Feedback from providers

MidKent College

Implementing Live Self Assessment (Quality Standard development)

• A refreshing view of how to achieve my dream 😉
• Out of the firefighting, into the helicopter view (then back to the fire).
• A melting pot of knowledge.
• The journey is the reward.
• I think it will generate an improvement plan which will focus on impact for both staff and students.
• It has helped me put pen to paper and articulate my Standards.
• It will clearly define where the college wants to be, and supports being able to see the steps that need to be taken to get there.
• “Capacity to improve!”
• Have felt I’ve been swimming against the tide in terms of evaluating impact on learners. Great to all be going in same direction.
• Good to have a standard and objective approach to self assessment, and to use the process as a planning rather than reflective tool.
• Putting the learners and not the process at the core of what we do, and helping us to aspire to great things.
• Over time, this will change our direction and will drive use to aim for our gold standards.

Lakes College

Perfect Induction Practice

• An oasis in the desert of FE 🙂
• Helped me to understand what we want from the induction process and how to use the Formula for Happiness to do this.
• (I need to) redesign the induction process using a ‘zone experience’.
• Please come back – we need more of these sessions.
• Big ideas to put into action!
• (I need to) completely rethink induction – big inter-department project between construction and engineering??
• Think big and get them enthusiastic from the first moment.
• Thought-provoking session. Hopefully it will be adapted to the whole college.
• Poking the bees nest.
• Back to the year 2000 when I felt free to experiment.
• Stimulating. Inspiring.
• Make more structured use of independent learning time, rather than just ‘assignment time’.
• Be daring, and focus on the learner.
• As a very passionate leader of my subject, I have found I can often ‘take control of the mouse’ – this must stop.
• It was like sitting up a fell, looking out to sea, having drunk two cans of dry blackthorn cider.
• Whirlwind of ideas.

Lancashire Adult Learning

21^st Century Pedagogy

• Make it longer (4 hours)
• Make lessons more impact focused rather than process based.
• I feel the session has enabled me to understand the importance of lesson strategy and how objectives should focus on ‘mind outcomes’ – therefore enabling learning to continue through curiosity – fuelling conversation for further lessons.
• I’ll try to be braver writing more independent learner outcomes, trying to include more targets focusing on the mind.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Personally, it contributes to using a richer, more precise and accurate language for my own feedback to learners or with colleagues.
• Refreshingly stimulating.
• A cacophony of rainbow adverbages that will initiate a colourful journey of language exploration throughout my teaching.

Tricked out Tutorials

• [I need to] ask different questions – change my language.
• Brilliant start and excellent examples.
• Paperwork needs to be fit for purpose to allow for success.
• Skipping from one shore to another across a fast river. (Limp, pause, think, be brave, jump, pause…)
• [I need to] implement tutorials for learners and develop and capture learners’ reflections about their learning.
• Walked into a wood, not knowing what to expect and came out with a bunch of ideas to implement.
• Excellent, thought provoking session.
• Challenging and outstanding.
• [I need to] think about how to take a different approach to questioning – more open questions that allow the learner to see the bigger picture.

Blackburn with Darwin Adult Learning

21^st Century Pedagogy

• Mind is a whirlpool of fresh thoughts and ideas which need time to impact!
• An escalator experience. Really enjoyed it and found it developmental.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Stoking the furnace.
• Mindboggling – was a challenge at first, but through scaffolding I understood concepts.
• A stepping stone path leading into a new forest of discovery.
• I found this session insightful as it gave me the tools to help enable my learners to carefully evaluate their work and that of others.
• Intuitive.
• Fantastic lecturer with a great sense of knowledge and understanding. His approach was very professional.

Tricked out Tutorials

• I like the idea of helping learners to fly.
• I found the video clip most useful.
• More clarity with learners on what change they want to see by the end of the course/session.
• Take time to discuss progress on all courses.
• I will alter objectives to show the journey across the carpet.
• Work out strategies/practices to achieve what I want to achieve by encouraging the learner to talk.
• Make learners more curious.
• Using open questions in reviews and letting learners identify what they need to do in their learning.

Blackpool Adult Community Learning

21^st Century Pedagogy

• This was absolutely fascinating!!
• It was so helpful to be given guidance and advice about how to begin to develop a more effective practice when thinking about, planning and producing learning outcomes.
• It’s encouraged me to think how I can develop my use of verbs in relation to Bloom’s taxonomy.

Supercharged evaluation skills

• Scaffolding! Waterfall of information to be flowed throughout organisation.
• Today has felt like a flight to a new country. I have seen local details change to broader ideas, overseen and unfamiliar, but arriving at a new destination.
• I intend to integrate the strategy of a colour formula with future NEET groups.
• Really enjoyable, but feel a lot more exhausted than after most training sessions.
• An explosion of ideas that have decorated the walls of my brain with colour and innovation :).
• Enlightening. I’m looking forward to seeing a change in the classroom.
• Like a lightbulb, which gradually burns brighter and brighter.
• A sponge – soaking up the information and letting it seep into my teaching.
• This has proved a very valuable session.
• Thank you – very challenging!!

Tricked out tutorials

• I’m nearer the end of the carpet walk!
• Helped think about data preparation and encouraging curiosity/creating interventions.
• The difference between being locked on a rigid train track with a single destination and a scenic, pleasurable journey where the details on the way are just as important.
• I will aim to redress the balance between myself and the learner so they discover and define their own goals.
• A productive, realistic and well-focused session.
• The long and winding road, that leads to your door – of learning. Thanks!
• Give more opportunity for the learners to ‘dominate’ the discussion and to identify and problem solve any issues for themselves.
• Really enjoyed the learning experience.

Wirral Metropolitan College

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• I have just walked the red carpet.
• I feel that the ideas presented provided me with a solid set of adaptable approaches and materials that I can use in the future.
• I will start my teaching with sentence structure in September.
• Need more than 2 hours… I would attend at least a day on this – all great ideas.
• Inspired new ideas.
• Like a breath of fresh air.
• Going away feeling enthused and motivated.
• Challenging, interesting, thought provoking.
• Opening a curtain and letting the sunlight in.
• An excellent example of how to scaffold to improve higher-order thinking skills.
• Boss!
• Flying carpets have lift off!
• Fantastic, relevant.
• Inspirational. I will adapt for induction.
• Deep.
• Excellent, interesting and informative.
• An eye opener!
• The world is our oyster!
• An express train pausing every now and then at a signal.
• Thank you. This has changed a lot for me and given me a great idea for the future!
• Awesome.
• I used the English language well, I thought, before this session. I now feel like an astrologist who has just found a new cluster of planets.
• A walk to infinity – the lid has been lifted.
• Expanded my knowledge of English and enlightened me to ways I can use to motivate my students.
• A rainbow of possibilities.
• A kaleidoscope of vibrant colour.
• Focus on the impact of every lesson.
• A window into another world.
• The skills and advice were invaluable. I will be using the materials in my own lessons.
• A walk through a familiar woodland accompanied by an expert in edible fungus.
• It is a genuine pleasure to have had a CPD session that actually involves staff in learning rather than lengthy didactic talks.
• I am a motivated machine.
• You’ve opened doors in my mind!
• We are already planning resources based on the ideas we have seen today.
• Excellent session. I am coming away with some new ideas that I will implement.
• Gave me tools to adapt and use in class.
• A ray of sunshine. Enjoyed every minute of today’s training.
• Illuminating.
• Widening my existing understanding of learners’ journey.
• Exceptional.
• Abundantly magical.
• It was like a finger pointing to the stars. I’ve been focussing on the finger.
• A golden goose!
• The road to Wembley.

Stockport Continuing Education Service

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• A snowstorm of good ideas to be caught and used as desired!
• Use of the full-colour vocabulary is a great way to improve learners’ higher-level writing skills.
• Have learnt some useful strategies to control outspoken learners, which will improve the learning experience for the whole group.
• I will use the colours of language and adapt this to level and interests of my learners.
• An exquisite and engaging journey across the room.
• Colour coding – great idea.
• Top tips from a demonstrably good practitioner!
• This session has been valuable and inspiring. I have learnt a lot and will take a lot away.
• Really enjoyed the session – the ‘Yoda’ word game was interesting. Looking at the colours for different words gave a new slant on how to break down a sentence.
• Turned full circle. Using scaffolding support with LSAs, and the impact LSAs can have with the scaffold support.
• Cucumber on my eyes.
• Looking up a big hill.
• A feast of food for thought.
• I thought the session was fantastic.
• A route-map of avenues to explore.
• A thought-provoking session that could be extended to a series of sessions.
• Come back and tell us more great teaching practice 🙂

Northern College

21^st Century Pedagogy

• Trail blazing.
• Very inspiring, interesting, innovative, beneficial.
• Standing at a crossroads, thinking I instinctively know the best way to turn, and having someone point out a different route that I’ve not spotted before.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Reaching the top of a mountain and looking out at the view and seeing lots of adventurous-looking paths to take.
• The ‘full colour’ writing is a brilliant way to enable students to understand what they need to do and how to do it.
• Unpicking the concept of ‘scaffolding’ was really revealing.
• This session was inspiring and challenging and had me gripped from the start. The focus on real issues and the practical ideas to address them flowed thick and fast, and I came out energised.
• Tony is a brilliant trainer. He has masses of knowledge and experience and bases his ideas on what must be hundreds of observations, meaning he can enable participants to see the ideas as transferable to their context.
• Trail blazing.
• Significantly, I found this all created valuable shifts in my thinking.

Tricked out tutorials

• I will create more space to develop the story/narrative, to develop the context of the tutorial.
• I have a better understanding of ways to support learners in their self reflection.
• Ask more questions about how you (learner) feels different after doing X, rather than having done X.
• I need to think what I want to achieve by the end of the tutorial, not just the questions I want to ask.
• Some interesting ideas to take forward – thank you!
• (I need) more focus on barrier identification and learner ownership.
• I found analysis of the tutorial video very helpful – watching the skills in practice.
• Less telling – more open questioning.

Preston’s College

Polishing your Progress Reviews (Tricked out Tutorials)

• Mega lightbulb moment 🙂
• Make the review more learner-led. Would have loved to have dug deeper into the process.
• Loved the session. Helped me to think about how to get my review process to be outstanding.
• Very engaged, thoroughly enjoyed the session and feel empowered to be able to make changes to the review process and the learners journey itself. Thank you!
• Inspirational and informative.
• A magic carpet ride!
• It has made me think (again) about ‘crossing the carpet’ with learners.
• A lot of things I will take away.
• ‘White knuckle ride’

Hopwood Hall College

Formula for Happiness

• Remove limits and barriers from planning.
• Roller coaster of discovery.
• Got us to think big and creatively.
• It was like learning ideas from our own brain.
• (I need to) think more broadly to create inspirational sessions.
• Highlighted my reluctance to allow myself to step out of the box.
• Mind opening.
• I will try to be more fun and creative when planning and creating my lessons.
• Intrigued.
• Ideas floated through my mind and gently whispered to me in the breeze.
• Think big.
• To the moon and back.
• A skydive. Diving into something which you have no idea what it will be about. Fast-paced, but happy with what you have done at the end.
• It has shown me a way to think of innovative activities for tutorials. A way which will be successful.
• Opened my eyes to different learning experiences.
• Kid in a candy shop, but unsure they have the time or money to try everything!

Supercharged Evaluation skills

• I have been blown away by some of these lovely ideas. I am thinking in colour!!
• I love the ‘differentiate the support’ comment – it will become my mantra for my teacher training!
• This revived my sense of what is possible for my resit learners.
• The activity of using the colours way of evaluating should help learners to aim higher and be naturally stretched and challenged.
• A true lightbulb moment.
• Provided plenty of ideas as to how I may adjust my approach to TLA.
• (I need to) give learners the vocabulary with which to explain and describe.
• A rising sun.
• Incredibly informative and knowledgeable. Really enjoyable.
• Lots of ideas to try out in the classroom.
• (I need to) evaluate each lesson using ‘the walk across the carpet’.
• I will definitely use techniques learned today in my future teaching.

West Lancashire College

Assessment and the Art of Lazy Teaching

• 50 Shades of Great!
• Change is in the air! I am definitely going to implement some of the strategies learnt in this session.
• Purposeful, creative, engaging.
• I need to Reflect and challenge my own pedagogy to ‘reboot’ as sometimes we get lost in all the other noise.
• It helped me understand the importance of formative assessment and how these can be implemented simply within all sessions.
• Really enjoyed the Community Challenge game and the chance to apply the strategies to given scenarios and discuss differing perspectives.
• Refreshing to get back to thinking of assessment for the learner and not assessment for numbers/tick boxes/KPIs.
• Caterpillar to a butterfly.
• We need to Create a bank of assessment strategies for use by the whole team.
• Learners will now be more involved in theory lessons, for example: presentations, group work, and peer learning.
• Enlightening!
• Eye opener.
• Students need to take more control of their learning.
• Attitude-shifting journey.
• Enlightening experience, demonstrating there are many more ways to assess learners and their progress and real opportunities for me to use a broader range than at present.
• I have certainly walked across the carpet.
• A fitness test around my practice.
• Some great ideas. Looking forward to having my own 50 Shades as a personal resource.
• I will Use peer assessment more. Use different strategies such as Silent Minute, Gapped Handouts, Hunt the issues… This will make it more interesting for the learners and allow me to learn more about each of them.
• Fantastic session with lots of information to take into my own sessions.
• Activities prompted significant thought about how and why we should use particular methods.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Fun – Take the fear out of English J.
• Excellent strategy and clarity of higher thinking skills – how to scaffold well with learners, in order that they grow confidently.
• Loved the activities – very engaging and made me work, but in a confident and supported environment.
• Knowledge is power that can shape the world.
• This session helped me understand how to assist students to develop their learning experience and how to get them to a higher level quicker.
• I will concentrate on building these skills in the first 6 weeks to enable learners to achieve higher grades.
• Thought provoking.

Transformational lesson observation

• Excellent.
• Keep my eye on the intended impact – impact at the front of planning.
• This session has helped me understand how a learning walk is done from an observer’s point of view.
• A bird escaping the net.
• The work on impacts will be invaluable and very timely for exam prep. I will also feel more confident about taking a proactive role in my observations.
• Longer – loved it.
• Looking at learning through curious eyes.
• I will consider more how to develop curiosity in learners.

Halton Borough Council

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Confused – Meerkat – Light bulb!
• I was captivated for the whole two sessions. Lots of Meerkat moments going on J.
• Work from desired impact backwards.
• Excellent day. Very thought provoking.
• Excited to try, I am!
• Really enjoyable learning.

The RED System: Transforming lesson observation

• Changed the direction of my thinking in terms of observation and impact on learning.
• Holding a mirror up to habits I didn’t fully recognise I had developed.
• I am now more aware of my propensity to offer advice and solutions that are not invited.
• Invaluable advice and very refreshing to have a speaker open to discussion.
• Having the paperwork to give a framework to any future improvements has been very helpful.

Transformational lesson observation

• A caterpillar emerging from its cocoon and transforming into a beautiful butterfly.
• It has transformed my way of planning and to now look at how my lesson will impact the learners.
• Seeing the light through the trees.
• Excellent. (Will) definitely use ‘What do you think the impact was…’
• Putting impact under the microscope.
• Welcome the emphasis on impact rather than process.
• Very thought provoking and would love to debate all day on this subject!

Abingdon and Witney College

21^st Century Pedagogy

• Lots of Eureka moments and pennies dropping – everything made sense.
• Opened my mind – again!
• The three colours of learning outcomes – really tricky to do, but once done (investment) can transform what then happens with learners.
• Everything thrown up in the air and gradually falling back in a new order.
• Like shedding the skin of the snake of bureaucratic approaches.
• Not to write objectives to satisfy the college paperwork, but to actually make a difference to learning.
• Refreshing!
• Inspired.
• Very good delivery – patient/calm/interesting. Tone/pitch of voice was spot on.

Differentiation in English and maths

• Spread creative wings even more!
• Brilliantly delivered, many thanks.
• It has given inspiration to start the journey.
• It reminded me what differentiation is and how to hook learners in with creative ‘wow’ moments to begin a lesson.
• Some very inspiring learning stories.
• It will help me think creatively about how to meet learners’ needs.
• It has made me look at differentiation in a new light re considering wider skills rather than academic ones.
• It gave me food for thought. It was useful to talk through ideas with other people.
• I enjoyed watching how you delivered the session – lots of good ideas!
• Made me evaluate what the real issues are, rather than just look at the symptoms.
• Great and inspiring ideas.
• A spark. It helped me define what differentiation means at the moment.
• The distinction between symptoms and issues and avoiding initiative overload.
• I found it useful to think about the idea of curiosity and the preeminent place it has in learning, and how differentiation only exists as a means for all to find out how to learn.
• I like the discursive style of the session, right amount of small-group work without wasting time. Plenty of good examples to chew on.
• Planning for an exciting journey into the unknown!
• The separating of issues and symptoms highlighted how much we try to change or fix unfixable things.
• Reach for the stars!… and you may exceed your goals.
• Reminder to differentiate strategies not outcomes.
• Find the issues, and work from there.
• This session has made me feel positive about teaching in the future – thank you!

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Opening my eyes to a new way of thinking/working.
• I’ve walked the carpet!
• This session completely aligns with my own values and made me question the existing system even more!
• Meteoric impact.
• The lightbulb has been turned on. Allowed me to think from a different POV.
• Highly motivated and inspirational. It has been quite a while since I have felt inspired to ‘create a new culture’.

City College Brighton & Hove

Equality and diversity

• Thought provoking. Just turned the binoculars around!!
• Start with what I want to achieve BEFORE I plan what I will do!
• Extremely useful, thank you.
• Mind expanding.
• Take time out to think before doing.
• Crossed the carpet, feeling different by the other side.
• Super empowering.
• Give learners the confidence and vocabulary to bring out their opinions.
• Interesting and daunting.

Leicestershire Adult Learning Service

21^st Century Pedagogy

• A steam train – getting there in style!
• Got me thinking!
• Loved the idea of creating curiosity in my learners from the outset, encouraging them to learn outside the lesson.
• Take your ‘weakness’ and turn it into your ‘best’!
• Walk the carpet!
• Riding the velvet rollercoaster.
• Been inspired – really like curiosity aspect – sounds fun & exciting!!
• A very thought-provoking session.
• Swing in a playground. Excellent and very inspiring.
• Volcano – hot learning.
• Enjoyed debate about how a session should start.
• Tapestry – Thinking of all the woven threads to make the pattern of the learner journey.
• When writing LOs (learning outcomes) I will always ask myself how the learning will change the learners.
• A refreshing stroll in the country.
• I am looking forward to improving the curiosity of my learners and applying: Brain, Body and Mind in my sessions.
• Penny dropping. Loved approach. Great subject and speaker.
• Amazing! A fascinating insight.
• Love the ‘happiness theory’.
• Opening another chapter.
• Great guns!
• It felt like I’d had a ‘lightbulb’ moment.
• A glittering jewel of hope. Great style of delivery.
• Walking along a street I thought I knew very well, but suddenly seeing new things. Already working on rewriting the learning outcomes in my own work.
• Inspirational.
• I will change how I write my learning outcomes.
• A walk around an adventure playground.
• Incredibly enlightening.
• Very motivating.
• I am so glad I came and heard Tony Davis today.
• Shining a torch on the path forward.

Stockport College

Self-Assessment Strategy

• My 2 dimensional SAR glasses have been modified to 3D.
• It has given me a totally different view and understanding, as if I am on the outside looking in.
• The ‘Five Whys’ is a technique I’ll use from now on.
• Very insightful. Great ideas.
• The gate has been opened.
• The clouds have cleared and I can see the next part of the mountain we have to climb.
• Brilliant session, thank you. It will change what I do and how I do it.
• “I can see clearly now the rain (pain) has gone!”
• I was blind but now I see…
• It will change my practice.
• The fog has been lifted, I’ve taken my thick glasses off, I’ve had corrective eye laser surgery and I now have a clear picture of what I need to do and why!
• Inspiring! Great ideas for my own teaching practice, also.
• Eyes were wide shut, now wide open!
• Now got some strategies to find out the real issues.
• I really hope, as a college, that we can be brave and honest in this new process.
• Stunningly simple approach to self assessment.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Thought provoking and challenging.
• The rubric document will hugely support how I tailor/steer the evaluative conversation.
• The sun has come out.
• A rebirth!
• I have a whole new perspective on the observation process and I will approach observations differently.
• I think we should entirely revisit our observation process!
• It was a lightbulb in a gloomy cave of over-observation.
• Jumping through hoops? Gloves are off…
• As a teacher (as well as observer) it’s given me a shift too in my own practice.

Burton and South Derbyshire College

Transformational Lesson Observation

• I think I’ve managed to reach the other side of the carpet! It feels good.
• This will significantly improve the effectiveness of my role as a coach.
• Shifted the emphasis from what the teacher does to the impact of what they do.
• Refreshing glass of water.
• Inspiring examples and discussion points.
• Do not be afraid to think outside of the box and take risks.
• Will concentrate on the implications on the learning rather than the ‘stuff’.
• Very engaging, very useful, fit for purpose.
• Inspirational.
• An inspiring day with lots of ‘meerkat’ moments.
• A journey with exciting prospects, challenges and positive outcomes.
• Excellent facilitator, well prepared. I felt listened to and included in discussions.
• I’m curious (yay!) about finding out more about RED…
• Empowering.
• Unmissable!

Bolton College

Tricked out tutorials

• A road map to outstanding.
• Develop our quality standard to be outstanding in all we do.
• Consider the impact on learners, rather than what it is they’re doing.
• Enthusiastic, knowledgeable and interesting.
• I will be much more confident conducting 1:1s now!
• Great session, thanks!
• Insightful.
• Very interesting and informative session.
• It’s like making a cake – having all the correct ingredients to make the finished project.
• Made me re-examine my one-to-one review teaching.
• Thoroughly enjoyed the session.

Leeds College of Art

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• A journey of enlightenment.
• Great session. I learnt a lot that I can apply to planning.
• Unlearning everything you have been told.
• Need to be a football manager – learnt to assess on-going, not at the end.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• A long jump forward.
• The observation process should be a collaborative approach to create a community of practice through observation.
• Walking the carpet and realising there is a lot more carpet ahead!
• Shift the emphasis from accountability to developmental.
• More aware of measuring and looking for impact rather than focusing on strategies used. I was exhausted by the end of the session.
• ‘Passport to travel to the sun.’ (Given in pictures.)
• I don’t observe. It has given me lots of points to reflect on in relation to my own teaching though.
• I have travelled!!! This session was essential!!!
• An inspirational walk on Tony’s carpet.
• A very different way of looking at observation. Revolutionise the viewpoint.

West Cheshire College

21^st Century Pedagogy

• Excellent session. It was Bleak House, but we now have Great Expectations, and Tony is our Mutual Friend.
• Exciting. I will implement changes.
• (It was like) waking up from a doze!!
• Excellent, inspiring session.
• I will read the web-based info again and again.
• Enlightenment. Re-opening my eyes.
• Excellent to be brought new thinking!!

Creative Learning Teams

• Filled me with inspiration, helped me get out of a rut.
• Can’t wait to deliver the next lesson.
• An eye opener.
• Difficult at first, but the pieces of the puzzle eventually dropped into place.
• Assessing impact and observing teachers in other areas was invaluable.
• Inspiring.
• Made me look at each section of teaching and how it impacts on each learner.
• A steep learning curve.
• It has made me think about some curious aspects of my questioning techniques.
• Stimulating.
• (Must) consider impact more fully when writing learning outcomes and planning sessions.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Insightful, it was 🙂
• It has provided me with solutions to age-old problems.
• Light at the end of the tunnel, there is.
• Lightbulb. I particularly enjoyed the scaffolding exercises and the multisensory approach.
• An entry into a vast knowledge.
• A breath of fresh air.
• I’m going to focus on developing my own language skills to enable me to further inspire learners.
• Enlightenment.
• Powerful and pragmatic.
• Excited.
• Clear structure for embedding new strategies.
• Metaphor is now a Metafive!!
• Very strong, informative session.
• Unravelling a ball of tight wool! Thank you for your eloquent and informative session.
• Scaffolding now gone!
• All staff engaged with the process and are now excited about how they would use what they have learnt. Inspirational.
• Inspiring! 🙂 Though we practise these philosophies already within the area, the structure of how to approach it holistically will help immensely in the planning of curriculum.
• Unlocking creativity.
• Motivating.
• Spectrum of ideas.
• Like a ripening fruit.
• I was as blind as a bat, now I’m clear as crystal!
• It has given me ideas on how to use activates to track, log and increase student vocabulary.
• Hot as the sun.
• Illuminating!
• A climb over a craggy mountain range to a sun-drenched beach.
• The butterfly emerging from its cocoon.
• Fantastic session, thank you!
• The train has left the station!
• Innovative technique.
• Outstanding.
• A seed is planted in my mind which I nurture with water and sun in the faith that it will sprout and grow.

Tricked out tutorials

• (We need to) standardise this practice throughout the college.
• Insightful.
• Thought provoking.
• Impactful.

Education & Training Foundation

Impact Training

• Put impact on the learner at the heart of our thinking and everything we do.
• Very helpful and informative thought provoking session.
• A golden thread.

Sussex Downs College

Activating Independent Learning

• Thoroughly enjoyable – I have some additional tools to use now in my work.
• Reinventing the wheel.
• Aeroplane journey.
• Thought provoking.
• Changing a burnt-out light bulb with a new one.
• Much, much, much more work (needed) on induction and thought about what we want to achieve.

21st Century Pedagogy

• Having clear outcomes drives ideas.
• Bubbling like Prosecco!
• Avoid trap of equating ‘doing stuff’ to actually ‘learning’.
• A rollercoaster!
• I’ll think more about engaging curiosity.
• Much more insight into writing learning outcomes.
• (I will) improve my students’ learning by using better constructed learning outcomes.
• (I need a) change of lesson planning strategy – trying to think about LOs and adding in independent learning traits to develop in students.
• It’s so easy to overlook teaching skills due to the sheer amount of knowledge students need to know, however, this (session) has made me re-realise that you can use skills-based objectives alongside knowledge objectives.
• WBL (I will) write plans more creatively so the learner is not just meeting ‘an outcome’ but can see the point/relevance of the intended learning.
• One of the best most thought provoking professional development sessions I have been to in a very long time. Thank you!
• A fine tune and general MOT.
• Great delivery and journey.
• An exercise in critical thinking.
• Rethink how I write learning outcomes.
• Engaging lecturer, relevant subject, now need to employ the technologies.
• I will definitely be using this to check my (learning) outcomes.
• I really like the idea of curiosity and will try to implement these ideas.
• Land of opportunities.
• Not just going in a straight line, but going round corners and trying different routes.
• Really trying to have high expectations for all.
• No more grabbing the mouse!
• Refreshed like a G&T.
• Thought provoking.
• (This was) also useful with identifying how to be independent as a teacher.
• Eye-opening.
• (I need to) rethink wording/use of ‘daily menu’ at beginning of a lesson.

Implementing Live Self Assessment

• Low aspirations can act like a lead balloon, weighing down achievements. For both staff and students to flourish, aspirational conditions need to be set in place to do so.
• Time to break the mould!
• I think it is the right way to go forward. It makes much more sense to design our own quality standards which are useful to everyone.
• A much easier road to take.
• It has made me relax a little about SARs – not so daunting a process – much more a reflexion of our dept.
• As illuminating as the sun.
• Planting the seed and getting ready for growth and flourishment.
• Exciting new way to do SAR.
• In the changing room before the pool.

Independent Learning

• I feel like I’ve been given a parking permit after 3 years of parking on yellow lines!
• Unwrapping a chocolate bar.
• Best session I have attended. A lot of things to think about.
• Explore ‘reverse engineering’ approach to lesson planning.
• Provocative and emotional to hear some of these things said – in contrast to our other inputs.
• Like a completely wilted flower this morning – now one petal has opened.
• I feel inspired and lifted… like a hot air balloon (with a wonderful view and an exciting journey..!)
• Provided much needed food for thought in a famine.
• Walking in a foggy woods, heading to light and hope.
• I particularly appreciated the ‘silent minutes’ and will try to use these in my lessons.
• A glimpse of the sun.
• Need to really aim for curiosity in lessons as the starting point.
• I thought it was inspiring.
• It has made me realise that I do encourage some independent learning, but could do more – need to encourage more curiosity.
• Loved the session – inspiring, but still feel constrained by management expectations.
• Green shoots!
• Inspirational.
• The cage of learning objectives set at the start of class has been opened.
• Best development session had for years.
• Lots of effort is not the same as expected results.
• Inspiring, liberating.
• Confirmed my view that a change of mindset is required.
• The first glass of champagne after weeks of dry January.
• Invigorating and refreshing.
• Do not be lazy about choreographing the social environment.
• The other side of the carpet.
• A slightly crumpled hot-air balloon being re-inflated!
• Much appreciated – engaging!
• Looking forward to change and experimenting.
• A wilting plant that’s been watered and fed.
• Most interesting.
• Really useful session – the ‘tangents’ were as valuable to illustrate so keep them in!
• The work on fostering curiosity was quite inspiring.
• Back 6 steps, take 7 steps forward.

Quality Standard development – phase 2 (academic staff)

• Wrestling a tiger – hugging the tiger – shampooing and blow-drying the tiger.
• Stimulating, creative, sincere, pedantic, challenging, CREATIVE (pragmatic), open.
• Opening doors. I feel optimistic.
• I would love to involve learners in the process.
• Creating a new culture and investing in the future.
• Exciting to work with other colleagues who I don’t get to work with. Great to shape the future.
• Thank you. Was dreading the day, but enjoyed, it.
• A well-oiled rollercoaster.
• Process was good, enlightening, creative.
• A snake shedding its skin.
• A demanding day. Demanding because it challenged me to stop thinking about implication and action and only think about the golden future we are dreaming of.
• Intensive. Interesting.
• A bumpy ride, like a roller coaster, exciting.
• A great journey, lots of thought provoking and sharing.
• I feel I am beginning to understand the rhythm of the process and making progress.
• Very enjoyable/challenging.
• Very good and focussed – enabling me to plan for an excellent induction.
• Really enjoyed working with different colleagues and starting to comment/fine tune each other’s work. It is great to get some ideas on paper, as it makes the process come to life.
• Like easing the cork.
• Aware of what we have done is good, really good!
• Infinity and beyond.
• We have the ingredients, have started on the recipe and look forward to the resulting meal!

Quality Standard development – phase 2 (support staff)

• Positive but apprehensive.
• I feel as though the chain is back on the bike!
• Excited by the changes that we can make. Apprehensive about the journey of getting there, however, this does not diminish my enthusiasm!
• I feel excited about re-evaluating inherited processes that we in our department always challenge. We are looking forward to the whole college being set in the mindset of change, and change for the better! And making it happen!
• Thank you for inspiring change!
• Very committed to the process and what the end product will be.
• Exciting concepts and good level of support.
• Climbing to the summit of the mountain to gain fantastic view of the surrounding landscape which provides a whole new aspect.

Quality Standard development – phase 3 (academic staff)

• Blue sky opening up after a dark, wet morning!!
• It feels like we are getting there!
• A dream of shimmering visions and opaque water with limbs strong, but the land not yet in view. Excited about the work, but anxious about the task of introducing it to the team whilst giving them ownership.
• Dawn emerging!
• Excellent stimulus material and a fantastic working environment. Challenging and enjoyable.
• Great teamwork. Looking forward to implementing the Gold Standards.
• Exhausted, but exhilarated.

Quality Standard development – phase 3 (support staff)

• Opening a door to ‘let in’, rather than closing a door to ‘shut out’.
• Enlightened! Really proud of the work we have started so far.
• Steep hill, but it was worth it!
• Vroom! We are off!

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Like discovering a chocolate cake in a box labelled ‘chore’.
• Like drinking champagne. It was: bubbly, enjoyable, beautifully sophisticated and dazzling.
• Cracked open the egg and it was a lovely yellow yolk – not a curate’s egg or a rotten one!
• Surprisingly enjoyable and thirst quenching!
• Coming out of my filing cabinet.
• Inspiring.
• Love the ‘Adverbage’ game!
• As inspiring and exciting as going to a Christian Zimmerman piano concert! Full of technical ideas and aesthetic appreciation.
• A logical and structural approach to learning.
• Very practical and inspirational techniques that could be adapted for adult learners.
• Thought provoking.
• Fresh air.
• Motivational.
• A kayak down a river.
• It gave me a clear way of introducing sentence structure to students.
• The session, and Tony’s insights and views, has opened doors to develop my course further.
• Was actually expecting this not to be as useful and relevant to my lower-level learners, but it was very adaptable and useful. Thank you.
• Much clearer idea of how I can help them (learners) understand how to evaluate.
• Innovative.
• Rollercoaster of emotions. So excited to put into practice what you have brought to our training days.
• Brilliant session that provokes thought and enthuses.
• A new path through a familiar landscape.
• A far more informative and engaging workshop than I have experienced before. Thank you.

Epping Forest College

Independent Learning

• Showing us the door to freedom, but it’s locked.
• Great way of delivery – informative and enthusiastic.
• I see a lovely meal – but it’s in a sealed box and I’m not allowed to eat it.
• Senior management need this session.
• Extremely useful.
• Really enjoyable, useful and engaging content that I can use.
• Yes!! I am going to research different resources to use to generate curiosity to encourage learners to do independent work.
• Very refreshing! 🙂
• A great walk across the carpet!
• It made several things very clear – especially the path to an ‘expert learner’.
• Insightful – will follow up by looking at suggested websites.
• Inspirational.

Highbury College

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Good starting points and exercises that built up my understanding and encouraged me to think more creatively in terms of word colours and higher-order thinking skills.
• Light at the end of the tunnel. Excellent, just what was needed.
• Will change the way I do things.
• Getting a set of oars for your boat rather than going with the flow.
• Not knowing the way ahead, because the view was blocked. Now it’s clear!
• Jumping on a bus with a destination, but no route information and then enjoying the places I’ve travelled through.

Bryson Futureskills

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• I have gained a better insight into how to write an SAR. Very enjoyable.
• A train coming out of a dark tunnel.
• A match being lit in a dark room.
• It has given me the confidence to evaluate honestly without fear of writing what I think management want to hear.
• There is a light at the end of the tunnel.
• Really enjoyed. Engaging. Felt I learnt a lot. Plenty to try out.

Solihull College

21^st Century Pedagogy

• Breath-taking.
• The session encouraged us to think about how learners themselves can be more proactive.
• Refreshing.
• Time well spent to reflect, share, questions, engage rather than react.
• Enlightening.
• It helped me to know how important aims and objectives are.
• A challenging climb to a rewarding view.
• A re-evaluation of what I want from my learners – in what ways do I want them to develop?
• Excellent session. Tony has incredible insight and exciting, fresh ideas.
• Refreshing to be challenged during staff development.
• (I need) more focus on how learners move to aspirational goals through specific and aspirational lesson planning.
• (We need) trust from upper management that we as a team want to develop – not so much ‘one size fits all’.
• The session was very informative and thought provoking. All aspects were relevant and I look forward to the other 2 sessions.
• Someone turning the light back on.
• Inspiring and motivational.
• Found the expert learning traits particularly useful.
• I find writing learning outcomes difficult. This did help, and also helped to identify the difference between skill and attitude.

Formula for Happiness & Creating unmissable learning experiences

• Very busy day. Hugely inspiring. Thinking of ideas without boundaries has enabled me to develop new strategies.
• Blinding.
• The moment the ship starts to slip down the launch slipway.
• Andragogy. Re-designing and refreshing learning space.
• The observation process was at first daunting as an observer, but then it really clicked.
• Being given permission to try something you were dreaming of.
• I would like to experiment with learners being involved in the planning of the course
• Really interesting and engaging experience. Thank you so much.
• Less is more.
• How peer observations throughout the year can also keep you as a teacher curious to learn and develop your delivery by seeing other colleagues’ sessions. Having the opportunity and time to experiment without restrictions.
• Lots of ideas of how we can change and make learning more accessible to all learners. Build in strategies to be more independent and reflective to achieve higher.
• Enjoyable, engaging, empowering, enlightening, evaluative, constructive. Unchained Melody.
• I’ve really enjoyed today, even though I was anxious the night before about peer obs. (Can be harder to be observed by those who know you than strangers.)
• Felt stretched/challenged – delighted that learners were in the zone. Big impact on Adam.
• Exciting, inspiring. I really like the creative ideas that you spoke about in delivering a lesson. I found this really inspiring.
• Insightful. Less talking – allow students to steer their learning. Students being involved more in the planning.
• Consider business unit [of the qualification] and Blendspace – independent learning.
• Breath of fresh air. This is what we’ve wanted/needed. How we can change our teaching to benefit student development and learning good practice from our peers. Thank you for coming.
• An unshackling – we are free again to create. A reminder of the drive to create and reinvent. ‘New’ is exciting and possible. Excellent – truly inspiring.
• Positive constructive process. [I need to] take more positive risks.
• [I need to experiment with] levels of support built into resources to help scaffold all learners to higher level skills.
• Be creative in planning for new academic year.
• Mind opening/expanding/interesting.

Independent Learning

• Really great session and fantastically delivered. It’s good people like this that challenge and question the established way of things.
• Inspiring. Curious to learn more.
• You brought back memories of how I felt when I first began to teach.
• Eye-opening.
• Upwards!
• I’ve had another Gestalt moment!
• Motivating
• Enlightenment.
• Insightful.
• There were some excellent points illustrated with some indications of solutions.
• Inspired.
• Questioning traditional lesson planning. Lightbulb on.
• Really good to come out of a training session and feel a different perspective in how to teach. Thank you!
• An awakening to new realities.
• Awesome.
• Inspiring and exciting to try new approach.
• It’s really made me think about how to inspire students. I’m already questioning how to use Moodle to ‘ferment’. It is scary to think that this is a complete change to my usual practice, but exciting to try it. Def one of the best training sessions to date.
• Zoom! This will help me to deal with learners who don’t have the ‘fertile ground’.
• Have made copious notes for use in schemes of work.
• Far more thought provoking than usual sessions on ‘training’.
• I was a reluctant hill walker at the start – weighed down with baggage. I’m now inspired and heading in the right direction.
• I like that you are verbalising the thoughts that almost all learners have the inherent ability to achieve. I hope I can continue to use that in my teaching.
• Sparrow to peacock.
• Such an interesting topic and an ‘obvious’ fix – why isn’t it happening more already?!
• It helped me enormously. A truly inspiring session!
• Liberating.
• Independent learning is what makes a life of independence possible.
• Brilliant. Tony is a true scholar with an amazing ability to enthuse and encourage great discussions.
• Being in a nightclub and the lights come on too soon. More dancing to be done.
• Made reflection of teaching practice a crucial focus.
• Changed my perception of the importance of these skills and how to develop them.
• Radical.
• Some genuinely fantastic ideas and I hope to see some of them in practice.
• Vision of Utopia through the prison bars, but the key in on the floor… But am I too scared to use it?
• Opening the blinds to sunshine when clouds were forcast.
• Sunrise – the start of something new!
• Excellent session. Great delivery (pace/structure). Very impressive.
• Out with the old, in with the new! It’s time for a sea-change in FE teaching. “Viva la revolution!”
• A start, but perhaps a bit daunting.
• Back packing on a journey where you’re unsure of the destination, but results in one of the most memorable experiences to date.
• Brilliant session. Even the teaching technique used helped me for future lessons I will deliver.
• I need to adjust my strategy for delivery of subject material to make learners curious.
• Challenging, inspirational and a much needed breath of fresh air.
• Some good ideas needing back up from SMT.
• Spacebound.
• Interstellar.
• You have given me tools to change my practice.

Perfect Induction Practice

• A journey along a new road.
• (I need to) think in a long-term way, developing strategies to establish expectations, motivation and higher skill sets.
• Happy, excited to change.
• A fresh breeze let through a stuffy house. Really refreshing.
• Jaded to Jazzed.
• Focus on exciting them about the things they normally hate.
• Informative and experiential.
• I will endeavour to implement changes across the whole faculty of art and work out ways of continuing this through the year.
• (I need to) get our learners to become enthusiastic, confident, happy, sociable, independent, to create a fearless learning community (so that they) look forward to new and further challenges.
• Eye-opening.
• I feel empowered to take control of induction.
• Tony was extremely professional and inspiring.
• (I need to) make it more inspiring from the take off, and maintain momentum.
• (We need a) different approach – what do the learners want, not what do we want!
• Think big. Reinforces what induction should be about.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Super-charged journey today!
• I wish all schools could have you in to give them training.
• Dynamic.
• First class.
• The concept of ‘colour writing’, and highlighting this technique to learners, will help them to think critically.
• Very well resourced and enjoyable session.
• Given me ideas about how to develop learners’ higher-order (thinking) skills.
• Out of this world!
• Eye opening.
• Tree, branching into new ideas.
• Learnt how to get students to be evaluative and how to do it.
• His evaluative vocabulary sheet was particularly useful.
• Some excellent ideas for developing students’ descriptive skills for written work.
• A tool-box of vocabulary and effective scaffolding techniques to improve students.
• Inspired me to stretch my learners.
• This has encouraged me to focus on developing students’ evaluative skills.
• (I need to) have high expectations of individual learners in what they can achieve.
• Utopia. Achievable.
• Use of language – teach them how. This is the missing link in my teaching. Fantastic.
• Incredibly beneficial, a much better use of time compared to the usual development sessions.
• This was really helpful in how to structure and build support to enable all learners to achieve critical thinking skills. I will definitely embed this into induction.
• These sessions have been amazing and the team have lots of ideas.
• Fabulous. I really enjoyed the Adverbage game.
• The use of colour to identify terminology, judgement, opinions and impact will be a very interesting way of targeting the improvement of students’ evaluation and analytical skills.
• Very enjoyable and informative.
• I’m going to change my handouts and start scaffolding learning.
• Zeus’ thunderbolt.
• Gave me different parameters to engage with tasks.

Tricked out tutorials

• Informative – Thought provoking.
• I will visit the website and proceed to download!
• Will take away new ideas.
• The day helped to widen my thoughts on many ways to improve.
• Tony Davis is very expert at drawing out answers and it was a pleasure to enter into the conversations.
• Provoked an alternative thought process and approach to learner interaction.
• Exciting – the use of a Quality Standard to lead my tutorial and review process.
• Insightful. I want to put these new skills into practice.
• Our review paperwork is clearly not fit for purpose.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Eye-opening/inspiring.
• I have become more aware of how to measure the impact of learning and critically reflecting on my own practice.
• Things I would do differently: allow students to be more involved and take ownership of learning situations as well as ensure I use measures to consider what learning has taken place.
• Rollercoaster.
• We identified what an outstanding lesson looks like.
• I feel confident to let the tutor lead the feedback and not feel like I need to do all the talking.
• The video observations were extremely useful.
• (I need to) focus on the impact of the (teaching) strategies – rather than what the tutor did.
• (I need to) be more empathetic when observing others.
• Good to see things from an observer’s point of view. Also, very good to introduce a change in the way observations are done and perceived.
• Self reflection is key.
• Enlightening.
• I fee peer observations could be a very positive experience.
• Mind expanding.
• Inspired reflection.
• Feel confident to discuss the observed session more openly and positively and change the way in which questions are asked to allow a more positive outcome.
• It was interesting to sit on the other side of the lesson observation form, to consider what was successful and why.
• Forensic without judgements.
• Hopefully this could be implemented as part of the overall college observation process.
• (I need to) review and reflect more on how I can make improvement to my own practice and share skills, ideas, concerns.
• Thank you for recognising that one size fits all approach doesn’t suit all.
• Educational.
• Other side of the fence!
• Someone turning the light back on.
• The day has been constructive and something to build on.
• Incredibly beneficial, and has given me a greater understanding of the observation process.
• Very positive and eye-opening. Inspired to revamp sessions and discussions around this. All areas of the institution need to agree to this strategy.
• I feel positive and more confident to evaluate observations.

Lutterworth College

Independent Learning

• Curiosity engages learners.

Blue Yonder

Independent Learning

• Curiosity didn’t kill the cat, it improved learning independently.

Tower Hamlets College

Grade 1 Leadership and Management

• Inspirational and thought provoking.
• I really loved this session, it will definitely impact on my life as an AP (advanced practitioner)/teacher.

Worcester College of Technology

Grade 1 Leadership and Management

• Cow jumping over the moon.

Carlisle College

Differentiation in English and maths

• I have licked a sweet and it has fired my imagination!
• It has enthused me for trying different learning approaches and creating alternative resources – and to giving them to students in advance of the lesson.
• A train trundling through a tunnel into the light – picking up speed.
• Stimulated alternative ideas for pre-topic learning.
• A car journey to a sunny destination.

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• It has rejuvenated my love of teaching, there is a lot to take away from this. I will be working even more with my colleagues.
• Attitude shifting.
• Makes you think how entrenched you get in teaching and learning, and forget about the bigger picture.
• Changing a student is about changing the environment.
• I went from a sloth to a Meerkat.
• Inspirational.
• (I need) unmissable tasks at start of class and after breaks.
• Really enjoyed session – nice to think creatively for a change J
• Eye opening.
• Inspired me to think of the possibilities of linking with other departments – especially maths and English.
• (I need to) be more open to new ideas, take more risks.
• Excellent, loved it. Inspiring.
• I really like the meerkat. It has made me more curious about teaching methods.
• I am excited to try new things.
• Ideas have been sparked like electricity!
• This session has expanded and opened my mind on how to plan induction sessions.

“Yes, were all individuals” Brian, 1979

• It’s like analysing my golf swing and identifying some broken components.
• I now understand how I could improve my coaching skills and how I could develop more challenging questioning styles.
• Rollercoaster.
• The sun is peaking over the horizon.
• Excellent CPD session, would like more of it. Speaker was exceptional.
• Always try new things and see which learners it works with.
• This will allow me to question in different ways and word questions for learners in different ways.
• Insightful.
• Very detailed, well-planned session, giving lots of examples.
• Stepping out of my comfort zone.
• The session has opened up different ideas to push learners of all abilities.
• Very friendly, knowledgeable and great room management.
• Consider delivering (this session) to senior managers.
• Cosmological.
• I will be going away with a lot to think about.

Leicester College

Independent Learning

• An enjoyable and inspiring event offering alternatives to enthuse and engage learners.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• A light has activated to show the way.
• Changed my perception of differentiation. The most productive training event attended in a long while.
• A rolling stone gathers no moss. I’m rolling faster and better.
• An enjoyable, warm, informative and friendly experience.
• Mountain climbing – came for a stroll, ended up with an enduring journey.
• Comprehensive and entertaining.
• Highly stimulating!
• Good resources, well structured, interesting.
• Seeing something new and exciting for the first time.
• A motivating, honest and achievable session that creates ideas!
• Significant, incredible and thought-provoking session.
• I feel completely recharged to start using this in practical and theoretical sessions with my students.
• I feel the session is exceptionally inspiring and well planned. It will help me improve in the future.
• Like looking down binoculars to see something closer than I have previously had at a distance.
• Like a breath of fresh air.
• Opened my eyes to how small the foundation work to be done with learners needs to be.
• Enlightening – has given me a renewed enthusiasm.
• Session planning will be more exciting, and each session will be more evaluative.
• Purple pen is the new black pen!
• It will support me when I write documents on different topics. I will think about how I can include colours to better convey the message I hope to share.
• Like gold, it certainly was J.
• This session has inspired me to motivate my learners to look at language in a more colourful way.
• I will be able to plan my lessons where ALL my learners will achieve the targets more effectively.
• “I was blind, now I can see, you made a believer out of me.” B. Galesby, Primal Scream.
• A fresh vision of the summit.
• Really refreshing and important session.
• Like being a teacher with some room to breath! J.
• The Butterfly Effect.
• Very thought-provoking and impactful – will definitely lead to changes in expectations.
• Energising.
• Fab-u-lous!
• I’ll never write a sentence again without making it work far harder. Blue, red, green, purple!

Framework Housing Association

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

As a facilitator, I feel I’m now moving into a first class train carriage from second.

North Nottinghamshire College

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Epic.

West Nottinghamshire College

Independent Learning

• From darkness to light.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• My head is spinning with ideas!
• I need to develop learners’ ability to give their opinions and my higher-order questioning skills.

Sunderland College

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• I will be using the colour-coded sentences in order to get learners to create effective analytical sentences.
• Like looking at a familiar landscape from a different perspective.
• It clarified to me how to kick-start the development of learners’ capability to evaluate.
• A seed has been planted and now the tree can grow!
• Very interesting and innovative approaches to developing skills needed by students.
• Thoroughly enjoyable and inspiring session thanks!!
• Little ray of sunshine!
• Like a breath of fresh air.
• We will be implementing the full-colour evaluation.
• Very much enjoyed ‘Adverbage’ – great game.
• Great insight into aspects of Ofsted CIF – which we will be taking forward.
• Sentence structure’ (exercise) was useful and I intend to embed this in induction and use regularly in written/spoken feedback.
• The session definitely did develop my understanding of how to support my students’ learning – especially in relation to creative writing skills.
• Adding colours to the learning palette!
• I enjoyed the active/participating nature of the training.
• It was like white-water rafting.
• Like opening the curtains on a sunny morning!
• The session will make me consider evaluative skills in more detail and will focus my attention to develop how the learners build their skill base.

Weston College

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• I found the strategies presented to be useful for providing a framework to consider learners’ learning skills.
• It prompted me to think about a process that all staff can use.

Palmer’s College

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Excellent!

Bracknell and Wokingham College

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• I enjoyed the focus on ‘full colour’ writing and language skills, and being evaluative.
• I found the big picture element of this session stimulating and will reflect upon this in days to come. Extremely relevant to my current college.

Transformational lesson observation

• A ship with enriching destination on the horizon…
• It will help me ensure equality of the relationship (with the observee).
• Extremely valuable video training.
• Chain reaction – in a good way!
• I have been anxious about giving “feedback” but have fewer concerns if I take this approach.
• Squaring the circle.
• Look at the impact on the learner, not the teaching of stuff!
• I learnt a lot!
• A very engaging session with lots of ‘food for thought’!
• Breath of fresh air.
• Inspirational.

Kingston College

Grade 1 Leadership and Management

• Like trudging through mud to a field of gold.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• I fully enjoyed the interactive nature of the day.
• Excellent and informative.
• Excellent day and hosts. It has made a huge positive impact.

Newcastle College

Tricked out tutorials

• Motivational with fresh ideas.
• Some fantastic guidance which is transferable within my role.
• Thought provoking.
• Independent learning management makes sense – will try to implement.
• Your visit has been like a breath of fresh air, and because you come from Ofsted it was exactly your opinions people needed to hear!
• A lightbulb moment!
• A light at the end of the tunnel.
• (I will) Consider and apply the Quality (Standard) approach.
• It was like eating a sprout – I like sprouts, they are good for you, but not everyone gets them.

“Yes, were all individuals” Brian, 1979

• Thought provoking.
• Definitely helped me develop new ideas for adding an extra layer of challenge.
• Light at the end of the tunnel.
• Good revision on asking higher order questions.
• Constructive.
• Allow high-flyers to push on ahead.
• Challenge Escalator – very good J.
• I need to let go!
• Lots to take away, thanks.
• Like a breath of fresh air – a great way to start the new year!
• Fantastic, informative day. It has been very interesting, much appreciated.
• Some very thought provoking topics which have given me some good ideas.

Hills Road College

Tricked out tutorials

• Highly stimulating.
• Provided me with another viewpoint on how to structure tutorials to meet the students’ needs.
• Clarified the notion of considering the IMPACT that process can make and that all discussions and interviews should be conducted with positive change in mind.
• Very informative and enjoyable session.

Havering College

HoT Learning – The Hierarchy of Teaching and Learning

• Simply the best, most engaging and useful training I’ve had in nearly 15 years of teaching.
• Enlightening and thought provoking.
• Empowering
• It gave me the confidence to follow the important inspirational aspects of teaching and not be bogged down by process.
• Inspired to act.
• Opened new thought processes.
• Eye opening.
• Up some hills, then cruising into verdant pastures.
• Seeing a familiar object from a fresh angle.
• A Meerkat who has discovered something interesting.
• Inspirational; progressive approach to learning outcomes.
• Opened my mind.

City of Bristol College

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Challenging fixed ideas in a positive way.
• Insightful. Helpful to share understanding of expectations of WBL observations.
• Made me look at observations in a different way and what I am looking for.
• I will be looking for impact on the learner rather than a tick in a box.
• Enlightening.
• I can see how it is about how a learner is moved on that matters.
• Great discussions. Interesting ideas.

Wrightbus (NI)

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• It will change the way I write. I did not realise I was so descriptive.
• Excellent and knowledgeable trainer.

The Oxford Partnership (Saudi Arabia)

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Two days well spent. Training that was really meaningful.
• I appreciate now that self assessment isn’t about describing and re-writing what we do or to set up ourselves and our systems as perfect.
• The sessions were brilliantly delivered. Tony is extremely knowledgeable and his approach is sensitive and encouraging.
• Using (self) assessment to improve student learning.
• A sponge. Tried to absorb as much as I could.
• I will always consider the impact on the learner and write clear judgements.

Sutton Community Academy

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• The creative way in which this subject was explored and the way it has a ‘real’ (rather than theoretical) application.

North Lindsey College

21^st Century Pedagogy

• Insightful and now eager to complete LP (lesson plan) with more thought – using colour-coding to reorganise my LP.
• Don’t be afraid to challenge the norm.
• Many Meerkat moments J
• Very informative and helpful.
• Lightbulb moments.
• Ready to climb the mountain (of motivating students).
• I hadn’t realised the importance of setting outcomes that challenge skills to be an expert learner.
• A squirrel running across a garden. His name is Tom. That is not my name. I am the garden.
• (I need to) use ‘mind’-based learning outcomes with my students.
• Training was great, but I need more practice at writing outcomes.
• Inspirational.
• (I need to) completely change the way I address lesson plans.
• Enjoy your sessions – your resources are very useful for developing practice.
• A rainbow.
• An enjoyable session allowing me to want to develop further.
• Box of chocolates.
• (I need to) be more aware, during lesson planning, of the individuals in the group.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• (Now) relooking at something we have felt confident at doing for years.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Good examples of how to develop learners’ literacy skills and reflective practice.
• An excellent session.
• It was a whirlwind.
• It was motivational.
• Enlightening.
• Opening a book in a foreign language and being taught the language as you read.
• This will give me a framework to help learners work more effectively.
• Inspirational and supportive.
• Will use similar exercises within Art terminology and glossary construction.
• Meteoric.
• Make it longer. He had so much more to share with us.
• Many of my students (music tech) are highly creative, but often find it difficult to express themselves in appraisals. These techniques will help me to guide the learners to be more detailed and expressive.
• Fast, furious and exciting.
• Just beginning my teaching journey so this was fab!
• Innovative.
• A walk through a library of knowledge, stopping at shelves of interest.
• The learning journey has been a whirlwind, but awesome!
• They say the sky is the limit, but why not aim for the stars.
• Like skiing down a black run.

Leicester Adult Skills and Learning Service

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• So much to reflect on! All was thought provoking and interesting.

Federation of work-based learning providers, Northern Ireland

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Has shown me how to use the facts and to evaluate the effects of actions.
• It helped me clarify the purpose of self evaluation and that quality is better than quantity.

Customized Training

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Lightening the load.
• Helped me think about the SER (SAR) in relation to impact on the learner.
• It was very thought provoking and helped me to analyse how the self evaluation could be improved.

Babcock International

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• How you have always done something may not always be right!
• I need to change the way I self evaluate in this organisation and write the document to reflect this.

Askham Bryan College

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Excellent event, very inspiring.

Cheadle and Marple College

Data Springboard

• Made me consider issues from a different angle – will change my practice.
• Recalibrated my views on quality and reporting.
• Time to think about QIP.
• Think about ‘issues’ instead of symptoms.
• Using in-year analysis instead of end of year.

Learning Independence

• Teaching and old dog new tricks.
• I shall not: ‘grab the mouse’.
• Inspiring and refreshing.
• Thought provoking term: ‘curiosity’.
• (I need to) relinquish control in my classroom and create curiosity.
• Lesson control, more curiosity.
• Awakening me to memories of previous experiences and inspiring new experiences.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• New perspective on old topic.
• Clearly explained, modelled and discussed approach to self-assessment.
• Really enjoyed this training and I think it highlighted a number of important ‘issues’ with our current processes.
• An inspiring and refreshing look at the learner journey. Excellent discussion and debate around key points of the learner journey and how this can convert to an alternative SAR and QIP.
• Outstanding day.

‘Yes, we’re all individuals’ Brian, 1979

• A creative Ofsted inspector – I didn’t know they existed!
• Chrysalis to butterfly.
• It has given me the confidence to develop differentiation within the classroom.
• I feel I need to make a shift away from controlling the progress in my lessons.
• Helped me to see differentiation in a different light.
• Differentiating by support.

Bracknell Open Learning Centre

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Extremely useful session which has allowed me to question the validity of our organisation’s OTL system.
• Realised that impact trumps inputs on every level.
• Enthused – I had lost that a little as things had become too prescriptive. I will now prepare to embrace the ‘bankers’.

City College Coventry

Tricked out tutorials

• I really love the idea of differentiation I learnt today.
• I will apply it.I felt it was a challenging and enjoyable session.
• Nice to have a session that was a bit challenging and not patronising.
• An eye opener on what we could do better.
• Thank you for your enthusiastic delivery and passion for the subject.
• Learnt about direct and indirect questioning.
• A flower that has just sprung back to life after a slight rundown.
• Reshape tutorials so that students prepare with a brief record of GROW issues so that they take ownership.
• Made me look at my teaching practice in new light.
• Enjoyed all of the session.

DBS Music

Independent Learning

• I thought this was the next dimension regarding the learning process.
• Rapid. Inspiring like the wind.
• Like deconstructing a Lego model I made a while back.
• A new sample pack to compose with!

Collyer’s College (The College of Richard Collyer)

Independent Learning

• Remembering the enthusiasm for creativity I had as a new teacher.
• It helped challenge pre-conceived notions.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• I liked the idea that getting at a root issue might deal with several symptomatic problems in one hit, and so save time.
• It got me to think painfully… like squeezing a spot – painful, but had to be done.
• A little like dragging my 5 year old to school: resistant at first, but by the end of the day I see the value!
• The light at the end of the tunnel is considerably brighter.
• It was like waking up after a good night’s sleep.
• Great session – thanks – it will be interesting to see how it changes the college process.
• Keeping a firm grasp of the two pointers – ‘so what’ and ‘however’ – will help me to think more clearly.
• Very thoughtful and challenging day. Gave me lots to think about.
• A helicopter ride (so we could all look down on ourselves from a different angle).
• Will use ‘howevers’ to highlight areas for improvement.
• It helped me get a better understanding of what self-assessment should be – not written for the devil on my shoulder, but the learner.
• Challenging and thought provoking!
• Excellent session.
• Enlightening.

Self assessment and quality improvement planning – support staff

• Stepping up the stairs to outstanding.
• Inspired!
• Don’t be scared to admit there are issues, as they help to create self assessment and improve our work.
• Thought provoking. I need to involve all of the team and ensure they input into the process!

Self assessment and quality improvement planning – academic staff

• Eye-opening, thorough, well-paced, authoritative stuff. Thank you.
• Helped me digest my volatile data.
• Helped me see the wisdom of earlier SAR drafting and of continual SAR review.
• I had someone giving me a ladder to help me climb to somewhere I couldn’t reach.
• Cleaning a dirty window. It really helped to go through the techniques of exposing the real issues that are preventing improvement.
• Enlightening.
• Explained the role of the SAR as a way to learn rather than ‘show off’.
• Feel better equipped to self assess.
• Tom Jones’ ‘Delilah’.
• An archaeological dig: revealing layers of historical practice that we have assumed provide a firm foundation – but do they?! I’m a changed assessor.

Farnborough College of Technology

Independent Learning

• Flowering.
• Lightbulb moment about the purpose of FE.
• I felt that my mind had been opened to teach how I feel that my learners would respond to best.
• Awakening of ideas for creative learning.
• This is where teaching should go!!
• Thank you – this may be what makes me achieve grade 1 @ next inspection.
• Opening a window to a new view.
• Opening a packet of popcorn – it’s a taste and I want more.
• I’ve ‘travelled the carpet’.
• Exciting presentation – left me wanting to know more.
• Encouraging/enlightening.
• A great session. Hopefully will give teachers confidence to do what they feel is right, and not what they think should be done.
• Coming out of a tunnel.
• The word ‘curiosity’ has really had an impact on me and I will really look at how I open and close a class.
• Very inspiring. I wish some management were present!
• As inspirational and interesting as a good Wikipedia article.
• As impactful as a knuckle duster.
• As eye-opening as botox! (I mean that in a good way!)
• As informative as reading an encyclopaedia.
• A walk in the desert with shifting sands, but coming across an oasis.
• Some great debates prompted.
• I am ‘on the bus’.
• Interesting, informative, soul searching.
• Spark.
• Curious about the apparent ‘turning on head’ of lesson observations.

Bellerby’s (Brighton)

Independent Learning

• A squeegee on the windscreen of a car after a long trip.
• From mild scepticism to broad engagement.
• I loved the idea that we are ‘choreographers’.
• Thanks. It was great to have such an enthusiastic trainer.
• Stimulating.
• I don’t always enjoy or find useful training sessions like this – this was a definite exception!
• We need to work as a department to develop our course strategy.
• Exciting.

Bellerby’s (London)

Independent Learning

• Like finding an old book that you haven’t read for ages: thoroughly enjoyable.
• The session helped to develop my understanding and I will use some of the techniques described.
• There’s a lot of re-evaluation that I need to foster independent learning.
• Climbing the upper reaches of a tree!

Bellerby’s (Cambridge)

Independent Learning

• Sunshine through rain clouds.A light switched on.
• Encouraging students to move beyond the cards they’ve been dealt.
• Stimulating – thought provoking.
• A fascinating journey.
• Must get students to become more curious.

Bellerby’s (Oxford)

Independent Learning

• The effect you get when you clean a dirt-smeared window.
• Very engaging, easy to listen to, interesting, interactive. Inspiring.
• Very exciting and the time has flown too fast.
• Validating so much of what I believe.
• Inspirational.
• I have taken various suggestions to improve my teaching from this session.
• Improved my understanding.
• Transformation from dependence learning to independence.
• Teaching becoming learning.
• Faith (curiosity) can move mountains.
• Very approachable and engaging – I didn’t switch off once!
• Cat out of the bag.
• Refreshing and revealing insight.
• Setting sail for the New World.

Myerscough College

Independent Learning

• I thought I had reached the top of the mountain regarding learning strategies. Now I feel like I’ve plenty more climbing to do.
• Inspiring twist.
• I’m excited to try alternative strategies with the new goal of achieving curiosity and independent learning amongst my students.
• Really made me consider how, as a learning support worker, I can work towards creating independence in learners who are typically more dependent.
• Logic.
• Don’t be so quick to pick up the mouse and take control.
• Inspiring.
• It has shown me that I need to change my teaching style to allow them (learners) to help control their learning experience.
• Motivational delivery and inspiring points made.
• The fog is lifting on independent learning.
• Excellent ideas and encouragement of us to think about what we do.
• Independent learning will be put into all my session.
• Discovery of another theory which the organisation’s infrastructure doesn’t currently support. Thought provoking and engaging.
• An out-of-body experience to look at what I do.
• I now know the destination, but could do with a map.
• I’m going to change the way I feedback to learners and make them do more of the work.
• Independent learning is within the grasp of all learners.
• The pre-learn paradigm could be very useful in implementing the independent learning concept.
• One of the most useful teaching and learning CPD sessions we have had!
• Very interesting concept of pre-learning and releasing resources in advance – I intend to try this!
• A thoroughly enjoyable, interesting and, most importantly, valuable session!
• Kept me curious!
• The start of a shopping list, in preparation to cook the tastiest three-course meal.
• Inspired to continue blossoming as a trainee teacher.
• I’d like to explore Competitive Advantage further and how to use this to inspire our less successful students.
• An uphill journey with a worthwhile view.
• Like a waterfall falling and filling an expanding pool.
• Not receptive at first. Now very enthusiastic.
• Curiosity cured the student.
• The ways of encouraging curiosity made me as curious as a cat.
• The curiosity killed me throughout to know more.
• New thought process in regards to planning and preparation of structured sessions, focusing on student-led approach through curiosity and interest in subject areas.
• Introduce a topic ‘thought’ prior to session delivery. Let students develop a knowledge base on which to build.
• It gave me the motivation to move on and break the controls that govern our delivery.
• Specific directions do not always lead to the perfect location.
• Extremely enjoyable with some amazing ideas and suggestions throughout.
• ‘Meerkat!’
• Fantastic ideas and expansions to my teaching practices – really keen to explore/expand on this further.
• I crossed that carpet!
• Developing learners’ independent learning skills at the beginning of the year is a must.
• Your enthusiasm made the session pass quickly, which is extremely unusual for CPD!
• I am a seagull, having flown over the open sea, but finding there are some chips in the hands of Tony Davis that make it worth diving down to take them and consume, to fuel the never-ending journey. And the chips are free! Bonus!
• Curiosity killed the dependence.
• A welcome addition of ingredients to a recipe for quality teaching and expert independent learning.
• Quite inspired to do something different.
• Realised I teach dependence. Looking forward to implementing strategies to change the way I teach and develop strategies to encourage independent learners.
• I will reflect on my teaching as if I was observing myself and actively discourage dependency. I will take risks..
• Wonderful like the wind.
• Sense and sensibility.
• Inspirational.
• The session was like a hot fudge sundae with a cherry on top!
• Energetic.
• Brilliant.
• An intriguing afternoon.
• Experiential learning journey.
• From zero to hero.
• A fish learning to fly.
• Tornado! Whirlwind!
• It has changed every aspect of previous education lessons!
• I’ve been in education for 10 years and this was by far the best and most influential day I have had!
• Awesome!
• A breath of fresh air in a stagnant environment!

North Warwickshire and Hinckley College

Transformational lesson observation

• I like to sing, but I now want to write the song!
• I am excited about the possibility of change.
• We need a new system that eliminates fear and fosters creativity.
• Observations could be such a positive driving force – at present they are not.
• Inspired.
• Best CPD I have engaged in re observation training.
• I shall use all the information, ideas and concepts, building them into my work as an observer.
• We will require that this session and its implications is cascaded to the entire organisation and to senior staff members.
• Enlightening.
• Inspirational – left me with a desire to make a positive change within the organisation.
• Eye opening.
• Lesson observation is to improve teaching and learning and not mirror Ofsted.
• Why aren’t we doing this already!!
• The event was excellent and a great insight into how to coach and mentor whilst observing.

Knowsley Community College

Transformational Lesson Observation

• My perspective has been challenged and coached.
• I really enjoyed today and I’m curious to learn more!
• Created an insight into how we need to move forward as a college.
• Really useful and learnt a lot. Looking forward to implementing the ideas.

The Derbyshire Network

Transformational Lesson Observation

• It was unmissable!

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Very thought provoking – Lots of ideas to go away with!

Banbury and Bicester College

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Today was stimulating because the ideas challenged much of my thinking.

Derby College

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• The session has helped the fog to lift after a long summer break.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Gained an understanding of how ungraded observations could be implemented.

Loughborough College

Transformational Lesson Observation

• A calculated car crash of new concepts. Mind blowing! A change of culture from fear to one of development.
• A light-bulb moment.
• Tortoise to a hare.
• Sailing home from enemy territory. Nearly in port.
• So glad to have had this session. I think it should be repeated for those who are observing to explore the T&L focus and developmental impact as a priority.
• Definitely improved my approach to holding a post-obs conversation – focusing on ‘impact on learning’.
• From a Margarita pizza to one with most of the toppings.
• I have gained a much broader understanding of seeing the impact and how to improve the understanding of the system amongst staff.
• I think this would be excellent training for our staff. I think education of staff to reach outstanding should start before the observation process.
• Rather than focusing on lesson observation criteria, I will focus more on identifying impact.
• Inspirational.
• I will use curiosity as a tool to engage learners.
• I’ll go into observations with a different perspective, focusing more on impact rather than practical activities.
• Gave me the vocabulary to discuss observations with staff – always looking for impact.
• A bowl of fruit about to be made into a smoothie.

Pera Training

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Roller coaster ride!
• Follow the yellow brick road (without grades!).

Doncaster College

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Looking in a mirror.

Brooksby Melton College

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Moved from my comfort zone to exploring different methods of judging learning and the impact of teaching.

The Sixth Form College, Colchester

Transformational Lesson Observation

• On the path to enlightenment.
• We need to establish a clear idea of the meaning of impact and ensure that all staff really understand this and plan lessons with this in mind.

Bury College

Transformational Lesson Observation

• An awakening: what I’ve been doing wrong and what I need to do better.

Supercharged evaluation skills

• A lightbulb!
• Excellent and inspiring.
• Carpet metaphor – I got to the other side!
• Much better understanding of differentiation and stretch and challenge.
• A rainbow.
• Really engaged in the session. This really illustrated for me the students’ experience.

Access Training (East Midlands) Ltd

Transformational Lesson Observation

• From the ridiculous to the sublime!

E.Quality Training Ltd

Transformational Lesson Observation

• More ‘reds under the bed’ than I first thought!

Chesterfield College

21^st Century Pedagogy

• Clouds clearing.
• Teaching an old dog new tricks!
• (I need to) devise strategies that encourage curiosity.
• Breaking through the fourth classroom wall.
• The sun coming out after a rainy day!
• (I need to) challenge myself and the learners through more considered planning.
• Switched on a light bulb.
• Leading a horse to water and convincing it it’s thirsty.
• Sponge.
• Stimulating.
• This has helped to clearly define how to set out aims and outcomes.
• I’ve peeped out of the box, but fear that I may be told to get back in it.
• Best handout on outcomes I have had for many years.
• The comment about the teacher taking control of the mouse really helped me to reflect on how much control I am taking away from their independent learning.
• If we don’t challenge ourselves as teachers, we will not change!
• Rediscovering spontaneity in teaching.
• Stop the carpet burns by dragging them (learners) through, and show them the wheels to get there on their own.
• Really enjoyed this session and already thinking of way to be more creative myself.
• Made me curious and kept me intrigued.
• I was that Meerkat.

Independent Learning

• A journey into the light.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• I am keen to use this for my newly formed post-16 QA, but also embed it where possible in pre-16.
• Fascinating.
• Outstanding! Inspirational.
• Full change college system – must move forward.
• Focus on the impact in a positive manner.
• Breath of fresh air.
• Realigned my passion for improving TL&A.
• Use the question: ‘Tell me about the impact on learning’.
• Exciting.Extremely helpful.Motivated, empowered.
• A definite light-bulb moment!
• I now fully understand that I have to concentrate and evidence the impact (on learning) and the distance travelled.
• I was expecting the usual observation training, so was very pleasantly surprised 🙂
• The left-hand/right-hand system (for writing lesson-reflection notes) was great.
• Engaging, exhausting, passionate delivery. Thank you.
• Planting a seed and watching it grow.
• I/we need to implement this into our strategy.
• Really like the new approach the college is adopting.Inspiring.
• It has challenged my understanding.
• A very different approach to the observation process.

Transformational Lesson Observation – follow-on training

• Great session that challenged, informed and highlighted ways to develop our coaching and mentoring strategy.
• Inspiring and challenging session that the whole college would benefit from.
• Motivational.
• I need to practise my coaching technique.. and (completing) the writing and feedback in one go!
• Good insight as I’m new to observation.
• Now aware of what is required and tips on how to manage the coaching conversation if the session doesn’t flow well.
• The session has really helped today.
• Yes. More use of coaching questions to reach the ‘tipping point’ and find the point of intrinsic motivation.
• Look for strategies to enable transfer to intrinsic control.
• Enjoyed the calm and direct approach – the correct type of tutor-led activity.
• A new skill to develop for me, but I am feeling curious and excited about the process after today.
• I clearly need to spend more time working on writing up my reports in a more timely way and to practise my evaluative conversations.
• Rollercoaster J
• Every journey starts with just one step.
• Remembering I’m not there to have all the answers, but to ask questions to get the teacher reflecting and evaluating the impact on learners.
• The importance of ensuring observe recognises own actions and self-development opportunities.
• Individuals need to be enabled to take ownership

Newcastle Sixth Form College

Learning Motivation

• An eye opening insight into what should have been done years ago.
• It provided me with a major understanding of motivation techniques and how I can use them to improve.
• Great applied examples.
• Re-engaged in my teaching after Xmas break.
• ‘Expandable foam’ – brain stretching!
• Close to the pot of gold under the rainbow.
• I need more time with my colleagues to implement some of the great ideas into my scheme of work.
• Brilliant, insightful, and worth the time.
• It encouraged me to think outside the box when planning lessons to engage learners.
• A treasure hunt car drive on a Sunday afternoon.
• Think about the essential issues rather than the symptoms.
• Really enjoyed the curiosity aspect.
• Like entering a cupboard on a rarely used corridor.
• Good ideas, fun.
• A bouncing ball, bouncing a little higher each time.
• Thoroughly enjoyed the session – very inspirational.
• Learning today is like reading a new play – with themes and issues and interesting characters.
• Roller-coaster.
• I wish I had gone to school when all of this was put to use.
• Like a great curry – I’m full, but I still want more!
• I am now going to build curiosity into my lessons.

Grimsby Institute

Transformational lesson observation

• Unmissable!
• Was hugely developmental to review OTL as a transformative rather than didactic/systems-based process.
• A great session – thought provoking and allowing for the college to look differently at OTL.
• Eye-opening
• Change my focus onto the impact on the learner and bring more ownership to the reflection of the observed rather than feedback from the observer.
• Face the learners (when observing) not the tutor and watch for signs of learning in its many forms.
• The system needs to be re-energised to provide support for staff and to empower them to request observations.
• (We need a) cultural shift to support move to outstanding.
• ‘Intellectual temptation!’
• Observations should be a learning experience like you want to see in a classroom.

Service area self assessment

• Buckets full of ideas.
• Better understanding of the cogs in the wheel of self assessment.
• Gave me a lot to think about, but very helpful.
• Made me realise that there are many more things to consider.
• Don’t write (about) symptoms – write issues!
• I haven’t looked at self assessment in this format before. It helps me think and conclude differently.
• Bit like an iceberg. Have realised SARs are just the bit we see on top and there is a lot to go on below the water level.
• This was a great way of ‘building’ quality standards.
• I will be more involved in self assessment in future.
• Much better understanding of what is required now.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• It was the opening first ascent on a rollercoaster leading to that tipping point when you shout ‘Wahey!’ and just ‘get it’ as you go over the top!
• Enlightened. Feel more able and confident to accurately produce an SAR which is fit for purpose.
• It was a journey of eyes being opened – to see how far we could move from good to outstanding.
• Encouraging honest evaluation and meaningful development planning.
• Thoroughly enjoyable session.
• We must use self assessment in the ‘live’ context and not retrospectively.
• It made me more aware that I have tended to focus on 3^rd party audiences, rather than the key issues that needed to be reviewed.
• Inspiring.

Rotherham College

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Re-energising
• The light has been turned on!
• Very enjoyable and knowledgeable presenter who made me think deeper.
• Light bulb moment regarding ‘Live Self Assessment’ vs. ‘historic self assessment’.
• A ship that has found its port.
• A venture into the thought provoking..
• A canvas that has had colour added to it.
• The forest’s been cleared.

West Thames College

GCSE English: avoiding Ofsted nightmares

• Always look towards outcomes, then build strategies towards that end.
• A journey of new understanding.
• I found it useful to see the assessment objectives for GCSE English and have the time to think about how drama can serve these objectives, and embed them in every class.
• Shamazing!!
• Changed my own mindset.
• I enjoyed the session – very motivated.
• It was delivered very professionally.
• Enlightening.
• Light at the end of the tunnel.
• I thought we’d be talking about [GCSE English] exams. We actually talked about how to develop learners’ skills. I found this much more useful and inspiring – building skills for the future – skills students can use. It needs to be longer.
• It was like being cocooned in a warm, pleasant sweatshirt.
• Moved perspective.
• Enjoyed the delivery style – matched my own.
• Very useful in generating ideas of how to embed.
• It was a great session.
• Really interesting session – active and thought provoking.

Independent learning

• It was an amazing, unforgettable experience and inspiring.
• It was like an out of body experience. I was able to look back at my teaching in a different way.
• I loved this session.
• As enlightened as Gandhi.
• A light bulb has gone on… and it’s shining brightly on independent learning skills.
• A wealth of knowledge and tips.
• Eye-opener. Mind jogger.
• Amritsari fish.
• A bountiful, strong, focused talk!
• The session helped me rethink the way I teach.
• Old dog being taught new tricks! Great.
• Breath of fresh air!
• A voyage of discovery. A smooth pathway to success.
• By adapting this approach to learning at a college level, a lot of the bureaucracy could be eliminated.

Support staff:

• This session has made me look at independent learning in a different light.
• Brilliant session!
• A tree growing very fast to bear its fruits.
• Keep up the good work, and keep up being a FREE THINKER.
• Made me reflect on how I’m modelling independent learning.
• Enlightening!
• Surprised at how engaging and enjoyable I found the session.
• Learned so much about what learners need to succeed.
• Make it longer!
• Reflective, eye opening.
• I particularly found the topic of stimulating learners’ curiosity interesting, and will definitely use this technique in my classes.
• Inspirational.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• It made me think outside the box.
• Tony was very knowledgeable and it was extremely enlightening to revisit differentiation and stretch & challenge. I now feel more equipped to ask higher-order questions.
• I thoroughly enjoyed all the input and the professional approach.

Tricked out tutorials

• Target setting on its head.
• Engaging and motivating and creative.
• I love the way Tony always turns things upside down and inside out and makes me think outside the box.
• Innovation. Aspirational.
• Thought provoking, motivating.

Birmingham Metropolitan College

Grade 1 Leadership and Management

• Light at the end of the tunnel – move towards ungraded, developmental observations..

Transformational Lesson Observation (observation team)

• The brick wall I have banged my head against for years is finally starting to crumble!
• I missed the morning due to teaching commitments – I feel I missed a huge amount.
• The cage door is open.
• It hit all the buttons for me!
• Feedback is dead: asking the right questions to empower staff to solve their own problems and set their own objectives.
• Out of the darkness into the light!
• Absolutely changed my view of lesson observation and how this can be a real change focus for college development.
• ‘Kerching’ – light bulbs have lit in my brain!
• Excellent and challenging mountain to climb.
• Enthused to drive reflection forward.
• It has helped me hugely as I am quite new to lesson observation, but now I feel much better equipped to support my peers and colleagues.
• I loved the idea of promoting curiosity among learners again, and how very useful to be able to discuss these matters openly.
• Opened new doors.
• Evaluation, instead of feedback.
• Going behind the scenes of lesson observations
• A light has been shone on an aspect of CPD that’s been left in darkness for too long.
• Thank you for the insights and validation.
• Standing by to launch Thunderbird 1.
• I can’t wait to get started.
• Inspire and energise staff to take risks, enjoy teaching and become inspirational.
• I will be excited to teach tomorrow – curiosity…

Transformational Lesson Observation (teachers)

• Like an interesting new recipe!
• Exciting and relevant
• A good and refreshing view on a system that generally leaves staff disheartened and demoralised, irrespective of the grade.
• The windscreen is starting to clear!
• Has motivated me to take more risks to achieve outstanding learning for my students.
• I want to improve my people skills to motivate and inspire my learners.
• I thoroughly enjoyed this session, it was a refreshing change. It is clear that BMET are valuing and supportive of teachers. I feel I will learn a lot of good practice through this pilot.
• Turning observation on its head.
• Refreshing.
• Inspirational, enlightening and encouraging. We have been heard!
• Creative thinking.
• Critical thinking.
• Like having eyes opened a little, and fear assuaged.
• Quixotic.
• I will better consider the impact my lessons have on learners and their learning.

The RED System

• You can teach an old dog new tricks.
• It was hard and tiring, but definitely worth it.
• The discussions were positive and focused on building our skills in teaching and learning.
• Resetting the sails on a ship to chart new or forgotten waters, discovery or rediscovery.
• Forms worked well for focusing teachers and getting them out of ‘feedback’ thinking.
• Eye opener to many possibilities.
• Learning is an adventure with new discoveries every day.
• It was interesting to see some of the mistakes I make happen in others’ practice.
• Climbing out from under the microscope and looking down the lens yourself.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• I have grown an extra finger on my hand.
• I have climbed out of a dark hole and seen the light.
• This has proved to be the most beneficial session this year.
• Excellent, entertaining delivery with lots of practical hints and tips. Thank you!
• Very thought-provoking session. Challenges every aspect of previous SAR and QIP completion!!!
• A whole new adventure!
• It made me see the bigger picture and shattered a lot of myths.
• Empowered.
• Liberating.
• Really helpful to drive us forward.
• Eye opener. Made SAR understandable.
• Inspirational. However, I’d like all training to be of this quality.
• The best training I have attended in years! Thank you.
• Awesome (Totally)
• I can see clearly now!
• Taking the stabilisers off my bike.
• A game changer!
• A discovery journey helping to tackle bad habits.
• I have been involved in writing SARs in the past and can see that I have made these mistakes!
• Can now see the wood as well as the trees. Excellent session.
• The clarity you experience after a thunderstorm.
• Brilliant, enlightening, informative, entertaining, enjoyable.
• Best training all year.
• Excellent way of making you think and challenge ideas and ways of reviewing.
• One of the best sessions for really adding understanding to job role.

Yorkshire Coast College

Transformational Lesson Observation

• It made me focus more on the impact of the teaching and learning observed.
• Inspiring!
• Light at the end of the tunnel.
• Enlightening.
• Measure impact, not teaching.
• A rolling stone… in the making.

Data Springboard

• Leopards can change their spots and become interested in data.
• Like a zebra, everything has become black and white.
• I always saw data as numbers and numbers disengaged me. Seeing them as indicators helps understanding.
• It was a more ‘human’ discussion about data.
• Actually enjoyed discussions about data!
• A seed being watered…
• Curiosity killed the cat – but I’m willing to use up one of my lives!
• My light has been relit with curiosity.
• I can apply the curiosity ideas to my work.
• Enjoyed this. Made me think.
• Interesting to have things from an Ofsted inspector’s point of view.
• Goal!
• Meerkat moment.
• I am very new to teaching so having this as my first eye opener to data it allows me to tackle it very positively.
• Like watching blindfolds being removed around the room!
• Developed my ideas for explaining to others why data is a winner. I already love it!
• Melting pot of ideas.

Tresham College

Independent Learning

• I’m in wonderland!
• Excellent session, very engaging and so much info to now do away and develop further.
• Loads of ideas and prompts to invigorate teams and schools across the college.
• Fully motivated throughout.
• Like walking into a garden full of flowers.
• The fog has lifted on the field of potential learning.
• Putting me back on the right footpath as I was beginning to lose direction.
• You have shot an arrow straight into the target of what I believe teaching should be.
• Very thought provoking and refreshing way of looking at learning.
• Inspirational.
• I feel like a caged animal whose cage door has been left open…

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Develop a more safe environment to allow ‘learners’ to strongly believe that their ‘mistakes’ are treated as valuable learning experiences – then replace ‘learners’ with ‘staff’.
• Inspirational and doable.
• (We need to) look at observations in a new light.
• A culture of allowing teachers to teach enables an outstanding experience.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Inspirational! I have a lot of work ahead of me rewriting our SAR!!

Harrow College

Implementing Live Self Assessment

• A mystery tour of an adventure island.
• Empowering.
• Inspirational.
• Thinking about the end goal and reverse engineering the actions.
• Refreshing!
• The journey to excellence.
• Oasis in the desert.

Quality Standard development – phase 2

• Very enlightened insight into curriculum process and management.
• Started at the bottom of a hill and climbing up steeply and then it got easier.
• Good progress; hard going at times!
• Unravelling the path to exit a maze.
• Enabled a greater understanding of the task ahead.
• He who dares wins.
• Exciting times ahead – clear focus on key areas and what to aim for.
• Honest and collaborative process.
• Successfully kept a disparate group on task and working together.
• Hard work, but uplifting.
• I really enjoyed the session and process. We built the landscape step by step and everyone was engaged.
• Loved the mindmaps.
• I feel hopeful.
• Exhausting but worthwhile.
• Walking through a tangled forest and feeling the light and clear space as I emerge.
• Having this framework will be so helpful for self assessment, also having (a vision of) what outstanding looks like.
• A shared experience that links our journeys – support staff/curriculum.
• I think we are all aware of each other’s’ work and beginning to gain a common purpose.

Quality Standard development – Phase 3

• Gliding through the air.
• It has enabled us to capture ideas from everyone and then produce relevant standards.
• Intense. Feel tired, but worth it.
• I like working in collaboration with my colleagues.
• Hard job well done.
• High quality! Effective process. Good use of time.
• Very happy with the process. Feel the session was very valuable.
• Fast and furious! Feel like we have achieved a great deal today.
• I feel involved in the process and know I have contributed to the Gold Standards.
• Liberating.
• It’s work in progress and there’s an energy to it.
• Today was total flow for me – it really did feel like 5 minutes!!
• Gets easier the more we do.
• Challenging. Great!

Croydon College

Equality and diversity

• It has changed my way of thinking about E&D
• I will change how I get students to engage with each other
• Will explore E&D further ensuring it’s fully embedded in my lessons
• Enjoyable and engaging – will refer to Quality Standard in particular
• Induction needs to be more robust and relate to E&D more
• Good to have a session which is active and literally using the strategies which it is teaching
• Knowledgeable and inspirational
• Made me think
• Empowering learners with an understanding of E&D
• Empowering and dynamic
• Now more aware of discrimination
• A journey through the keyhole of insightfulness
• Opening new doors
• A great variety of interesting activities
• Seeing a complicated painting with better light
• Awakening
• I will consider every aspect of how I deliver and how it impacts upon learners
• A cool glove; calm and fitted well
• Organised, effective and pertinent

The Sheffield College

Creative Learning Teams

• It was like wiping a window clean.
• It gave me the confidence to talk about what I haven’t achieved and what I want to achieve.
• Consider (lesson) timings more carefully and allow students a little more space to think before responding to questions.
• Consider desired impacts before establishing strategies.
• I was able to reflect on my current practice and now know areas to address. I thought it was a fantastic day

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Lateral thinking – back to purpose. This was excellent!

The RED System

• A really challenging, inspiring & enjoyable event, which will certainly impact my own practice. I hope the college moves forward with is as a whole.
• Enlightening.
• Eye opening. It helped me look at my teaching in a more objective way.
• Confidence building and motivational to embrace change.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Thank you for enabling me to think differently.
• Jedi mind games. An excellent session, delivered really well.
• I felt v. engaged in the activities and informed by the process.
• (I need to) provide more of a coaching approach when feeding back to staff after a lesson observation.
• A thoroughly enjoyable and informative session. Thank you.
• Should be delivered to all teaching staff. I have learned from the session how to improve my practicals.
• A fun ride along a laminate floor – with no carpet burns!
• Will now coach staff rather than feedback.
• A phoenix rising from the flames of IQA, metamorphosed in observation process.
• Refreshing coaching skills. Will alter practice.
• I thought I knew how to give feedback.
• Inspirational.
• Made the process easier to understand. Should be extended to all colleagues.
• This approach to observation is exactly what the college needs as, if implemented across all departments, it should help to transform the culture of the college.
• Challenging – me/the system.
• Brilliant!
• Enlightening.
• I will approach this activity (observation) from a more supportive view and encourage tutors to be more proactive throughout the observation process.
• Taking the cork out of a bottle of fizz.
• A locked door opening.
• (I need to) Ensure staff critically evaluate their sessions with support from me.
• It was great – thank you!
• A Meerkat with a shopping trolley full of mealworms.
• Jumping in a stream and coming out refreshed.

Follow-up observation training

• Curiosity is the tool for fuel.
• Informative, positive and supportive, as well as being thought provoking.
• Realised that a focus on impact is vital and that observers need to change the way in which they observe.
• Super-duper.
• I feel I have clarity on the observation approach, and my ‘feedback’ will take a different approach.
• Curiosity educated the cat.
• Feel that what we have learnt in this session will have real impact, whereas a lot of other box-ticking doesn’t.
• Observe the impact rather than the strategy.
• Small changes can have large impacts.
• TSC (The Sheffield College) is a leopard that is changing its spots.
• Best CPD in ages, thank you.
• Practise makes permanent.
• At the foot of a new mountain. Fantastic training.
• I am at the other side of the carpet.
• Open windows.
• I will use the evaluative conversation method after observations.
• Eye opening.
• I am already using the questions (given at first session) – revolutionised my approach.

“Yes, we’re all individuals” Brian, 1979

• I came in to see what individuals were eating and stayed to feast.
• The higher-order questioning – a real eye-opener to my laziness.
• Very valuable, interesting and confirming.
• Many meercat moments, thanks.
• Some excellent strategies that I can take straight into the classroom.
• A journey to a place never visited before.
• Loved the Bloom’s bit – definitely need help here..

Canterbury College

Data Springboard

• Highly informative.
• Really enjoyed this – very supportive and some great ideas.
• Inspiring.
• Actually useful and practical.
• Will now look at symptoms that I previously thought were issues.
• Really useful session. We need more like this.
• We need you on a retainer..!
• Excellent pace and combination of discussion and delivery.
• A very enjoyable course. Common sense and easy to navigate templates; how quality planning should be.
• Enabled identification of preventative strategies.

Equality and diversity

• You can teach an old dog new tricks
• Broke the area down effectively and made it appear much more manageable
• Good easy ways to embed E&D
• Too short, but gave an insight into this vast area
• Watching the sun rise
• I will ensure questioning in the class is addressed by all staff
• Really great info for me to take back and share with my team
• It made me evaluate what we currently do in the section. made me think about questioning
• Enlightening
• Highly recommended for wider teaching team
• Opening of the mind
• Took some of the fear away

Independent Learning

• I have had so many lights switched on!!
• A tree not just growing new leaves, but roots as well
• Lots of creative ideas and strategies – lots of inspiration!
• Really enjoyed the ‘modelling’ of strategies for independent learning to give us the experience
• Thank you for an inspirational seminar. I will try to put many of your thought-provoking ideas into my teaching practice
• Really reassuring, inspirational
• I have found myself in the zone throughout!
• An interesting, refreshing and somewhat radical insight to what could be…
• It gave me keys to engage students
• Beyond the hot edge..
• I will be exploring curiosity and making dull topics fun
• Wiki will definitely be a tool I utilise in the future
• Onwards and upwards
• Excellent ideas on how to engage and motivate learners
• A breath of fresh air in a system fogged up by bureaucracy!
• It helped me discover new and exciting ways to develop classes for students and for the teacher!
• Brilliant. Very factual and relatable to a very new teacher
• Fantastic! Invaluable for new teachers.
• Invigorating swim.
• A leap into the unknown and finding a life jacket waiting for me.
• It’s really got me thinking about how to inspire my students with practical ideas.
• A tree growing from the seeds of inspiration, learning in the wind of curiosity.
• A real cliff-hanger!
• Exceptional, unexpected, very interesting.
• Awakening. I want to discover more!

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Looking through the eyes of a learner.
• A gradual removal of scaffolding leading to free-flying.
• I’ll definitely break down evaluation into four categories in my marking and get learners to do this in all sessions.
• It’s clear that staff have been inspired by the ideas presented and are going to make positive changes to their practice as a result.
• It helped me to understand how I can not limit the growth and development of students. I now can provide them with tools to be excellent.
• Like a refreshing shower after a long and dusty term!
• Evaluative skills – breaking them down, using scaffolding, etc.. It was great!

Transformational Lesson Observation (observation team)

• Turning the dimmer switch up to full brightness!
• This session/day has brightened my outlook on observation.
• (From) Draconian to developmental.
• I need to focus on ensuring as many staff as possible understand the difference between impact and (teaching) strategy.
• All staff should take this training.
• Informative, motivating.
• Excellent session. I will absolutely take these ideas forward into future observations and training.
• Insightful, helpful, eye-opening.
• Inspirational!

Transformational Lesson Observation (teachers)

• An inspired session and thought provoking, which hopefully leads to change!
• Life changing.
• Lightbulb moment.
• It has turned observation on its head.
• An excellent sessions again.
• Showed me how observations should be done.
• Inspirational/experimental.
• Every member of staff, including the Principal, should attend.
• So many ideas.
• A lot of ideas I would like to include in my lessons. I will think much more about impact.
• Inspired.
• It has opened my eyes to the fact that observation could (and should) be about empowering us as teachers to managed our development in terms of continuous improvement of practice.
• Realised it (observation) was harder than it looks.
• Made me look at the impact on learning rather than at the quality of the teaching.
• Enthused and encouraged to put ‘impact on learning’ at the top of my lesson planning.
• Make it compulsory for all academic staff to attend.
• Excellent Tony – thank you. I feel uplifted and inspired.
• Learnt a lot. I have not considered how things looked from an observer’s perspective.
• As a teacher, the session has really inspired me and encouraged me to think about the impact my lessons have on students rather than feeling like I have to include particular elements to tick boxes.

Quality Standard development – phase 2 (for support staff)

• Useful but scary.
• It’s just the start.
• It was inspiring and a chance to discuss how each member of the team will have an impact on students.
• I just hope that our managers take these ideas on board and support us in trying to change processes.
• Value the process, which has a creative and tangible centre of outcomes, the impacts being to support teaching and learning.
• A walk to a cliff edge. The difficult part comes next…
• Excellent delivery. Always enjoyable training with you.
• Focussing.
• Invigorating.
• Has made me review our existing practice and consider how to improve and apply what I’ve learnt today.
• Enlightening.
• Good to have the opportunity to work as a team to review and reflect on impact on students and how our QS (quality standard) can be raised.
• I feel empowered to try and move things forward. I hope someone listens and considers our proposal. Not a waste of time! Well done.
• Frustrating, valuable.
• To swim in the sea you must first inflate your armbands.
• The first bite of a Michelin-starred meal.

We present feedback from providers to show the sort of positive impact the training may have on your own staff. However, in this instance we also feel it is important to alert you to the potential negative feedback if the session is delivered to overly large groups of non-academic support staff.

• Bored.
• Building a sandcastle when the tide is coming in.
• Could have done with fewer big words, such as taxonomy and pedagogy – shoulders went up, but otherwise enjoyable.
• Tiring!!
• Our group was too large.
• Very interesting and has inspired me, but I am cynical.
• A journey of 1000 miles starts with a single step.
• Interested, but cynical.
• Far too long. Too hot, too noisy, too many people. Wasted a lot of time not developing anything.

‘Yes, we’re all individuals’ Brian 1979

• Servant hazing at the brandy in the tantalus.
• The ideas and strategies are inspirational and useful.
• It gets darker before dawn. This session made me question.
• Good ideas for deeper development.
• Really enjoyable. Found Tony very knowledgeable with a lovely, calm way of delivering.
• Really interesting. Good communication.

Opps Developments

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Insightful and inspiring.

MSI Learning

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Mind-opening.
• The session helped me shift focus from activity to impact.

Goldsmiths Centre

Transformational Lesson Observation

• A real eye-opener. I will be using this next year and feel more ready to set it up now.

Pro-Action Herts

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Thought provoking and interesting.
• Has totally changed my perception.
• Removed the shutters.
• We will hopefully change our whole process.
• A sunrise.
• Now I have a deeper understanding, I will focus much more on impact, both when teaching and observing peers.
• I found this session very helpful indeed and am much more confident about expectations.
• I feel we will really be able to make significant improvements to the quality of our teaching.
• Eye-opening. A new way of thinking.
• Very clear and easy to understand process.
• Feeling more confident about being observed.
• Doors were opened.
• Made me realise what I need to improve and what to do differently.
• Thought-provoking, inspirational, motivational.

Skills UK

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Really understood the meaning of impact and its importance.
• Enlightening.

Trainplus

Transformational Lesson Observation

• It’s good to learn!
• It has challenged my thoughts on grading my tutors and assessors.

Construction Gateway

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Today I’m the apprentice!

Pathway Group

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Greatly beneficial.
• Very informative. Many thanks!

Flexible Training

The Self-Assessment Flip

• Recognise impact rather than ‘sell’ organisation.

Manley Summers

The Self-Assessment Flip

• Really enjoyable day with lots of food for thought.

Collage Arts

The Self-Assessment Flip

• Light at end of tunnel.

Artswork

The Self-Assessment Flip

• I feel my confidence and understanding has increased as a result.

Institute of Groundsmanship

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• Best aspect was the opportunity to develop lateral thinking ‘outside the box’ rather than accept mundane existing approaches.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Refreshing, enlightening, empowering

Rinova

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• A very inspiring session and particularly enjoyable as it managed to address serious issues around creative delivery, but in a fun and engaging way.

