Strengthening digital learning through partnership: Thinking Schools Academy Trust appoints Gemma Gwilliam as Regional Digital Lead

An award-winning digital education leader behind “Portsmouth: The Digital City” joins Thinking Schools Academy Trust to drive partnership-led digital strategy, inclusion and cross-trust collaboration, helping close the digital divide and equip students with future-ready skills.

Thinking Schools Academy Trust (TSAT) has appointed Gemma Gwilliam for consultancy as its new Regional Digital Lead for the South, working with our Portsmouth schools, supporting schools across the Trust to embed impactful digital learning and ensure a consistent approach to responsible, safe and ethical use of technology and AI.

TSAT is a family of 26 schools educating more than 16,000 children and young people across the South East, South and South West of England.

This new role builds on TSAT’s commitment to transform life chances by using evidence-informed digital tools that help every learner succeed.

Stuart Gardner, Chief Executive Officer, Thinking Schools Academy Trust:
“We’re delighted to welcome Gemma to work with the trust as we continue our mission to transform life chances by strengthening digital learning and preparing students with the skills they’ll need for the jobs of the future.

"Schools have a real opportunity not only to enhance learning, but to support staff too, improving productivity, innovation and freeing up more time to focus on what matters most: developing confident, capable learners that are ready to aim high.”

Gemma brings extensive experience leading large-scale digital transformation in education. Most notably, she spearheaded “Portsmouth: The Digital City” Project, a city-wide collaboration spanning 61 schools across 14 trusts and the local authority, recognised with a Silver Award in the Pearson National Teaching Awards for Transformational Use of Digital Technology.

In her role supporting TSAT, Gemma will shape a clear structure to support and communicate digital learning developments across the Trust. Key early priorities include:

• Supporting schools to work towards the Good Future Foundation’s AI Quality Mark, ensuring AI is used responsibly, ethically and in ways that genuinely enhance student learning and wellbeing.
• Advancing digital inclusion and accessibility, ensuring every student benefits from tools that support their unique learning journey, including those who thrive through assistive technology.
• Aligning the Trust’s digital strategy with national priorities, including the Department for Education’s work to close the digital divide and raise standards through evidence-informed approaches.

This appointment also builds on momentum already underway in Portsmouth, where the partnership led by Gemma has been recognised by the Good Future Foundation with the AI Quality Mark Gold Award highlighting a leading national approach to responsible AI adoption in education.

Gemma Gwilliam, Regional Digital Lead, Thinking Schools Academy Trust:
“Digital learning is about more than devices, it’s about equity, confidence and preparing students for a future that’s already arriving. I’m excited to work with schools across the trust to co-create a digital environment that helps every learner flourish, think deeply, and lead with integrity in a digital world.”