"Working with Independent Thinking has added real value to our Trust"

The above quote comes from the Bath and Wells MAT, a large trust in the south west of England and  winner in the 2025 National MAT Awards.

We have worked closely with the nice people there for several years and their words perfectly sum up the many benefits of such a long-term collaboration.

As they go on to say:

"Independent Thinking bring a unique blend of creativity, credibility, and commitment to education. Their keynote speakers have consistently inspired and challenged our leaders and educators, offering fresh perspectives grounded in real-world experience."

As part of this special ongoing relationship we have worked with the Trust in many ways, from providing a steady stream of world-class speakers for their leader and middle-leader conferences on a wide range of topics including leadership, diversity, inclusion and well-being, to engaging and practical training days and twilights for all staff.

This included providing them with 30 of our Associates for their amazing two-day Education Festival last June.

This unique event at the Bath and Wells Showground was a huge success, "demonstrating not only Independent Thinking's deep bench of talent but also their genuine investment in the sector and its people".

We couldn't have put it better ourselves.

On a more day-to-day basis, we have also supported their network of around 40 schools with in-school visits, reviews and evaluations and training for that all-important middle leadership tier.

The breadth of expertise and experience across our Associates combined with our understanding of how schools tick mean that we have been able to provide timely, useful, bespoke and, of course, inspirational support in just the right place at exactly the right time

Or, in the words of BWMAT again:

"Their approach is thoughtful and tailored, with a clear understanding of the challenges and opportunities within MATs. They work in partnership, not just as providers but as collaborators who listen, adapt, and deliver."

And that makes us very happy, as that is exactly what we going for.

If you would like to explore how we can support the work you are doing in your Trust, no matter how large or small, then please get in touch for a free no-obligation chat with us on 01267 211432, drop us an email or fill in the form below.

Your first port of call will be with Dave Harris (pictured here), an experienced and respected former headteacher with experience in all phases of education.

He will work to understand exactly what it is you might need and how we can help.

This is what he has been doing for BWMAT and they know they can pick up the phone and talk things through with him any time.

It is this personal and tailored approach that makes such a relationship so useful – saving time, hassle and money in the process. 

So, let's leave the last work with our lovely BWMAT clients,

"Their flexibility, professionalism, and passion for education make them a trusted partner, and I would encourage other Trusts to explore the many ways Independent Thinking can support your work."