Feedback from providers

What might be the impact of our training on your own staff?

  • Click on the provider-drop down list to browse feedback by the providers.
  • Click on ‘Filter by session’ and then select a title from the drop-down list.

Please select a provider:

Please select a session:

Learning Issues and Solutions Database (The RED LISD)

Bolton College

  • Enlightened.
  • Able, aspirational, motivated, like being a new tutor again with a desire to problem solve.
  • A ray of sunlight peaking out of a cloud on a cold day.
  • Inspirational, thought-provoking.
  • Excited about possibilities, feel so many barriers before we can be outstanding though.
  • It was a river of knowledge, allowing my brain to flow with new ideas.
  • I was treated as a grown up, collaborative discussions, voice listened to.
  • Gyre-widening (see W. B. Yeats: The Second Coming).
  • It is fit for purpose, simple and efficient.
  • I love it. I would love to see it as an approach for OTLAs.
  • Easy to read, useful and will try in lessons.
    I like how it is structured and gives the teacher a step-by-step support.
  • Set-up really well. Easily accessible and easy to navigate.
  • It is quite clear and easy to follow. It supports you and takes you on a journey through the thinking and development process. The case studies were useful and the more the resource is populated with other cases the more useful it will become. Sharing is so important and especially between departments.
  • I like the colour coded headings and the clear structure, easy to follow and definitions helped me to decide what the actual problem/issue was. It helped to reflect on what my contribution to the issue might be but in a no blame way. Therefore easier to admit and discuss.
  • Clear, demanding a next step/decision/narrowing/focussing.
  • I think that the format of each section is clear and follows a process that allows you to think through the issue you have selected, and what could be the cause of the issue before exploring the strategies.
  • It encourages sharing of best practice within the organisation and both offers support to those with issues as well as offering praise and reward for those who are best serving their learners.
  • Great, lets us problem solve without being told one method and gives us the confidence to say that it can be solved.
  • Wonderful, collaborative and informed by practice.
  • To have the lessons seen and heard without prejudice is really refreshing. I have already included many ideas, from Tony feedback and his blogs and lesson.
  • It is good to look at learning issues in this way, methodically…seeing the problem and the reasons behind it helps to find a solution.
  • I like it and would use it. I like the links that take you through to further information.
  • Felt a little upset by the barriers that I found myself coming up against that I can usually mentally overcome in the moment/when filling out a form because of the demand of professionalism it suggested.
  • I like that the approach is a collaborative one, using real examples from across the college. I hope that it will inspire the college to further embrace cross departmental working to share ideas and strategies for learning. This will motivate staff to try new ideas, and be more comfortable with colleagues in their classroom without the fear of failure. I also like that it will be a working document for staff to add to so it can evolve.
  • My learning outcomes will never look the same again. I’ll be tapping into those attitudinal changes.
  • I think it has been extremely useful and has made a big difference to people’s attitudes. I have noticed that when Tony said he could solve how to make learners never be late again in submitting work to a deadline, many staff had a negative attitude and were quite defensive. This makes me see how the tutors need to be open minded as I know that’s how they want the learners to be. “Crossing the carpet”. Thank you for your lovely compliments of my session.
  • I love this approach. It’s teacher supportive and friendly.
  • Thank you very much for the session 🙂
  • Some really useful ideas. This got me thinking that there might be solutions. The college needs to be supportive in their implementation. At the moment it feels like we are being swamped with admin tasks and teaching and learning is taking second place.

Behaviour Management

Kendal College

  • The curtain was pushed back further to see possibilities for development.
  • Insightful, useful.
  • I am already using intuitive strategies and there are more I can learn.
  • Strategies to enable high-performing groups.
  • Thank you so much, I really enjoyed the training. You were clear, retained my attention and I would have happily stayed on the class for longer.
  • Thank you Tony, Today has provided me with a chance to reflect on my practice in depth and consider new strategies moving forward to benefit both myself and my learners.

Ofsted Ready

Click here for an overview of the training.
Click each provider’s name to see a detailed list of impact on staff.

Bath College

  • A refreshing afternoon.
  • Confidence is being authentic in an approach to quality. Not obsessing on unstable factors.
  • Fantastic opportunity to sit down, discuss and think deeply. Thank you.

Bristol City Council Community Learning

  • A sat nav. for self reflection on our strengths and weakness as a centre! “Turning a weakness into a strength.”
  • Bringing transformation to the attention of an Ofsted inspector.
    Thinking ‘wildly’ outside the box for inspiration.
  • “Tackle” Ofsted in a positive way – not wait for things to happen, but have things in place – e.g. reflections on how to improve things (not at the end of a course or unit but at the time when issues materialise).
  • Food for thought. The use of wiki was really good and it was great to see what others had written.
  • Taking the horse by its reins. That we can take control of the OFSTED process by actively working together to improve our service.

East Kent College

  • Such a rewarding session, not what I expected at all but have some key takeaways to really reflect on and action.
  • Think more creatively, invest in the students’ experience, create an Ofsted position statement for maths and English.
  • I thought the breakout room size was going to be limiting but it was actually great, loads of dialogue and ideas – I couldn’t fault the session.

JTL Training

  • It has caused me to change my whole approach to an OFSTED inspection, thank you Tony
  • Hope is on the horizon.
  • Like opening a book.
  • Very interesting and informative.
    It has given me ideas to use within my own teaching practice.
  • Again Tony delivers a content heavy course with great skill and ease, ensuring all delegates are involved and creating great discussion topics to challenge myself and colleagues.
  • Like a fog clearing.
  • Peeling an onion, lots of layers in learning.
  • A dry subject whetting my appetite.
  • The session has caused me to reflect on, and change the way I would view an inspection.
  • Good to look at it feeling a little more empowered
  • I think that it’s focused me on how to improve class engagement, make it more enjoyable for the learners and for me in my task to improve learners being able to retain information long term which I am looking forward to accomplishing.

Morley College

  • Really interesting and motivational!
  • Using the research activity with my colleagues and looking at the emotional learning journey as part of the SoW review and implementation.
  • I also get a bit obsessed by Ofsted’s requirements and need to try and relax a bit on that!

North West Training Council

  • Challenging thought provoking.
  • Red Bull (energising).

Purple Beard

  • Clearly lit up a gloomy rainy day!
  • The mechanism of actually going about it was brilliant.
  • Creative and thoughtful about the approach to improving our provision.
  • Project based makes it more achievable to make improvements.
  • Thank you so much for enabling a collective approach to improving a provision.

Preston College

  • There are so many research projects we could implement!
  • To complete my own judgement statements on my curriculum impact/intent paper to support my meeting with inspectors.
  • Small changes needed to enable my team to be even better.
  • Informative. Taking away EIF – issues to explore and research.
  • Eye opening – thought provoking.
  • How to justify and show evidence in a way that puts across clearly what needs to be celebrated.

Quest Training

  • Want to go away do the wiki with staff and look at implementing action research projects in my setting.
  • Great session as always, my to do list has grown even more.

Serco

  • Really useful session, thank you. Gave me inspiration as to how better to engage the wider team in understanding and managing the self assessment process in preparation for OFSTED.

TPM

  • Brilliant. Feel more enthusiastic, will be looking at ways I can better support the learners.
  • Inspirational. Enjoyed interactive activities – will use these going forward.
  • Enjoyed evaluating provision and how to set up the working groups.
  • Thought provoking. The use of aspirational language. How to make the learning environment memorable. Gamification into teaching.
  • Committing to research themes and researching these areas so we can come together as a team and make a difference.

TTE Training

  • Consider the word ‘experience’, make it memorable.
  • To steal others’ good ideas
  • Nuggets of wisdom
  • Make the learning experience a pleasure (as was today’s session)
  • Realisation of what we do, how we do it and how to achieve the best in every aspect.
  • Enabling tool to evaluate and develop to meet change.
  • To look at research projects and encourage team to develop themes they have selected then share the practice.

Tools for Online Engagement & Blended Learning

Click here for an overview of the training.
Click each provider’s name to see a detailed list of impact on staff.

Access Creative College

  • Absorbing, Factual and Useful…not always the case with CPD.

Bolton College

  • I really enjoyed learning about some new resources, but the main thing for me was relating it to the pedagogy. It will make me think more about WHY I am using a resource and what I want my learners to get out of it, rather than simply a ‘have they remembered what they have learned?’ scenario.
  • We have been provided with a wealth of resources and ‘how-to’ sheets which means I have all the support I need to be able to experiment with what I have learned.
  • I aspire to be as fab a teacher as Tony – it’s not all about coming on to learn new things…it’s about watching a fab teacher in action and picking up on the way he does it in order to improve my own delivery.

B-Skill Limited

  • It was fantastic to see them being used throughout the session as well as having the opportunity to have a go. Throughout the session I have taken ideas and jotted these down about how these could be implemented within the sessions. I really liked the fact that tools were listed in order of difficultly from easiest to most complex. Some staff have a reluctance to changes towards technology based teaching and I am going to introduce these tools from easiest to hardest to make their experience more positive and help them develop confidence that they can incorporate technology into their sessions.
  • Fantastic engaging session and this has enabled me to reflect on my own service and how this can be developed, thank you.

