Penbridge Junior School recognised as an Advanced Thinking School by the University of Exeter for the third time

Penbridge Junior School is delighted to have been awarded Advanced Thinking School Accreditation by the University of Exeter for the third time.

As part of the Thinking Schools Academy Trust, Penbridge Junior School aims to provide pupils with tools needed to become lifelong learners. These ‘Thinking Tools’ prepare them for life not just during their time at school, but through their teenage years and adulthood 

The University of Exeter’s Thinking Schools lead the way in research on Metacognition, Creativity and Dialogue in Education and Penbridge Junior School has worked tirelessly to embed this framework into day-to-day life. This was recognised by the school’s assessment and subsequent re-accreditation. 

Their report said: “Penbridge Junior School is a forward thinking, innovative, highly ambitious, and fully supportive primary school.”  

The University of Exeter recognised Thinking Skills to be ‘at the heart of school life’ at Penbridge Junior who they say have taken ‘a wonderfully inclusive and evidence informed holistic educational growth stance.’ 

The report highlighted Kevin the dog as a ‘creative and evidence informed’ inclusion and a provision which ‘goes beyond knowledge and metacognition to fully embrace dispositional development and different ways of thinking.’ 

The University of Exeter also recognised their topic-based curriculum to be ‘exceptional’ which has been designed to ‘empower evidence.’ 

Mrs Webb, Executive Headteacher for Penbridge School said: “Being a Thinking School, the metacognitive process is embedded throughout our school in everything we do, whether that be academic or pastoral” 

“It’s interesting to see how far we’ve come since last time we had this accreditation; the growth we’ve had has really been recognised in this report”, she added. 

Looking back on the progress made, Miss Cufley, Thinking, Teaching and Learning Lead at the school said: “It was an effective opportunity to look at where we’ve grown from last time and gather more student views.” 

She also recognised the importance of the award as it ‘underpins all our teaching and learning’ and how you can see the impact of it on the children. 

The report adds: “Penbridge Junior School fully embraces individuality and diversity such that the needs of all pupils are fully integrated.” 

It also recognised Penbridge Junior as ‘an inspirational influence of metacognitive educational excellence’, which lives up to its’ motto of ‘High Aspiration for all Children’ and its drive for ‘Love Learning for Life.’ 

In conclusion, the University of Exeter found ‘rich and extensive evidence’ to re-accredit Penbridge Junior School as an Advanced Thinking School until January 2029.