Tournament of Minds
Tournament of Minds (TOMs) is a programme that fosters the development of creative thinking skills. It is ideally suited to students with a passion for learning and problem solving. It allows students the opportunity to demonstrate their skills and talents in an exciting and collaborative environment. The programme best suits those boys who can think ‘outside of the box’, think on their feet, be adaptable and show initiative, often spontaneously.
Students work in teams of 7 and are required to respond to spontaneous creative thinking challenges and solve demanding, open-ended challenges from one of the following disciplines: Language Literature, Arts, STEM and Social Sciences. Students work without assistance from teachers, parents or peers. Students present the product of their ideas – their challenge solution – to a panel of judges and an audience on Tournament Day.
Year 6, 7 and 8 students on the Middle School Enrichment Register are invited to apply for the TOMs Thinking Skills programme.
The programme includes after school training once a week and some Saturday afternoons in the lead up to Tournament Day. Students are expected to commit fully to the programme given the team nature of the competition and the need for collaboration with others.
In 2021, the programme ran part way through Term 2 and part way through Term 3.