Cogent Skills

  • I am a technological space tourist. I have travelled through numerous technologies that were unknown to me at the start of session. Very worthwhile.
  • It is not just the technology that will be different, it will reasoning behind them that will be more prominent. Pre-learning for instance, will play a bigger role and with that the technology that you have taught.

D H Associates

  • I can get distracted when listening, but I felt today’s session kept me engaged at all times.
  • It’s a meal worth waiting for.
  • The Lightbulb Moment, was able to see how these tools can be used for 1:1 learning.
  • Will help with pre learning, interactive learning within the session and post learning to ensure continual progression and readiness for EPA.
  • I have used whiteboards when completing teaching before but I have never used it in the ways shown today.
  • Yes, for sure! I will definitely try and use some of the new platforms to help increase engagement and interaction.
  • I will definitely be downloading the how to guides to remind me how to complete certain tasks.
  • I like to make my sessions as interactive as I can and these tools will definitely help me to do this. Thank you!

Halton Borough Council

  • ‘Learning is like a search for hidden treasure!’ This session for me gave a whole plethora of treasures for engagement and bringing learning and pedagogy to life through digital means both for in class and learning remotely.
  • Being guided to the valuable objects in a cluttered and overflowing storage room.
  • It Cut the Mustard.
  • Yes! It is having the guides and practical chance to play with the difference tools and options.
  • Gosh yes totally. Some superb resources that I can see being used regularly. It takes time to find all these resources so I am very appreciative of the work that has been put in for us.
  • Tony is very personable, supportive and has such strong knowledge that explanations are clear. His passion shines through which helps to engage and motivate delegates, even in scorching heat!!!
  • The session was very good and from a delivery point of view outstanding. The experience could have been better if the handouts had been downloaded in advance (I would make this even more clear next time around!) and there were some issues with confidence/equipment that were handled with patience and grace!

Hereford College of Arts

  • This was such a great session. Really refreshing to have such high level training that was generous, practical and learner focused.
  • A smorgasbord of healthy teaching and learning resources.
  • A very positive and energising training session that gave me the drive to apply my learning and make one change at a time. Delivered with intelligence, empathy and inclusiveness.

Innovative Alliance

  • Chomping at the bit now to put new learning into practice. Very inspirational session!
  • Like a swan above the water and a motorboat underneath…
  • It has given me a pleather of ideas to take away and improve our online offer in our organisation.
  • I feel you have given me a wealth of knowledge and resources now to go away and engage with and train my team to improve the learner experience.

Lincoln College International

  • Lots of food for thought as usual!!
  • Every week I’m planning to test 2 tools from the session to not overwhelm students.
  • The session supports my thoughts around the importance of ‘social presence’ (and backs up the research out there) and ‘investment and payoff’. There are so many tools to use but they should only be used if they enhance the learning (pedagogy pedigree – fabulous term and now in my repertoire!!) not technology for technology sake.
  • I enjoyed it thoroughly, as I am always looking at ways to upskill myself. In today’s session, I was shown so many options I can use in my lessons and I’m excited to try them all.

Liverpool Adult Learning Service

  • Both sessions really inspiring.
  • Provided me with an opportunity to recap on technologies and previous CPD I have already engaged in and used and evaluate how to use them more effectively. Gave me the motivational push I needed to re-invigorate teaching, assessment learning and inspire educators to do the same. As a service we are using Teams/Office 365 so I am interested in how we can use the tools already available in Teams to develop highly effective online learning.

NPTC Consortium of Work-based Providers

  • Tony has such a gift in making you feel inspired and motivated to try out his suggestions. Can’t think of a metaphor today but in the words of Winnie the Pooh “But what if I fall?” “Yes but what if you fly?”
  • I loved how its given me a new view on teaching the same sorts of subjects but now it can be done in different ways making it feel less repetitive.
  • Great pace, direction and content. I have attended many sessions over my training career of 22 years and have found these to be the most engaging and interesting since my original training to become an assessor/Trainer in late 2000. Thank you!
    Inspiring – has given me the confidence to explore different techniques.
  • Absolutely outstanding, really challenged preconceived ideas on learning and evidence gathering
    very informative, easy tool to use, feeling more confident to explore tool for blended learning.
    Good session sharing tools for online learning.
  • Great to see new technologies and stimulated by the ideas.
  • Thinking of how the learner feels, how to improve learning for all learners. I have already booked a day in with my colleagues to look at Blendspace and wiki and make use of it.

NPTC Group of Colleges

  • A melting pot of useful tools.
  • My brain is a bed of blossoming seeds.
  • ‘The past doesn’t equal the future’
  • Discovering new technology is like getting a parcel that you can’t remember ordering.
  • I think it has given me so many new ways to prep and engage with my learners. I think Blendspace will create a great pre learning for my learners.

Quest Training

  • Fantastic session, lots to take away and have a try at making resources and sessions with. I just need extra days in my week to try them all.

Retrofit Academy

  • We can do a lot more to make our presentations and courses engaging for the learners, catering for different abilities and learning styles.
  • Useful tools. Great that they are all free.

Sefton Community Learning Service

  • It’s like someone has opened the curtains in a dark room and I can see the light.
  • Feel 100% more confident in using technology that is new to me.
  • Tony you’re inspiring – this session has impacted on me greatly and I can’t wait to start implementing what I have learnt today when I cascade this to tutors (after further practise). Well and truly taken out of my comfort zone – thank you.

Southport College

  • This was an excellent session – very interactive and has given me lots of good ideas for things I can implement in my own teaching as well as cascade to the rest of the group.

St Helens Chamber

  • Learning is the spark that starts the flame.
  • I will be using Blendspace (QR Codes) and inputting pre-learning sessions. I will also be using breakout rooms during my online sessions.
  • Tony provides resources and how-to guides which are the most likely areas of support I would need which is great.
  • Excellent session, allowed me to interact and gain inspiration from other providers. Thank you very much, will definitely be recommending.

Sysco

  • Very engaging session with lots of resources/information and valuable IAG provided by Tony regarding tools for online engagement. Definitely will make me reflect and review this going forward.
  • Fountain of knowledge and new information. Looking forward to trying Prezi video on zoom.

WEA

  • I was originally daunted by the thought of a 3.5 hour session but the time passed more enjoyably and easily than other much shorter training sessions that I have attended, as the sessions were interesting and engaging. They were well put together, skilfully delivered and very useful. Thank you.
  • It opened my mind to the options available and just how much more creative online learning can be. I feel as I have been provided with some tools to venture out and explore further. I also need to look at my current practice as a curriculum manager and determine what steps I need to take to start incorporating some of these new ideas and promoting them with staff.
  • I need to build on the knowledge I have gained in this session by spending time with the different technology options we covered. In particular Prezi and wikis are completely new for me and I would love to be proficient with these.

Wirral Metropolitan College

  • Eye Opening, what a fantastic session.
  • I will try to embed pre-learning and also involve follow up after training sessions a lot more.

Workforce Training Services

  • Teaching is gardening.
  • In my new role I will be able to use the tools I gained in the session to disseminate to other staff with the hope of improving teaching and learning across the organisation.

Learning Theorists and the Emotional Learning Journey

Click here for an overview of the training.
Click each provider’s name to see a detailed list of impact on staff.

Coleg Cambria

  • It has been interesting and insightful, looking at lesson planning from a different perspective.
  • To consider the emotional response (outcomes) I want from learners, rather than simply focusing on the topic learning outcomes.
  • Timings were effective to allow discussion. Great circulation around the breakout groups to ensure we were on track and completing tasks correctly. I am frustrated that I have not attended the previous two sessions, so will have to look out for these next time around.
  • Excellent delivery. It would be useful to have a session delivered by Tony on remote learning and the use of technology.

Derby Adult Learning

  • Enriching.
  • Greater knowledge of key learning theories and examples of teaching and learning strategies that are relevant to them.
  • Thank you for a very useful and informative session. Access to your website with additional resources is very useful.

Grimsby Institute

  • This should be a national programme.
  • Lots of simple strategies which are easy to implement – excellent.
  • It was really refreshing that a topic such as learning theorists was delivered in such a way as to make it practicable. It should be a ‘dry’ session – it wasn’t! Really enjoyed it.
  • Opening the toolbox of my mind.
  • Team meetings will be reinvented.
  • Deeper exploration of how to design learning experiences.

Hopwood Hall College

  • I am fizzing with theoretical ideas after this session! Educational theory does not have to be heavy and laborious! We can develop our understanding in more engaging ways.
  • Today I am meeting with the Head of Quality and the Assistant Principal to start a quality standard for induction.
  • Whilst it would be great to do this face to face the online session was very interactive and enjoyable.

