THE THINKING SCHOOLS ACADEMY TRUST

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.

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

Headquarters

HQ city

Rochester

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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.

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct 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

• Xx.com/tsa_trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&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