A PIONEERING Huddersfield school has turned to a world expert on thinking to help its shift to academy status.
Moor End Technology College will work with Edward De Bono to use creative and lateral thinking in its plans as it prepares to become an academy.
The Crosland Moor school will change to the Government’s convertor academy status in September in a move which will allow new partnerships to be formed free from local authority control.
At the helm of the organisation, head teacher Jane Acklam has led the school to outstanding Ofsted status.
But she says ‘there is no room for complacency’ as they embark on a ground breaking new partnership.
Yesterday we reported how Moor End will access new funding of £4.7m. As an academy, the move will give the school greater freedom on what lessons to teach, what equipment and resources to buy and on admissions.
Mrs Acklam said: “We have teamed up with Manchester Metropolitan University and the De Bono Foundation UK to become the first accredited centre in the country for creative thinking.
“The process has helped us look at how as an organisation we can apply creative and lateral thinking to our processes and become much more effective as a business.
“We also have a number of De Bono trained ambassadors who will help apply his thinking to lessons.”
Dr De Bono has devised structured thinking techniques including ‘The Six Thinking Hats’ which use colour codes as different ways of tackling a question, to give pupils a framework for problem-solving and exploring ideas.
The De Bono Foundation suggests his tools can have a positive impact on academic achievement and behaviour.
Dr De Bono has since published a number of recommendations aimed at children such as new ways of teaching numeracy, fighting childhood obesity and sports coaching.
Moor End Academy will also adopt a partnership with Spen Valley Sports College as part of its remit to support struggling schools.
The Crosland Moor school is one of everal in Huddersfield planning to switch to academy status.
Kirklees councillors have launched a special probe into radical changes at Huddersfield schools, which are in the process of converting to academies in moves which would take them outside the influence of the council, allow them to change staff pay and conditions and give them the chance to change their curricula.
Governors at Salendine Nook High were the latest to make the decision to convert to an academy.
Lindley Junior School, Shelley College and Rastrick High are also in the process of changing to academies.
A scrutiny panel of Kirklees councillors will look at the proposals after concerns from parents and other groups about lack of consultation.