Hull College

  • Lightening in a bottle.
  • (Saying) ‘Less experienced’ rather than ‘less able’ will focus on preparedness to reduce fear and anxiety.
  • Sunshine. Differentiating approach not expectations – reinforcing this to staff.
  • Focus on emotional state of learning – addressing that before the lesson.
  • That the learning journey is the most important. If they are happy, they will achieve.
  • I liked the idea of Blendspace, scaffolding – differentiation and taxonomy teams.
  • Switching on a light!
  • To implement theories in own practice – explore ‘fifty shades of teaching’ in more detail focusing on the less-experienced learner.
  • Caterpillar to butterfly.
  • (Produce) ‘Learning experiences’ not ‘lesson plans’. Blendspace.
  • Great to see Tony again. Very knowledgeable – look forward to the next time.

Lakes College

  • My brain feels fizzy with ideas! A great way to start a year!
  • Can’t wait to model some of this with trainee teachers. Super.
  • I love that loads of the theories can be applied easily. I am going to try to use a different card every week.
  • The pre-learning technique, perfect lesson notes, barrier removal strategies.
  • More strings to my bow
  • A working machine.
  • Thanks – brilliant, useful session.

Macclesfield College

  • Connectivism to tutorial is illuminating like the full moon on a clear night.
  • I will be using different research strategies as part of Tutorial to invigorate and engage through gamification rather than test.
  • Would love to look at some examples of gamification in these areas to produce for core subjects.
  • Thank you for your time – incredibly inspiring!

MK College

  • A eureka moment.
  • If I am honest, I have always had a downer on Behaviourism, but today I have noticed that it has many benefits and all theories have a place. It is the thing we hope to change, the level of learners and what they need to learn that can influence our choice and we shouldn’t just stick with one theory. Having knowledge of the underpinning theory alongside the emotional learning states can help us to select the best approach. Locating the position our learners are at and where they need to be is a great tool and provides an excellent starting point to develop effective teaching and learning.
  • Having the material beforehand was really useful because we could do some pre-learning / reading. Clear instructions were given for the game.
  • I think the supporting material is fabulous and effectively supports the delivery. And fantastic takeaway ideas.
  • I think it is great and your technology is amazing!

Quest Training

  • Fab session again – really enjoyed this.

Shipley College

  • Social constructivism is the key to unlocking learning.
  • Pandora’s box. Lifting the lid on learning theories.
  • Loved how the different tools are numbered and put under the different theories.
  • I really appreciated learning about the emotional learning states and how teaching and learning strategies can be used to produce the positive or overcome challenges.
  • A game-base approach to learning about learning theory.
  • Really enjoyed it and will definitely use the tool with the 2nd year PGCE students.

Southport College

  • A new idea is the spark that lights an eternal flame.
  • Very interesting and productive session that enabled me to understand the way different teaching strategies were linked to theorist. I think this would be a great resource for teacher training courses to lighten up a very heavy module about theorists as you are able to look at it all in a practical way.
  • Provided a deeper understanding of the learner journey which was differentiated. Good range of strategies were looked into which linked to theorists’ ideas of learning and explored that range of emotions from a learner’s point of view rather than the teacher’s. Helped look at ideas in a different way and provoked different thoughts on how strategies could work from a number of different view points.

Sysco

  • Rewarding.
  • Brilliant insight into a variety of learning theories and the emotional learning journey. Always incredibly informative.
  • I felt the session helped me to link learning theories to outcomes for learners with the categories used.
  • Yes absolutely! I will now put more emphasis on the learners emotional states when lesson planning.
  • Today’s session was like going on an expedition, there are lots of things to do but I feel like today’s session will help us as a team to take the bull by the horns and revamp our delivery styles.
  • My boat is well and truly rocked.
  • Thanks again Tony, you really are inspirational.
  • I was already very familiar with learning theories but I think today’s session helped me look at our curriculum models with a fresh pair of eyes and consider how we can make these connection with these with our learners.
  • The exercises in the breakouts were really helpful to understand different learning theories and how they could be applied in practice. I am planning to use learning strategies 25, 27 and 34 in my future design and delivery.
  • I found all information beneficial with me being new to teaching.
  • As I am new to teaching I found something I can build on to be the best I can be ?
  • Today’s session has helped me to embed emotional learning into my planning and delivery.
  • I am going to make more use of connectivism methods to see if it helps me to save time.
  • Thankyou Tony for giving me this experience.

The Oxford Partnership (Saudi Arabia)

  • Excellent.
  • It’s not about planning lessons, but it is about planning experiences.
  • That workshop was a game-changer for me.
  • Learning is like building a house – all parts are integrated with each other.
  • I learnt that Connectivism seems to integrate advances in neuroscience and learning. It takes into account the behaviours of learners in the “digital age” in an explicit way that is absent in other theories.
  • I was glad that at the end of the workshop I was able to figure out the suitable strategy for one of the addressed challenges. I was impressed my self 😀
  • I’ll return to the materials as a great source. It provides me with a new vision of how to choose the best strategies.

The Learning Foundry

  • As deep as the ocean. I can see so much to look into and learn over time.
  • Learning theories are a melting pot.
  • Exciting.
  • Insightful
  • I learnt a lot from the session today, I found it very interesting and I understood it as I could link to my learners and real life experiences.
  • The breakdown of learning theories was very useful giving a detailed overview of each and providing strategies and identifying the emotional learning elements.
  • It has opened my eyes to the amount of different theories there are to look into and explore in more detail which I am excited about. From the session today, I have written down around 12 [teaching strategies to explore] and I am prepared to look at each one and see how these can be adapted for each individual learner.
  • Enjoyed the focus of how emotions impact on learning and planning to provide differentiated learning experiences, as opposed to a step-by-step / one size fits all process.
  • I will change my approach when planning a lesson to see what emotional response I might get from the learner prior to delivering. Depending on whether it is positive or negative would say whether I want to build on the emotion or reduce it to improve the learners’ understanding.
  • It helped me revisit what I had learned many years ago. It also opened my eyes on how I could apply them in my delivery so the learners take ownership rather than relying on me to direct them.
  • I will think more about the emotional elements of my learners prior to our sessions so I can ensure I am finding ways to keep them engaged.
  • I would like to thank you for your time and the quality of the resources used and the amount of knowledge gained from today.
  • I found the interactive graphics on screen and being able to see you as well a very good teaching aid. I will be looking in to how I can use this in the future with my own delivery. A course on how to use this technology would be great!
  • Tony is an excellent teacher, I find him very engaging and motivating.

Varndean College

  • Lots of bright little ideas like a sparkler.

Weston College

  • Reflective, like the sun on a puddle.
  • I am going to work with staff to think more about their intent of their session focusing on the emotional states that they want to illicit with the group.
  • I would like the resources – great session.
  • 1 hour isn’t enough – would like longer please.

Lesson Plan Review

Click each provider’s name to see a detailed list of impact on staff.

Blackpool Adult Learning Service

  • I found it interesting that if you change your outcomes how this necessitates a change in my planning, and how different the lesson content would be.
  • Relating this session to the CIF and the recent inspection report has hit the right level of realisation with tutors.
  • I will use the review strategy to search for flat areas of sessions and create a range of activities to use or have available to reduce possible reductions in learner engagement.
  • I will review my lesson plans, reflecting on the highs and lows of my sessions.
  • [I need to] Think about Mind and Body outcomes and how to incorporate expert learning traits.
  • I feel a little like British Rail… I am getting there J
  • I will keep practising and trying to improve the way I view the ‘end prize’.
  • I will put into practice the colour strategy for learning outcomes and put more thought into what makes green and orange.
  • A very helpful and refreshing session.

Clarifying Governance

Wirral Council Lifelong Learning Service

  • Today was like an epiphany.
  • Very thought provoking. Excellent – insightful.
  • I have a greater understanding of the impact of my role as a governor and the influence on the culture of WLL.
  • I need to see the bigger picture.
  • Really interesting to see the origins of the approach the Council Life Long Learning Service has taken this year.
  • Good balance of practical activity and discussion. Very interested in concept and approach to changing culture.
  • Brilliant. Made a big difference and about raising my own view on Governance.

Perfecting Development Plan Writing

Click here for an overview of the training.
Click each provider’s name to see a detailed list of impact on staff.

Boston College

  • I found the whole day quite liberating! This was a challenging day, that enabled me to reflect on my own practice and my organisations approach to self assessment and continuous quality improvement.
  • I found the issue and symptom activity particularly useful in helping to drill down to the real problem. I also liked the ‘what does outstanding look like for our college’ discussion, especially for English and math and induction.
  • The practical resources were fantastic and certainly something we will be using further. The whole day was practical, well paced and productive. I came away feeling exhausted, but informed and motivated to apply and build on what I had learnt. Thank you!
  • I would value support from a more strategic perspective on reviewing our college SAR/QIP process. I am keen to attend the online session in October to learn more!

