THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
The Thinking Schools Academy Trust is a UK Multi-Academy Trust operating 26 primary, secondary, early-years, alternative-provision and sixth-form schools across the South East, South, East and South West of England, delivering education through a proprietary metacognition-based Thinking Schools Framework (Six Thinking Hats, Habits of Mind).
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2012
- HeadquartersRochester, United Kingdom
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST does
The Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT) is a UK Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) operating 26 schools spanning primary, secondary, early years, alternative provision and sixth form across the South East, South, East and South West of England. It is structured as a company limited by guarantee, registered in England and Wales (Company Number 7359755), governed by a Board of Directors and led by Trust CEO Stuart Gardner, a designated National Leader of Education.
The trust's core offering is the Thinking Schools Framework — a metacognition-based pedagogical methodology that teaches students to consciously manage their thinking and habits. It is operationalised through two principal proprietary components: the Six Thinking Hats tool (adapted from de Bono) and the 16 Habits of Mind dispositions (derived from Art Costa and Bena Kallick's work). The methodology is institutionalised via a tiered internal accreditation pathway (Thinking School → Advanced Thinking School) and is supported by CPD, apprenticeship and teacher-training pipelines. TSAT also operates a sub-brand, TSfE (Thinking Schools for Everyone), which packages the methodology for sale to schools outside the trust.
Revenue is generated almost entirely through the UK national funding formula for education, with per-pupil funding channelled via the Department for Education and local authorities. The trust is GDPR-compliant, adheres to the Age-Appropriate Design Code (Children's Code), and operates filtering and monitoring under Keeping Children Safe in Education. Distribution is direct via owned schools; the trust uses a multi-channel engagement model (website, careers portal, Thinking Aloud podcast, Twitter/X, email newsletter, education-sector events) to attract staff, communicate with parents and recruit converting academies.
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
- Legal name
- The Thinking Schools Academy Trust
- Website
- https://tsatrust.org.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2012
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- The Thinking Schools Academy Trust is a UK Multi-Academy Trust operating 26 primary, secondary, early-years, alternative-provision and sixth-form schools across the South East, South, East and South West of England, delivering education through a proprietary metacognition-based Thinking Schools Framework (Six Thinking Hats, Habits of Mind).
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Rochester
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others
Marketing channels6 records
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Thinking Schools Academy Trust operates a family of 26 schools across the South East, South, East, and South West of England, delivering primary, secondary, early years, alternative provision, and sixth form education. Its core offering is built on the Thinking Schools Framework — a metacognitive educational methodology incorporating Six Thinking Hats and the Habits of Mind framework — designed to empower students to consciously control their learning and become independent learners.
Product overview
The Thinking Schools Academy Trust is a Multi-Academy Trust operating 26 schools across England. Rather than a technology product company, it provides educational services through a network of primary, secondary, early years, alternative provision, and sixth form schools. Its core offering is the Thinking Schools Framework—a metacognitive educational approach centered on empowering students to shape their own minds, attitudes, and habits. This methodology incorporates specific tools such as the Six Thinking Hats (for diverse thinking styles) and the Habits of Mind framework (16 dispositions based on Art Costa and Bena Kallick's work). The trust also offers professional development, teacher training, and apprenticeships as part of its education support services.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Thinking Schools: Educational methodology based on metacognition and cognitive education frameworks, including the six Thinking Hats approach and Habits of Mind
- TSfE (Thinking Schools for Everyone)
Products and services
- Thinking Schools Framework (Education Services across 26 schools) Comprehensive educational delivery spanning primary, secondary, early years, alternative provision, and sixth form across 26 schools in the South East, South, East, and South West of England, delivered through the Trust's metacognitive Thinking Schools methodology for pupils aged 4 to 18.
- TSfE (Thinking Schools for Everyone) Services for Schools Outward-facing services division offering educational support, the Trust's Thinking Schools methodology, and a structured joining/conversion process for schools considering academy conversion or joining TSAT, including access to central services, professional development, and the Thinking Schools framework.
- Teacher Training and Apprenticeships Initial Teacher Training and Apprenticeship pathways operated by the Trust to recruit, train, and develop educators into the Thinking Schools approach, supporting career entry into TSAT academies.
Companies that use THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- United Learning: One of the largest UK Multi-Academy Trusts, operating a comparable mix of primary, secondary and all-through schools nationally with a strong central pedagogical framework — directly comparable to TSAT in structure, scale and the role of a codified teaching approach.
- Ark (Ark Schools): Education charity running a network of academies across England with a strong branded curriculum and teacher-training pipeline — directly comparable in operating schools, codified pedagogy, and external training/services income.
- Ormiston Academies Trust: Large national MAT operating a portfolio of primary and secondary academies with a defined educational ethos — directly comparable in multi-phase school operation and central pedagogical standards.
- Greenshaw Learning Trust: Growing MAT operating secondary, primary and special schools across southern England — directly comparable in southern geographic concentration and multi-phase operation.
- Harris Federation: Large UK MAT running primary and secondary academies with a strong academic-improvement culture and centralised curriculum — directly comparable as a multi-phase, multi-region MAT with school-improvement as a core operating model.
- Academies Enterprise Trust (AET): One of England's largest MATs, operating primary and secondary academies across multiple regions with a centralised school-improvement function — directly comparable in scale, geographic spread, and academy-conversion growth model.
- The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT): Large MAT running primary, secondary and all-through academies across southern and south-east England — directly comparable in geographic footprint, multi-phase provision, and academy-conversion growth strategy.
- Outwood Grange Academies Trust: Large MAT operating primary and secondary academies across northern and central England with a centralised school-improvement system — directly comparable as a multi-academy operator with a codified teaching framework.
- Learning in Harmony Trust: Multi-academy trust operating primary and secondary schools across England with a values-led ethos — directly comparable as a smaller-growth MAT using a named pedagogical philosophy.
- REAch2 Academy Trust: One of the largest primary-focused MATs in England, built through academy conversion with a central teaching-school and CPD offer — directly comparable as a conversion-led MAT with centralised teacher development.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST social profiles
Digital presenceTHE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST
What does THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST do?
The Thinking Schools Academy Trust operates a family of 26 schools across the South East, South, East, and South West of England, delivering primary, secondary, early years, alternative provision, and sixth form education. Its core offering is built on the Thinking Schools Framework — a metacognitive educational methodology incorporating Six Thinking Hats and the Habits of Mind framework — designed to empower students to consciously control their learning and become independent learners.
Is THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST a public or private company?
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST founded?
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST was founded in 2012. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST based?
THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST is headquartered in Rochester, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
Who are THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are United Learning, Ark (Ark Schools), Ormiston Academies Trust, Greenshaw Learning Trust, Harris Federation, Academies Enterprise Trust (AET), The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT), Outwood Grange Academies Trust, Learning in Harmony Trust and REAch2 Academy Trust.
Does THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST have an API?
No public API is recorded for THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST.