taken. It is extremely regrettable that these allegations were leaked to the press by an unknown source."[11]

References
  1. "Thinking Schools@Exeter". socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/education/thinkingschools/. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  2. Brinklaw. "The Rochester Grammar School · Transforming Life Chances". www.rochestergrammar.org.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  3. "Thinking School · The Victory Academy". www.thevictoryacademy.org.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  4. "Curriculum · Holcombe Grammar School". www.holcombegrammar.org.uk. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  5. "Habits of Mind" (PDF). www.holcombegrammar.org.uk/. Retrieved 11 December 2020.
  6. Thinking Schools Academy Trust. "Our Academies · Thinking Schools Academy Trust". www.tsatrust.org.uk. Retrieved 28 December 2017.
  7. "Our-Trust:December 2020" (PDF). www.tsatrust.org.uk. tsat. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
  8. "RGS website: Our Trust". 20 March 2019.
  9. "Academy chief 'snooped on teachers' emails'".
  10. Dickens, John. "Accounts Watch: Academy trust chief gets £85,000 severance pay-out". Schools Week. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  11. Acres, Tom. "Thinking Schools Academy Trust appoints new interim CEO to guide its seven Medway schools". Kent Online. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
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