Bury College

  • It’s show time! We are ready to step up to the plate.
  • I really like the concept of saying to an inspector that I would like to show you the issue I had, what I did about it and the impact it has had on my learners.
  • This approach provides a framework for affective critical thinking – need to make this happen.

Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College

  • Marching through the pearly gates of development plan writing heaven.
  • My eyeballs have been spruced up a bit (window-cleaned).
  • The emotional aspect is so important to me. It impacts our students considerably & staff and I feel this was clearly acknowledged in your session.

Buxton & Leek College

  • Changed the way that I think!
  • You get that penny drop moment when you think of how effective SAR writing can have a positive impact on the quality and improvement of delivery.
  • I wish I’d have known this sooner.
  • Really informative session, the session leaves you with a lot to think about which requires time to digest.
  • It will make me stop more and consider the symptom/issue situation.
  • I will introduce more time for professional discussion and focus the team’s efforts on root cause analysis. Make sure the development plan is a priority. More focus on the digital impact of the last 18 months and IAG and induction.

College of West Anglia

  • Inspired.
  • Allocating champions, rather than making someone responsible has the power to change the game in terms of ownership and staff buy in.
  • The group work was really useful as well as the one to one support you offered.

Grimsby Institute

  • Chomping at the bit to discuss changes.
  • How a QIP doc can be used more effectively without unnecessary additional work #keepitsimple. I really liked the concept of a celebration box and will be championing this asap. It was the usual interesting and engaging session I have come to expect from Tony.

Homefield College

  • Hit the nail on the head.
  • Format of development plan to enable improved information – less restrictive and reward of completion so document doesn’t get larger. Ensuring that you are getting to the root cause rather than just trying to deal with the symptom.
  • The training was delivered with clear enthusiasm, which further improved the learning experience. Good combination of input, practice and reflection.

Hull College

  • Like arriving at the top of a mountain to finally get the most fantastic view – a clear view, no background noise.
  • Looking for clarity to identify the root cause rather than focussing on symptoms.
  • The skilled use of zoom as a presentation tool with Prezi overlay, shortcut buttons, using wikis etc is a whole training course in itself. Fantastic delivery.
  • Today was a reflective experience.

Kingston Maurward College

  • Sharpening the saw!
  • Really useful to reflect on the current plan and how to avoid common issues that don’t facilitate rapid improvement e.g. symptoms not issues, end point data etc.
  • Our new QIP process will use similar format to one shared with each ‘issue’ becoming a project for a project manager (champion) to take on … before putting it in a celebration (impact) file.
  • Loved to see some of the advanced Zoom techniques being used. I am googling how to have a transparent presentation next to me on screen! I am keen to work with the team on self-assessment process more and may well engage some or all in future sessions. Thanks Tony.

Learning and Enterprise College Bexley

  • Be more mindful of the masking words and finding the root cause.
  • The blended delivery was working well for me as it was difficult to travel on this occasion. Tony skilfully switched between participants and I felt included.

Nottingham College

  • Like picking at a scab when you are child. Picking and picking until finally it peels off to uncover ….. (a great feel of satisfaction).
  • Adding ‘however’ to strengths – but not including what you need to do to improve.

OxfordSaudia Flight Academy

  • Going from ‘standing’ on my head to standing on my feet.
  • Shift the focus to finding the issues, instead of focusing on the symptoms.
  • I’ll need to go through the process with a colleague to ensure I’m focusing on issues, not symptoms.
  • A great session with great ideas. Thank you Tony. I am new to this position, so it’s all part of the learning process for me. Using an effective development plan will massively improve the assessment of “symptoms” and “issues”, which I will communicate with other departments.

Peterborough College

  • Lots to take on board.
  • Moving text to appendix on SAR. Issues and symptoms. Layout of QIP – well paced with lots of activities. I enjoyed it. Need to apply to this year’s documents. Good working with other colleges.

Skills and Education Group

  • ‘Worth its weight in gold’!
  • Lots to change…. the wording of ‘responsibility’ to ‘champion’; linking symptoms to root-cause issues; putting everyone in the college central, either directly or indirectly, to the learner’s success.
  • Looking at the insight to development plans. This will help us to train staff in the understanding of how best to writer their development plan in the future.

Solihull College

  • I now have a much clearer idea about how to address symptoms when writing QIPs.
  • The day was really well scheduled and managed. I cannot think of any improvements.

The Oxford Partnership (Saudi Arabia)

  • Now I can differentiate between issues and symptoms and suggest solutions accordingly.
  • It help me to understand the wobble moments and how to work on the root causes of the symptoms and work on these indicators to write objectives.
  • It helped me climb another milestone for perfecting development plan writing and also I caught a golden fish by getting my hands on your development plan – its so awesome!
  • A new idea is the spark that lights an eternal flame.
  • The development form shared is very useful and practical organizing the information and targets to meet the objectives.
  • Excellent.
  • I would like to change the perspective of only working on weakness but focus on strengths and become champion.
  • Self dissection.
  • I will be better able to explore and assess my development plans in future. And will be able to resolve symptoms and identify their root cause issue.
  • Differentiate between symptom and issues.
  • Sailing exploring new land.
  • Thank you for the rich session.

Wirral Metropolitan College

  • The QIP slate has been wiped clean.
  • Change QIP to a series of Development Plans.
  • Really enjoyable and completely changed my attitude towards quality improvement planning and processes.

York College

  • The little boy has his finger in the hole but he needs to rebuild the dyke!
  • It gave me an insight into your ideas about this topic and it will help me in my task of changing the college. As discussed with Tony, I am learning from him and hope to share/collaborate as part of York’s journey to a new way of doing QI.
  • It was brilliant.

Learning Outcomes for Independent Learning

Click here for an overview of the training.
Click each provider’s name to see a detailed list of impact on staff.

Abingdon & Witney College

  • Lifted the fog.
  • I now am able to use learning outcomes (again) to benefit my learner’s learning!
    More importantly it will make a wider difference across our college as we look to improve how we use learning outcomes and plan for them on our ‘slim’ scheme of work.

Barnsley Adult Skills and Community Learning

  • This has supported me to go back to ‘thinking outside of the box’ with my planning and how I am going to support the learners to achieve what I set out for them to achieve.
  • It is like being new to teaching again, I feel more positive and focused on exciting lessons and challenges as I did feel I was in a rut and wanted to challenge this for my learners and my practice.

Bristol City Council Community Learning

  • Hadn’t thought of ‘attitude’ before. Will try to incorporate this and try new teaching techniques (even if they don’t work well at first!)
  • Changing the ‘chug along’ motor for a gleaming sleek Daimler.

Cogent Skills

  • Very informative, enjoyed the session and was engaged throughout.
  • Use of technology, such as the card sort, which can be used as an assessor tool.

Coleg Cambria

  • When I read the preparation material I thought – oh heck, not another session on learning outcomes, but the session was much more than this.
  • The training has shone a light on the the elements of my practise I need to revisit. A cauldron bubbling with ideas and possibilities.

College of North West London

  • Like restarting to build a house after being inspired.
  • After 20 years of writing LOs this insightful session has really focused my attention on the importance of Brain, Body, Attitude LO writing, which I will share with teacher training students to stretch their thinking and to give them strategies to make a difference.

Confetti Institute of Creative Technologies

  • You know when you know you’re going to a wedding / other gathering where there is going to be a lot of extended family and you just think ‘Christ, this is going to be a painful few hours’ and then you get there and the ones you’re worried about being there aren’t there and you end up having a good time, make some new friends etc. It felt like that.
  • I have a great trepidation at the start of any of these events that it’s going to be buzzword overkill, the shilling of the latest teaching techniques scrawled on a piece of paper as the ‘trainer’ sits on the corner in a dingy bathroom trying to work out how to get out of the mess they’re in and they suddenly design a new lukewarm teaching idea that they can sell. Plus those that attend to show off how smart they are, or how much they hate teaching and want everyone to know about it. This wasn’t that. It was great and I look forward to more.

Crosby Training

  • Being a ‘learner’ and entering into a session which I was quite apprehensive about, this has given me an insight into the values of both ‘engagement’ and ‘open mindedness’ – I like to think that I applied them both…and it paid off!
  • In spite of the initial technology/access issues of a colleague, I think that the tutor coped extremely well with this. I can’t think of any negative terminology that he used – every issue was a ‘challenge’, ‘lesson’, ‘learning curve’ – and I feel that his continued positivity undoubtedly kept me engaged, despite the potential disruption and subsequent negativity that this could easily have caused.

East Coast College

  • I particularly liked the Zoom set up Tony used – especially the whiteboard interaction and break out room facilities which I haven’t used before – I felt like we were in an actual classroom – brilliant!
  • Tony Davis – always gets you thinking and questioning your practice.

JGA Group

  • I am designing a traineeship course, will use the method today to design the learning sequences.
  • Continue with the interactive, it was great to be a part of a collective thinking process, which was visual on the learning outcome builder.

