Thinking Schools Academy Trust Explained

Thinking Schools Academy Trust
Type:	Multi-academy Trust
Registration Id:	07359755
Founded Date:	27 August 2010
Location:	The Thinking Schools Academy Trust, Park Crescent, Chatham, ME4 6NR
Footnotes:	UID 5049

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

The Trust bases its philosophy on the work of Bob Burden and the University of Exeter Postgraduate School of Education.^[1] 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 by using Thinking Tools and Strategies. These include:

• Thinking Maps
• Thinking Hats
• Thinkers’ Keys^[2]
• Habits of Mind^[3]
• CoRT Thinking Tools
  • Q-matrix
  • SMART targeting
  • Growth mindsets
• Philosophy for Children^[3]

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:^[4]

Secondary

• Goodwin Academy, Deal
• Holcombe Grammar School, Chatham
• Plymouth High School for Girls
• The Portsmouth Academy
• The Rochester Grammar School
• The Victory Academy, Chatham

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^[4]

Academies under construction

• Maritime Academy, Strood: After many delays, the school is projected to open in 2022. The site off Parsonage Lane and Berwick Way, Strood was purchased in 2020, after Medway Council unwrote the costs of overage.^{[5] [6]} The construction consists of an all-through school with a 1150 place secondary school and sixth form with sports hall, parking, playing fields and hard-surfaced courts. They currently only have Year 7 & 8 students. Currently, the school is located in Twydall.

The Grade I listed Manor Farm Barn will be extended to provide a wedding/conference facility. Conversion and extension of a former cattle barn will provide overnight accommodation.^[7]

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] Shepherd has since resigned.^[10]

External links

• Thinking Schools Trust official website

Notes and References

1. Web site: Thinking Schools@Exeter . socialsciences.exeter.ac.uk/education/thinkingschools/ . 11 December 2020.
2. Web site: Curriculum · Holcombe Grammar School . www.holcombegrammar.org.uk . 11 December 2020.
3. Web site: Habits of Mind . www.holcombegrammar.org.uk/ . 11 December 2020.
4. Web site: Thinking Schools Academy Trust. Our Academies · Thinking Schools Academy Trust. www.tsatrust.org.uk. 28 December 2017.
5. Web site: Cabinet minutes . Medway Council . 7 March 2021.
6. Web site: Plans for new school and 200 homes revealed . Kent Online . 7 March 2021 . en . 27 November 2019.
7. Web site: - Manor Farm- School Development . www.manorfarmdevelopment.co.uk . 7 March 2021.
8. Web site: RGS website: Our Trust. 20 March 2019.
9. Web site: Academy chief ‘snooped on teachers’ emails’.
10. Web site: Dickens. John. Accounts Watch: Academy trust chief gets £85,000 severance pay-out. Schools Week. 6 June 2017.