JTL Training

  • In general I find it really difficult to write learning outcomes and today has helped with the colour coding and 3 steps. I also want to add in more ‘body & attitude’ learner outcomes rather than ‘brain’ as teaching English and maths has historically been this – with some ‘body’ thrown in. Using the session today will help me improve learners’ learning skills by improvement of my own outcome writing.
  • Key to unlock potential in learners through creating challenging teaching. On reflection, mine look a bit sterile and generic, being developed from the awarding body’s original statement.

Grimsby Institute

  • I will start with discussion with colleagues around how we encourage the teaching staff to use learning outcomes as a whole session approach and refrain from using lots of unnecessary aims and objectives. There is a place for these but..
  • The journey across the carpet and other metaphors were very helpful and will support the illustration of what I am trying to achieve in coaching others.

Groundwork

  • Changed my way of writing plans. Going to start from the result and work back.
  • I see the value of planning for attitude change rather than just skill outcomes.
  • It felt like I had a half-built wall that just toppled and I constructed it sturdier from scratch. The methods I used until now will be greatly improved by what I learned.

Hull College

  • My learning outcomes have been transformed from arpeggios to cadenzas! I’m definitely using the learning outcome builder strategy – very helpful.
  • It’s frightening how much improvement I could see in my teaching.
  • A fantastic fully immersive session, definitely plenty to think about! Left feeling like the door to the ‘box’ had been opened.

Innovative Alliance

  • The journey maybe long and winding with bumps in the road, but once you realise the bumps were there to slow you down to take in the view then the journey becomes worthwhile.
  • On reflection my thought process on learning outcomes is very similar to that taught today. The challenge for me is taking my belief and getting the team to buy in to the same approach. I am not sure I could teach this to others, yet, but can really see the benefits and the pedagogical experience grow so much for our learners once change is achieved.

Kendal College

  • A delightful boat ride on a river of learning.
  • Jaw dropping.

Lakes College

  • Outstanding experience with excellent takeaway examples to support my professional development and leadership practice. Reimagined!
  • Brilliant! Really enjoyed all aspects and would love more! I will really spend a bit more time on my learning outcomes. In particular how I cultivate more expert learners.

Leicester College

  • Absolutely fab session. Obtaining a clear colour coded structure to write effective outcomes is going to transform my planning and make it so much more efficient, just changing the verb to a skill makes so much more sense creating clearer direction to a key focus of the session.
  • The differentiation of writing outcomes that support resilience, curiosity etc will be a challenge, I can see this having a real positive outcome of my students learning journey.

Lincoln College International

  • It’s been a transformative learning journey, realizing that by crafting the right learning outcomes you can create the expert learners you wish to have in your classroom. A road map for effective teaching.
  • I’ll write my objectives and learning outcomes in a better way. Every 2 sessions, I’ll focus on one trait for expert learner in my learning outcomes. I’ll add body, and attitude learning outcomes to my lesson. Also in some of my lesson plans, I’ll add objectives that will be shown later to develop curiosity.

Mode Training

  • It changed my perception of learners’ behaviours.
  • A rollercoaster of new ideas. Meeting with head of department to discuss strategy to move forward.

Newcastle College

  • Re-evaluate the writing of learning outcomes and look at delivering a session similar to today to a selection of staff – ensuring I take coloured pens
  • Excellent session, informative. Always good to learn new knowledge and collaborate with external colleagues.

Northamptonshire County Council

  • Breathless and mind expanding! I loved Tony’s enthusiasm thoroughly grounded in the topic.
  • Will aim to include an ‘excellent learner skill’ outcome in as many sessions as possible.
  • The Brain, Mind and Body approach profoundly challenges the approach to standard induction sessions where tick boxes and Service standards for Safety, Group interaction etc have to be covered as well.

Nottingham College

  • It’s has shown me how I can break down a topic to allow my students to understand something better.
  • Learning new ideas is like turning on a light bulb!

Quest Training

  • This was a fantastic session, really useful.
  • I am booking on further courses to help open my eyes with stopping “stuff” and looking at “difference” as would really like to embed this in our company structure.

Sefton

  • Climbing a tree – started off struggling to reach the branches of technology, but soon found myself able to move around from branch to branch.
  • Encouraging learners to take charge of their own learning, using evaluative language and at the end of sessions as well as recapping give learners the opportunity to critically reflect on the session outcomes, to name but a few

Skills & Education Group delegates

  • I have attended many courses and masterclasses. This was outstanding, the model for planning outcomes and the language used (What’s on the table?) have helped me to understand how to write and simplify learning outcomes. This will have a really positive impact on my students. But more importantly for me, as a teacher I can visualise that planning for my sessions will be much more efficient.
  • Writing learning outcomes can be as easy 1 (label), 2 (skill), 3, (What’s on the table)

Shipley College

  • Honestly, I thought at the beginning “how can we discuss LOs for 3.5 hours” – I have to say it went in a flash – and my brain hurt. I really had to think and work hard.
  • A charcuterie board of delicious delights. I liked the meerkat metaphor for curiosity. I liken myself to a squirrel now with bright eyes and ears pricked as I try to fill my cheeks with all the ideas.

Sparsholt College

  • I am now going to put this into my practice, ensuring every outcome has a skill, outcome and label.
  • Like a kid in a candy shop – thank you for the useful tips and lots of ideas to teach independent learning!

Southport College

  • A flagging bird given wings.
  • Inspiring session with a true reflection of the FE learning journey. Lead to Gold.
  • MOT. This has helped me sharpen my focus – I liked the stuff and difference concept and I know I’ll be considering ‘on the table’ ideas more clearly.

St Helens Adult & Community Learning

  • Driving the same route to work every day and suddenly discovering there are lots of others I could have been taking.
  • I recognise now that LOs can be longer and also a way to inform my pedagogy – I do not need to share the sane LOs with learners. Show understanding of … by … will help me to write more effective LOs – hopefully!

St Helens College

  • Adding the gravy to my pedagogical pudding and chips.
  • Dismantling the car and re-building it better.
  • My initial confidence in objective writing was exposed as being only partially formed. As a result of this session I will strive to move both learners and myself out of our comfort zones of cognitive skills development towards attitude and behaviour development too. If I really want to build learners’ independent skills then I need to consider the whole person and not just the exam focused skills.

Sysco

  • The session was excellent, Tony is very knowledgeable and really made us think about improving our use of technology and planning for teaching sessions further.
  • I got more from this session than expected, Expert learning traits activity awoke my mind so will do this with students.

The Oxford Partnership (Saudi Arabia)

  • This different perspective will make a huge difference not only in the quality of my lesson plans, but I now fully understand the range of writing quality outcomes.
  • I always struggled with developing Learning outcomes for independent learning in skills sessions. Today’s session helped me realise where I went wrong. Thank you very much Tony.

TPM

  • This session has definitely made me think about the wording of my outcomes and can’t wait to amend my existing lesson plans.
  • I am now more aware of the language I can use to motivate learners and how sessions can be improved.

Warrington & Vale Royal College

  • Relook at effective lesson objectives – think aspirational and at wider Expert Learning Skills.
  • Consider the emotional learner journey revisiting the learner outcomes as a college. Learning objectives for attitudes.

WEA

  • The session challenged me beyond my comfort zone but in a way that was good for me, enabling me to consider a much wider range of teaching and learning options than what I had become used to. Tony skilfully ensured that everyone was involved without making them feel put on the spot. I now want to try out more engaging methods to support learning such as the use of wikis and also learn how to be more creative when presenting information in the style demonstrated today. I am not scared of technology but do feel as if it has overtaken me recently and I need to catch up!

Wirral Metropolitan College

  • Enlightened and ready to delve further. Very interesting particularly around behaviours which is something we have tried to focus on a lot during induction this year, and hope to continue to develop.
  • Thank you so much for yet again a very interesting and inspirational session. The comments about developing an independent learner, with transferable skills particularly resonated with me as some of our Uniformed services students are unable to enter into the military service of their choice due to certain factors but are leaving as well rounded and good citizens. Not quite independent learners but we are getting there.

York College

  • I’ve walked into a whole new way of thinking and creating lessons!
  • I feel much clearer on how I will create lessons that are suitable and appropriate for the levels of learners I teach. I am going to work on creating learning outcomes that include the attitudes and the ‘expert learner traits’ as they are often what my learners lack.

Perfecting Progress Reviews

Click here for an overview of the training.
Click each provider’s name to see a detailed list of impact on staff.

Adult Education Wolverhampton

  • Eye opening.
  • Give our students the wings to fly themselves.
  • Refreshing and inspirational.
  • Use the … to encourage student contributions. Get the student to summarise the talk. Develop expert independent learning skills.
  • This session has encouraged me to use prompts instead of leading questions to create independence in my learners and encourage self-reflection.

Askham Bryan College

  • Make changes!!
  • Allow the student to make their own progress report with my support. Follow up on this – roleplay. Fantastic!!
  • Great delivery that looks critically at expected inspection ideologies.
  • Opened the curtains.
  • I really enjoyed it! Not confrontational but got everyone involved.

Barnet and Southgate College

  • Today was like walking along a sandy beach and finding interesting shells to take home and finish covering my gift box for my personal tutors and students.
  • It’s provided me with a springboard to set standards for our progress reviews, instead of looking at just the process. I tend to focus too much on the process. Also I felt the way you designed and delivered your session was very developmental and I will take you techniques on board.

Cheshire College South & West

  • I learnt a lot about the review process and began to question if our review sheets need to change.
  • Enjoyed the session, very interactive.
  • A jar of marbles sums up the session for me. At the start of the day my jar was empty and at the end it was full.
  • The icing on the cake! (In a positive manner!)
  • I liked the interactive parts of the course as it means you are not just sitting there for three hours. For once, I didn’t lose track or feel bored. I really enjoyed it and got a lot out of it. I often find that training sessions never give practical tips, just reading out knowledge of what they want us to do. It really helps when proper examples are included that are totally relevant to what we are doing on a daily basis. If I can’t relate to the training then I find it hard to get involved.

Chesterfield College

  • Pleasantly tired from all the ideas and enthusiastic about the future!!
  • Music to the soul.
  • Use of curious questions to draw out learner with no agenda.
  • Loved the use of the video for this session.
  • Help staff develop ‘language’ of mastering curious questions…
  • Crossing a river.

City College Peterborough

  • Metamorphosis of a chrysalis to a butterfly. Transformative!
  • Scrapping what Ofsted are looking for and it being a tick-box exercise for them, and creating a standard that is learner specific. Looking at the Organisation’s aspiration for achieving ‘outstanding’ by collating emotional and academic evidence. Changing terminology to actually mean something to the learner and demonstrating ‘rich pedagogy’.

City College Plymouth

  • Achieving creativity.
  • Thinking about who should be present during a review. Rather than go by a checklist, develop a high quality example for staff.

East Coast College

  • Inspired to complete more meaningful progress reviews.
  • Thought provoking. Not used the GROW model before so interesting to see this.
  • Like a soap opera, looking forward to the next episode.
  • I think the structure of our reviews needs to change to allow us to focus on the important things rather than ticking boxes for Ofsted/funding.
  • It was like having a window opened up on what I do. Very revealing and a breath of fresh air!
  • The lightbulb moment.
  • Thanks Tony – A really useful session – I particularly enjoyed the way you broke down the video clip into a range of different activities and will be stealing this for future sessions if I can get my head around the Zoom breakout room and whiteboard!

East Kent College

  • Student led reviews are the way forward. The person that talks the most gets the most from the experience!
  • We will be looking at developing our paperwork to try and focus not so much on the stuff but rather on the difference.
  • Very engaging. Tony is an expert at what he does and clearly explains things so everyone understands. Nice to have training relevant to exactly what is happening in the sector.

Geason

  • My journey opened up new horizons.
  • Creating a quality standard that would encourage independent learning management.
  • Tony gave space for and encouraged contributions throughout the session. He valued opinions and views made by the group.

HETA

  • This identified that progress reviews will be a cultural change and not a procedural change.
  • A great session. Very informative
  • Get the learner engaged more
  • Let the learner lead in a review
  • Well presented and interesting. An excellently delivered subject.

Hopwood Hall College

  • Today was the start of a journey to empower my learners to take ownership and identify their own strengths and areas for development.
  • Be more specific but subtle and encourage learners to take ownership of their own reviews and progress, to take the initiative.
  • Insightful. I will consider the questions I use during tutorials and plan them better before they take place.
  • Reassured me that we can make a difference.
  • Less focus on ticking boxes and allowing for a more natural conversation to flow.
  • Engaging, interesting informative. Excellent presenter.
  • I really enjoyed taking part in the Jamboards and Breakout Rooms.

JTL Training

  • I think for me it would be the lightbulb moment of understanding that the main focus and goal of my job is making the difference to a learners life and not just their apprenticeship experience.
  • Time well spent. Clear, engaging and thought provoking.
  • It taught me about how to be more present in the moment, worrying less about statistics and more about knowing you are making an impact on the learner and as long as progress is made and they gain fulfilment, that is enough!
  • Pace was excellent.
  • Thank you Tony for your time and making us feel welcome and valued.
  • It was really engaging, the right mix of theory, discussion and group tasks (including the Jamboard) kept my interest for the entire session. Thank you!

MTC Training

  • New assessment strategies to make the learners actually learn and be self-critical and evaluative.
  • A new perspective: making the learners independent which is the actual meaning of learning and gaining knowledge.
  • Climbing to the ‘top-deck’ of the assessment ship.
  • I will definitely build in more informative assessment activities as a basis for my lessons rather than shoe-horning in.
  • Really enjoyed this session – a good reminder to step back and keep it simple.
  • Building for a more varied world.

Myerscough College

  • Perfecting progress reviews. ‘It’s coming home’.
  • Like floating across a ‘Red Carpet’ and enjoying the journey.
  • Music to my ears.
  • I will approach reviews with a new method and look more towards tackling the barriers that students face.
  • It has helped me to look at different ways to improve my progress reviews. I will now work towards making the students take ownership of their review and help them to look at targets on our college system.
  • How to softly approach topics, what to do/not to do.

North West Training Council

  • It made me feel enlightened.
  • Think it’s great! Thanks Tony.
  • Steak and Chips (Tasty)
  • Approach my progress reviews with less of an emphasis on a tick box exercise and more focus on handing the review to the teacher.
  • Excellent.

Northern Trains Ltd

  • I don’t currently do progress reviews but the development of quality standards that focus on the best outcome and can be used to reflect on performance are really useful and inspiring for my other programmes.
  • Great discussion around agreeing what good progress reviews look like.
  • Refreshed my knowledge and understanding how reviews can be conducted.
  • Discuss with my colleagues how we can improve our progress reviews. I will personally think about my questioning techniques in my reviews.
  • Inspirational.

Nottingham College

  • Transformational.
  • Mindset changing and a different idea of reviews. I would like to be more open-ended in my progress reviews.
  • Uplifting and informative.
  • It tore up some of the old myths around what used to be a good progress review.
  • Refreshing to see a different approach which works for learner rather than tick box for quality!

NPTC Consortium of Work-based Providers

  • I love listening to Tony- he is a fountain of knowledge and the sessions are so informative. Thank you for all of the hard work you have put into this. It has been invaluable to me in my role, especially being new and not from an assessor background.
  • No words- best session to date. Defiantly do my reviews separate with the learner and the employer to draw more out of the learner.
  • It’s my mission to improve the way in which I approach the review process.
  • I’ll need to make more use of open-ended statements and questioning, to enable the feedback to come from the learner and less from myself.
  • Frustrated – with myself. I do everything that I should do with my learners the majority of the time, but I do not record all of it, as it is time-consuming, and therefore I do not use the reviews on smart assessor correctly. From now on, I will make a conscious effort to include more of our discussion on the forms to evidence this.
  • Inspired and positive. Will allocate more time to my reviews to ensure I’m spending enough time with student.
  • Thank you for the last 4 sessions. Great delivery style and lots to think about.

NPTC Group of Colleges

  • EXCELLENT course which kept us engaged fully!!!
  • A deep dive into the field of progress reviews, splashing out my previous thoughts and feelings, allowing brand new ideas to flow forth!
  • Incredibly informative and interesting training with the right balance of activities and engagement with speaker – the best CPD event I have attended !!
  • Stage one: slow sheep, Stage two: curious cat, Stage three: enthusiastic border collie.
  • I will be using the GROW model to carry out future reviews and make sure that they are more learner lead.
  • Attitude: invested in the process. Action: plan to elicit difference and not focus on process.
  • I have really enjoyed all of the sessions I have attended, and will be recommending them to my colleagues.

Quest Training

  • Information and examples can clear the murky waters.
  • This session has totally made me re think the systems and process we have in place in my setting and how we can change our focus moving forward.
  • It certainly helped me to re think our review process, we will now develop our own standards with our team and change the paperwork we have in place.
  • It was a great session and it’s always lovely when you hear other peoples’ ideas and how they use the reviews etc.
  • I will certainly be attending more of your sessions. It’s lovely to have someone who is enthusiastic about what you teach.

Reaseheath College

  • A sea of inspiration.
  • I wished it could have been longer. It is one of the best uses of zoom and presenting I have seen and it kept me engaged in the topic.
  • Excellent, very practical.

RNN College Group

  • Motivated to make change.
  • I am keen to explore how some of the ideas today can be moulded to use around the current structure I have to abide by. There were lots of helpful tips to make the process more meaningful and to support a move away from ‘stuff’.
  • I think the session was really well structured. I think I have a range of new tools in my toolkit, I just need time and scope to try a few out.

Solihull college

  • I love your style, you are different and engaging.
  • I am bubbling with excitement for my reviews.
  • Reviews are the most powerful tool we have to empower a leaner and raise the standard.
  • Several points that should be obvious, but are often difficult to put into practice, so useful to reflect.
  • Playtime in an art room.
  • As a new assessor I have been focussed on the tick boxes but I have good communication and motivational skills so I need to chill out and use them effectively.
  • The approach to the training session was refreshing and engaging. Would love the college to do a day on the Assessment and the Art of Lazy Teaching for our next staff development.

Suffolk New College

  • My next progress review can’t come quick enough.
  • Deliver group progress review sessions to build on learners’ communication skills, reflective skills and team building. To also ensure I am ‘passing the talking stick’ more often.
  • I thoroughly enjoyed the session and took a lot from it.
  • Thank you for such an inspiring afternoon, I think I took 6 pages of notes with some fantastic one liners..

Stretford Grammar School

  • Absolutely fantastic. I actually feel quite energised.
  • Approach to progress reviews will be different.
  • Great event – worthwhile on every level.

Sysco

  • Really beneficial session, I am new to the education world so it was really useful.
  • Readying revolutionary, rigorous, robust reviews are recommended and a revelation.
  • Change my approach to progress meetings.
  • Provided me with a clear focus on how to enhance our current review process focussing on the impact on the individual.
  • Really great session, engaging really enjoyed the observation section this gave me a chance to practice my listening skills.

The Oxford Partnership (Saudi Arabia)

  • Your art work is a master piece only you can sometimes see. Perfecting progress reviews is what you and your team (students) want your masterpiece to look like, and the difference you want to make to help them become that artist.
  • It was an inspirational lesson as always, focusing on letting the learner have autonomy of her learning, in a very conscious way.
  • The slides were brilliant.
  • Fantastic. I will do this more frequently to improve my students performance and making them more independent.
  • The video analysis and discussion was so helpful realizing how it need to be done.
  • Enlightening.
  • I am feeling UP.

TPM

  • Like climbing a mountain, reaching the top you get a great sense of achievement.
  • Need to meet with other leads to discuss changes that will better reflect learner aspirations, progress, development etc.. Thank you for a great session.
  • An enjoyable experience. How to encourage learners to take ownership of the progress.
  • I enjoyed the use of the interactive resources.
  • An exciting session, very interactive.
  • It was good to compare our work/ideas with other providers’ ideas.
  • Excellently thought provoking – Excited for the difference it will make.
  • Particularly like the barrier identification. Really inspiring session, thank you.

Trafford College

  • Really informative session.

Wirral Metropolitan College

  • Really informative session and has given me lots of food for thought. I will view my performance reviews now in a new light and thought it was a excellent session – got to be the best online teaching session I’ve ever witnessed! Thank you
  • Enjoyed the session! Lots to take in!
  • An excellent and thought provoking session. Useful active listening skills and notion of putting the learner at the heart of the review. Not just a process but actually making a difference. looking forward to discovering further with my team.
  • Thanks for the clear guidelines in focusing on what is important when carrying out the progress review and what yardstick to measure.
  • Atomic view of a high performance engine.
  • I am new to progress reviews and am due to complete my first reviews on Friday. This will enable me to plan and prepare and make these student centred. I will check out the resources on your website.
  • Another superb session, enlightening & thought provoking.

The Art of using Target Setting

Click here for an overview of the training.
Click each provider’s name to see a detailed list of impact on staff.

Adult Education Wolverhampton

  • I need to change the way I have been setting targets.
  • Inspirational.
  • Feel my knowledge have been expanded.
  • Planning learning experiences not lesson planning.

Blackpool Adult Learning Service

  • Watching a favourite film which has never been remastered in colour. I can now see the screens properly.
  • A clearing through the brambles.
  • Using activities to generate targets. Thinking of a particular course, I propose to use part of the session at the start to generate aspirational targets.
  • Really helpful. Helped us to clarify target setting.
  • [I need to] Think about how to make targets more challenging – to make learners take more control of their targets.

Bolton College

  • It was like finding a beautifully grained piece of timber.
  • I will need to look more into splitting things up and thinking more from the learners point of view.

Chesterfield College

  • Bacteria to amoeba to fish to lizard to dinosaur to bird.
  • Very interested in the Emotional Learning Journey, evaluative vocabulary; will definitely look at/think about this more.
  • Loved it thank you ? You really challenge my thinking.
  • An awakening and realisation. Rollercoaster ?
  • Empowering/using the project management tool, using the ‘colour’ code method. Enjoyed the session!

City College Peterborough

  • Previously missing the target but now hitting bulls eye.
  • Writing targets which the learner understands and being appropriate to the individual; being able to coach learners with their aspirations; completing initial diagnostics over a period of weeks rather than at the very beginning which might result in poor data.
  • The main thing I will take away is when you mentioned about not stealing provenance by leading learners to do what the tutor wants them to do just because they’re passionate about their own subject.

Coleg Cambria

  • Blinkers – removed.
  • Re-ignition.
  • Tunnel – Light!
  • Thought provoking ideas on how the learner is taking charge of their learning.
  • [I need] More emphasis on aspirations.
  • Innovation, and looking from the students’ view/experience.

Derby Adult Learning

  • This session challenged existing thinking and helped reshape a new and more effective way of thinking that is more inclusive and makes a difference.
  • Introduce a more ‘project management’ method of target setting, to help learners develop key study skills and focus/drive motivation.
  • Many thanks for another excellent and insightful session. You are motivational and able to help provide ‘meerkat moments’ to us as ‘learners’ in your sessions in an active and engaging way. You provide an environment in which I feel comfortable to contribute and receive constructive feedback to contributions, to help challenge pre-conceived ideas and pedagogy for the better.

Derby College

  • Motivating, exciting and engaged.
  • Consider target setting for student value, work in collaboration with the student to devise, personal, motivating targets that align with aspiration and progress.
  • It was brilliant, a great balance of input and interaction.
  • I want to explore Blendspace. A thoroughly enjoyed session, Many thanks.

East Coast College

  • It helped me find the kernel of target setting via links to destinations and differentiation.
  • Thank you this was a great session very inspiring.
  • Although the dog wags the tail, at times the dog should follow it’s nose to where the tail is happier.
  • Insightful.
    Thinking about targets/destinations/future changed selves/project management as a normal way of working from the start. A lot of key phrases that will help e.g. linking curiosity to homework.
  • It has helped me better understand the use of language and trigger words/phrases I will now refrain from or increase use of.
  • I am going to use the project management as a tool with my tutorials. We will use this to help commence the individual tutorials so they remain person-centred being conscious not to make it purely academic but holistic.
  • This can be embedded into everyday classes without the need to create separate targets that are restrictive.

HETA

  • Progression in the law of the mind. Aspirations become a staff of power to mount dreams on.
  • The sun came through the clouds
  • Enjoyable subject which was not expected.
  • I would focus on aspirational target setting.
  • Enjoyed the session. Clearly some of it new to me in the way of concepts but it gave me some fresh ways of looking at my in-work coaching role for learners.

Hopwood Hall College

  • Broke the stereotype of SMART targets
  • It made me seriously consider how I set targets and has massively encouraged me to hand the mantle over to the learner so they become more enthusiastic about targets. I also loved the idea of target setting to solve an issue rather than concentrating on the symptom.
  • The journey to the centre of the Earth.
  • Encompassing.
  • It has been a really great experience and has given me a lot of new knowledge to bring into my role in September.

Hull College

  • The cogs have started to turn!
  • Thank you I intend to use ‘project management’ instead of SMART and will start to input this into my Schemes of Work.

Inspire College

  • Extremely important and engaging.
  • Great target setting will allow for the person to bloom into a beautiful flower.
  • Like opening a small door from a dark room into a space flooded with a rainbow.
  • The session was inspirational. I will be using the resources to further understand how to use this in my context.
  • Amazing training session, Thank you. I feel energised and inspired.

JTL Training

  • Like opening an old book and realising you never really understood what it meant.
  • A bullseye shot into target setting.
  • Music to my ears.
  • Today’s session was inspirational, using ‘real’ examples, good practice and a detailed knowledge of the education landscape.

Lincoln College International

  • Good to be reminded that we should differentiate the support and teaching strategies and not the expectations.
  • What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as who you become when you achieve them – love this. Qualitative over quantitative.
  • This session helped me looking into target setting differently. I am excited to go back to work while using this method.

Liverpool Adult Learning Service

  • It’s soooooo interesting, enjoyable and engaging. Loved it.
  • Learning to dance – aspiring to do it backwards and in high heels.
  • How to scaffold the learners when they set their own targets. The vital importance of aspirations!
  • The exercise for learners’ target setting makes it more interactive and an enjoyable task rather than a chore.
  • The session has broadened my outlook to making my classes more efficient leading to better work.
  • A perfect balance between the stuff you do and the difference you make.
  • I have had a ‘Eureka’ moment! Forget the straight-jacket of normal target setting and view the course as ‘Project Management’!

Northern Trains Ltd

  • Great refresh on communication skills from coaching session.
  • Will start to embed aspirations more within reviews.
  • The sun kept shining all day. I enjoyed the day and felt engaged and interested throughout.
  • Excellent. Enjoyed the session.

Nottingham College

  • The session has been music to my ears! I cannot wait to feedback to the departments I work with, as I know they will really be able to grasp these concepts and break away from the stagnant boxes!
  • The delivery was clear and the host used excellent tools in order for the concepts of mastery, expert, and ambitious goals to become “alive”.
  • I have taken away some useful information that will help support my teams in the development of their learners’ journey to become reflective, self-aware, and independent! Thank you!

NPTC Consortium of Work-based Providers

  • Today was like filling in the gaps of a puzzle. I have all the edge pieces put together but today helped me complete the middle.
  • I feel like the passion for helping others learn has been re-awoken in me. I always set targets with the learner not for the learner but will definitely put more of today’s learning into the target setting process.
  • Go back to the drawing board. Go back to basics, my metaphor really means go back to the beginning of my own learning journey of becoming an assessor and use the skills I learned and have maybe been forgotten as we get too tied up in meeting contractual obligations rather than listening to our learners.
  • Excellent Session as always, perfect to getting us all to think of how important the targets are to each learners aspirations, real eye opener and good to reintroduce learner led targets, thank you.

NPTC Group of Colleges

  • Looking in a mirror and realising how ridiculous you look.
  • I have always felt that Target setting has baffled me and therefore been unable to support my learners in a way they’ve needed. I now feel I can grasp the target setting and pass it on to the learners for them to develop the skills.
  • As a result of this session, I appreciate so much more the art of target setting. I always knew it took time and expertise, but I’ll change my approach to make sure those aspirations are made clear up front.

Reaseheath College

  • I genuinely believe this is the best session I have ever done on targets.
  • A game-changing mindset.
  • It helped me understand that there are ways of differentiating to get the same outcome. I will be doing more research in to how to change the tutorial set up and incorporate the target setting in to this process rather than it being a separate discussion. No longer call the targets SMART targets and work with Quality and Learning to change the wording on Promonior.
  • I have really enjoyed this session. It is the most informative and engaging CPD I have done for a long time. Thank you Tony.

RNN College Group

  • Inspirational, thought-provoking.
  • I will share with colleagues in the hope to move away from the restrictions of SMART as an organisation, in the interim, as organisational change does not happen quickly, I plan to use the information gained from today in my own teaching sessions, linking to reflection and personal development which are key processes for my students to embrace.
  • I think I will have a go at some changes, do some deeper reading, and revisit the training again in the future to refresh.

Sefton Community Learning Service

  • I no longer teach as I have moved into management many years ago. I want to teach again after today’s session.
  • Worth every minute. Inspirational.
  • The matching game makes you really think, which is good.
  • Absolutely great lesson, provided clarity and very concise ides.
  • He is a brainbox.

Steris

  • I read previous feedback from other providers – Sunshine through rain clouds. A light switched on. Cannot say more than that.
  • I think as part of our quality review look at how we set targets, do we currently set targets? Probably not. After today though there are so many ideas in which we can get our learners engaged and for them to take control of their own aspirations.
  • Unexpected. I was expecting to learn about how to set SMART targets well and the benefits of this, however it was totally the opposite about SMART. It was a very good session. Lots of opportunity for interaction and good use of various technology methods.

St Helens Adult & Community Learning

  • Playing a game of Rugby and suddenly being told that you can pass the ball in any direction.
  • What we think we are asking isn’t always what people hear us ask. Today has once again helped me hold up a mirror and encouraged me to resist the urge to ‘feedback’, however nicely it is couched.
  • Really enjoyed it the session as always. Have never walked away empty handed (or headed?).

St Helens & Knowsley College

  • Inspirational methods alternative thinking.
  • Engaging tasks, informative content, and great links to the art of teaching.
  • Thank you for opening the path to good practice, we just need to walk down it now.
  • Like pressing the reset button on the principles of target setting.
  • I will work with senior managers to review and re-write our traget setting strategy.
  • We need to move away from ticking procedural boxes to igniting purpose and ambition by empowering learners to be their own project managers.

Sysco

  • Learning is like building a house (one step at a time when setting targets).
  • Excellent session and very comfortable environment set by Tony.
  • More emphasis on learners setting targets.
  • Supporting students to discuss, define and formulate their own targets (mini project managers). Direct and meaningful involvement should lead to greater ownership and hopefully progress.
  • Reinforcing the importance of motivating students and giving them realistic steps to achieve their goals.

The Oxford Partnership (Saudi Arabia)

  • It was an amazing session!!
  • It has given me a more clear picture for target setting and I would plan this in the Individual Learning Plans of my trainees where they will be filling in details and setting targets for themselves which would be then reviewed regularly to see where they have reached. Definitely, not all will be on the same page, so, I would have one-on-one sessions to help them to get back on track again.
  • It was perfect, especially the target setting skill builder which I’m going to use with my trainees in the future. I would like to have some training sessions on online teaching or how to make it more interactive and engaging.

University College Isle of Man

  • It opened doors to a whole new learning experience for me.
  • From the interactive way the session was structured, to the delivery, case studies and most importantly the topic, I am walking away with new questions, notes and actions.
  • I will be looking into implementing the learning outcome in my own teaching as well as working with lecturers and colleagues at the college. Thank you for a highly interactive session.

Warrington & Vale Royal College

  • One size doesn’t fit all Stop reinventing the wheel.
  • There is light at the end of the tunnel – clearer focus on the learner journey.
  • An explorer navigating unknown lands, but familiar territory.
  • Really rewarding to see what we do is on the right tracks.

Weston College

  • My learning journey today was like the sun starting to shine on a cloudy day.
  • Review induction period and how we support learners in their target writing, really focusing on the Project Management. Review staff development and target writing focus – taking away SMART but bringing in aspiration and progression.
  • Really got me thinking, thank you. Really enjoyed the Wiki resource and Desmos too. I will take those away to share with colleagues. I am now going to watch/read the other resources shared. Also a very professional, smooth and informative training afternoon thank you.

Wirral Council Lifelong Learning Service

  • Eye opening. Refocusing – on what matters and what we’re actually here for.
  • I’m working with one tutor to implement the design cycle – which came out of discussions we were having re aims of curriculum. This training has given me the confidence and impetus to develop and push this approach through to a much broader set of tutors and curriculum areas.

Yew Chung Education Foundation

  • Like cracking a code.
  • It has made me more aware of why students find target setting so difficult and how I can further help teachers to support the target setting/achievement process. It has also given me some ideas on how to approach target setting for our teachers, particularly those unqualified.

Supported independent study

Click here for an overview of the training.
Click each provider’s name to see a detailed list of impact on staff.

Hopwood Hall College

  • Realised we need to own the problem in order to solve it.
  • Excited for the new academic year; new possibilities and tools to add to my repertoire!
  • Thinking about the root and cause of issues, language use: conversations with learners rather than challenges.
  • Session was useful and relevant to what we do. Handout with pedagogy activities on will be useful to reflect on.
  • Looking forward to changes that will come about as a result of this session.
  • Eye-opening.
  • I would like to create a more welcoming environment for learners.
  • The trainer had extensive knowledge in the subject, and provided very useful information.
  • The curtains being opened with new possibilities of a fresh day.
  • [I need to] Speak more directly to the learners on a one-to-one basis.
  • Incredibly useful.
  • Thinking about ways to present toe iLearn sessions differently and convey the importance of them.
  • Superb!
  • [I need to] Look at how our mindset impacts on learning; change our approach.
  • Thank you once again for a thought-provoking session that has given us much needed input and ideas.
  • The session helped us to identify our own departmental issues and as a result we’ll now look into making changes to our attitude to learners and their behaviour as to not seem as antagonistic.
  • Session was fantastic. A great session that has enabled us to identify where we need to be and sown the seeds of how we get there.
  • I really enjoyed it and I am excited to see what will become of this session.
  • [I need to] Create a better/different induction to achieve the iLearn sessions being valued and helping learners wanting to be there to complete work.
  • This session has helped very much and what I would do differently would be to find the root cause and to work from there.
  • You can take a horse to water, but you can’t make them drink it. [I need to] Think more about my actions upon learners and how they feel in our centres. Thinking about wider staff understanding of iLearn or blended learning.

Learner-Centred Assessment, Feedback and Questioning

Click here for an overview of the training.
Click each provider’s name to see a detailed list of impact on staff.

Blackpool Adult Learning Service

  • My knowledge bucket is officially overflowing with goodies :).
  • Loads of great practical ideas to try out in the classroom. Many thanks, terrific training.
  • Differentiated support, not targets.
  • More inspiration to be creative with.
  • Like a new chapter of a book.
  • [I need to] Introduce learner critical reflection/evaluation.
  • I picked up some tips on questioning and assessment that was really helpful.
  • New ideas and techniques for formative assessment.
  • Thank you. Enjoyed it and found the day valuable.
  • [I will] Definitely use the critical thinking ideas; critique work then pass back to original source; pairing, sharing questioning/coaching.