Abis Resources

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• Inspiring, engaging.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• It’s like plotting your way from a mysterious space into a demystified ground of pedagogical awareness.
• Impact is like the taste of fine food – lesson bellisimo!
• Challenging topic. Influential new concepts.
• Leave no student behind.
• I have understood how learning is impacted through teaching.
• I have gained confidence.
• A wonderful session. I have not only understood the importance of teaching, but also very clear with the meaning of ‘impact on learning’.
• Exceptional. Outstanding.
• Learnt new things – how to observe impact on learning through the lesson observation process.

Brighton Hove and Sussex Sixth Form College

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• Ugly duckling to beautiful swan.
• Homing in on a target.
• Feel like a surgeon who has just had his scalpel sharpened.
• Thought I knew a lot about this, but it’s really challenged my thinking about planning for impact and end points.

North Lancs Training Group

Safeguarding Inspection Training

• It has improved my understanding of what we are expected to do.
• I have thoroughly enjoyed the whole of the course.
• Confusing, mixed, pleasant and finally understood.
• Like haymaking – picking up lots and turning it into something new and useful.
• Breaking it down into smaller, easier to understand sections has helped identify areas for improvement.
• Out of the darkness and into the light.
• It has enabled me to gain the knowledge to investigate things further.
• I feel I now have the ability to evaluate our practices.

Bespoke Quality System Training

• Excellent delivery, pace, interpersonal skills and very engaging.
• Tough going – but I can see the end result will be good.
• A new insight into self assessment – not just a document.
• I feel like the shackles on honesty have been removed and enlightenment is alive.
• Tony was excellent, articulate, animated and knew his onions!
• Feel more willing to identify and admit to areas for development, seeing this as positive.
• Heading to the sunlit uplands!

Business Advice Direct (national learndirect provider)

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Eye-opening.
• Enlightening!
• Inspiring.
• Insightful.
• A fantastic day that helped me think about my role.
• Revealing.
• Great, but hard work.
• Brilliant!!
• I just wanted to say thank you so much for the day. It’s certainly sent a buzz around the company and we’re planning Phase 2 of it at our next Regional Meetings.

Western Health & Social Care Trust

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Will change how I operate.

Wade Training

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Excellent session.

SPS Training

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Revisiting my entire SAR process to be an internal document as opposed to a PR activity for contract re-negotiations.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Challenges my comfort zones.

South Eastern Regional College (Northern Ireland)

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• It was like my first day at SER [SAR] school – despite 10 years of experience.
• Like first view of a new star! Enlightening experience which makes more sense than our current method of producing an SER [SAR].
• Loads of practical ideas.

York College

Data Springboard

• Thoughts buzzing!
• Wiki – excellent idea to be attempted.
• Inspired with ideas to change assessment and learning.
• Like stepping off the merry-go-round long enough to see what it could be like.
• Feel inspired and excited about the new term.

Workforce Training Services

Data Springboard

• Tony’s enthusiasm for the subject was easy to soak up.
• I took a drink at the font of knowledge.
• I am a fish that has climbed to the top of the tree!
• The scales fell from my eyes.
• Making sense out of chaos.

Live Self Assessment (Quality Standard Development)

Stage 1

• Have confidence in delivering an SER which is intended for my own organisation and front line staff and not a third party.
• I thought it would be a walk in the part, but it was like climbing a mountain.
• Tested, challenged but enthused.
• I now understand what is needed in writing a self-assessment report.

Stage 2

• Like eating a succulent steak, savouring every small bite.
• Very intense two days, but a very worthwhile experience as real live work has been produced.
• We feel that drawing this (quality standard) up ourselves rather than having thrust upon us has given us much more understanding and a feeling of ownership.
• Very hard work, but ended up well.
• To have it (quality standard) in a working document is excellent.

Stage 3

• This session made me feel it was a company approach and not an individual approach.
• It made me look at things in a different way.
• A Road to Damascus experience.
• No more written narrative – just judge myself against the ‘gold standard’.

Creative Learning Teams

• Door-opening experience.
• Use questions to encourage own learning. Don’t ‘direct’ feedback.
• I will try to use coaching and prompting more in my lessons.
• Picked up some really good teaching methods from the other tutors. Found it really interesting and challenging.
• Saw things I would never have looked for in my lessons.
• A very worthwhile exercise which can only improve the learning impact of the organisation.

The RED System

• I really understand what it is all about – impact on learners. Did they cross the carpet?
• Real eye-opener.
• The coaching on how to ask a question to a teacher to try and pry out the positive/negative impact on learning…
• A change in perception of what it is to effectively observe. Rather than my opinion or judgement, a move to open discussion on how to improve, i.e. the observation is a means to facilitate discussion.

Walsall College

Data Springboard

• I remain inspired by the workshop you ran.

St. Vincent College

Data Springboard

• As a new curriculum manager, the ideas to inspire the dept. and new students are exciting.
• Definitely revise our QIPs so the real issues are pinned down and targeted.

South Downs College

Tricked out tutorials

• Another excellent session. I experienced another session which was led by Tony many years ago. One of the very few I have remembered!!
• A candle being lit.
• Inspired.
• Lots of ideas, particularly with regard to changing the focus from process to progress.

Data Springboard

• Staff have come away inspired and filled with enthusiasm to start implementing changes, so very many thanks for lighting so many fuses.
• Someone asked, on my return, whether the training session was good and I replied “Brilliant!” – then they asked what it was about and I was as surprised as they were when I replied “Data and SAR!”
• An explosion of ways to do things differently and more effectively.
• Very relevant and thought provoking session, delivered with infectious enthusiasm. An excellent learning experience.
• A member of the A level Business team has just popped into my office to say she can’t believe the whole team are still here at this time on the last day of term and completely absorbed in planning their volatile indicator for next year!
• Stunning
• Will greatly help me to improve learner experiences and opportunities.
• Fantastic session.
• I have really enjoyed the session especially the visual actions to aid explanations.
• This session has changed my thinking completely.
• Realisation that data is not just a lot of figures.
• This journey has reignited my curiosity!
• Particularly useful re volatile indicators; I can envisage some useful data now!
• Wow!
• Inspirational. Has renewed my enthusiasm to create curiosity and success.
• A torch being given a far more powerful battery – or rather, being given several torches to shine in different directions!
• Helped me to start thinking about data as real people (learners) rather than abstract numbers for management purposes.
• You made data sound interesting.
• Great to focus on 100% meaningful, relevant data.
• Rocket propelled.
• One step back, two steps forward.
• An excellent session which held by attention throughout.
• An escalator ride to learning.
• Opens a new gateway to learning.
• Data isn’t numbers.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• My SAR glasses were cleaned and polished (hell, the frames were changed too).
• This really confirmed what we essentially already knew, but were afraid to state.
• Extremely invigorating and informative, refreshing to see a new approach to what is currently an onerous process.
• I think I’ve learnt to write for myself and not just for my line manager – and to enjoy the process.
• The whole session was insightful.
• How to write an SAR of real value.
• Interesting, informative, stimulating.
• Have started the climb to creating the perfect SAR.
• Thank you, you have inspired me.
• Well done Tony. You removed much of the anxiety and pressure of SAR writing for most of the course managers especially those new to the role.
• Excellent course – lots of light bulb moments!
• Will not find completing SAR so daunting.
• A really enjoyable morning that has inspired me to go away and improve everything I do!
• I am looking forward to writing this year’s SAR for me.
• An excellent experience – I didn’t want it to end.
• I was very sceptical – how can SARs be interesting or useful? However, Tony delivered an inspirational session leaving me with a completely different view of SAR and how it can contribute and improve learner journey.
• I arrived as a rabbit with floppy ears – focussed only on end-of-term paperwork, but pricked up my ears quickly once relevance and curiosity took over.
• It was good to listen to expert knowledge from a reliable source.
• Ferrari.
• Excellent style of delivery – engaged our tired and quite exhausted staff!
• A pleasure to observe and experience so much enthusiasm.
• Will change whole approach to SARs.

Northern Ireland Careers Service

Live Self Assessment

• I am more aware of how using the right language can change the relevance of self assessment.
• It challenged me to think differently.
• Very intense day, but enjoyable.
• Opened my mind!

JTJ Workplace Solutions

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Bubbling with curiosity.
• A true light bulb moment.

Rutledge Job Link

Data Springboard

• Finally, breaking through barriers to deliver a session which speaks volumes over and above the general quality assistance received in the past.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Simple, easy to understand model, this will be implemented in Rutledge as result of today’s sessions.

Protocol skills

Data Springboard

• Opportunity to think outside the box.

NewVIc

Data Springboard

• A superb session in terms of ideas and concepts.
• Like a bus ride through the Olympic Park for the first time.
• It changed my perception of data, but also frustrated me as I don’t feel our current systems would facilitate some of these ideas.
• I liked the volatile indicator idea.
• Very insightful and helpful session. Excellent presentation.
• It gave a different perspective and I will delve deeper when reviewing performance.
• Superb!
• I will use the ideas to improve my performance.
• A deep-sea diver exploring treasure!
• Excellent insight into how we can differentiation between causes and effects.
• Very enjoyable, speaker very knowledgeable.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• I have understood for the first time how to write an SAR.
• Senior management should all attend.
• Opening the eyes of the blind.
• I’ve seen SA in a new light and know how to make it useful for the team.

Bespoke Quality System Training

• Your consultation on SAR has helped the college move forward with its plans to overhaul its whole approach to self assessment.

Perfecting Self Assessment

• I am going to rewrite my SAR, I feel that I actually understand what’s being asked of me in this training.
• The blind person who got his sight back miraculously.
• Excellent understanding of the purpose and process of writing SAR.
• I learnt a great deal as a new PTM.
• Learning a new ‘language’ for the SAR is like going clothes shopping and trying avoid resorting to ‘old, tried, tested’ styles!
• SMT/CMT culture change required.
• Must focus more on judgements of impact, not on what we’ve done.
• Links to resources very valued.
• Self assessment often feels like a weight around my neck. Looking at it from your perspective makes it feel more like a puzzle that is solvable.
• Transformed.

New College Nottingham

21^st Century Pedagogy

• I was on an island and a boat passed by and picked me up.
• As a new tutor I struggle to develop lesson plans. This session has opened my eyes on teaching.
• Cannot wait to try out lots of new ideas.
• Blue sky.
• It has changed the way I deliver learning outcomes.
• Make this a compulsory mandatory training for all college staff including managers.
• Adventurous.
• Challenging.
• Re-affirm shift from chalk and talk.
• Eye opener to curiosity.
• I will change my teaching strategy.
• Challenged my ways of thinking.
• Introduce more curiosity.
• The use of object, verb, outcome makes it more understandable for the learner!
• Writing more effective learning outcomes which raise the aspirations of all learners.
• Going away with some great ideas.
• Fuelled the mind, now the journey begins.
• (I need to) re-visit learning objectives when planning and include more that develop expert learning traits.
• Brilliant ideas/strategies.
• Very informative, lots of examples to take away.
• Motivated to inspire my learners.
• It was a ride full of interesting scenery!
• It showed me how to make lesson objectives learner focused.
• Really enjoyed the session. Did not feel like 3½ hours.
• It was very refreshing and full of lots of examples of how to use what we learnt in practical ways.
• Inspiring.
• Very useful and insightful.
• To infinity and beyond…

Data Springboard

• From darkness to light.
• Using GPS instead of a map.
• Excellent day, inspired by it all.
• Viewing data as indicators is great.
• Eureka moment.
• Made me think about the underlying indicators for poor achievement and disengagement.

Independent Learning

• Zone idea – excellent.
• Music to my ears.
• Will use ‘expert learner trait’ activity with my own learners as part of induction.
• My favourite recipe now has some new ingredients.
• Awesome – I feel inspired to read/explore further.
• Another perspective to life and learning.
• Acorns for squirrels. Need to focus on equipping learners to learn.
• Excellent, superb, practical, makes sense. An actual researcher!! No waffle!
• Adding a few more strings to my bow!
• Thank you again for your questioning and inspiring approaches.
• Really enjoyed this session and gained lots of information/skills to incorporate into my train-assess-train sessions.
• Inspired me to consider my practice.
• A new beginning.
• Meerkat – great reference and exactly what I felt like; interesting points throughout.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Refreshingly different.
• Much better to write the SAR as an on-going/live document than a historic review.
• Finally SAR writing seems worthwhile!

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Thinking beyond the straightjacket of my sector.
• This is the best CPD session I have attended in at least 5 years – your facilitation style is brilliant!

ETI (Education & Training Inspectorate Northern Ireland)

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Greater understanding of the dynamics of self-evaluation and development planning.

Farnborough Sixth Form College

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• I am in your debt because I don’t think I’ve ever received so much reflected glory for staging yesterday and having so many people, even the cynics, fired up!
• Your contribution marked a major shift in the way our managers have been thinking about self-assessment. Chalk the day down as a major success!

Cambridge Regional College

Data Springboard

• All staff should receive this training.
• Lights on/blinds up – Ah ha.
• Makes me look at progress in a different way.
• I was shown the light.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Thoroughly enjoyed an outstanding session. 41/2 hours seemed like 30 mins!
• Drawing out the issues instead of just reporting on the good.
• I am looking forward now to the challenge of inspiring my team and learners next year.
• Identified exactly where I might be going wrong.

Blackburn College

Data Springboard

• Enlightening.
• Different and informative – I really enjoyed the day.

Bexley College

Data Springboard

• Differentiation between indicators and causes removes excuses.
• First class.
• From darkness to light.
• Football analogy was great.
• Fantabidozy.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• I finally understand self assessment which has never been correctly explained. I understand how and why.
• Changing trains – high speed line.
• Useful, not drawer full.
• Realisation that SAR process can be a useful tool and not a paper exercise.
• One of the best provided courses I’ve been on.

Ashton-under-Lyne Sixth Form College

Data Springboard

• Increased my motivation for the start of the academic year.
• It has made us all think about the experience we give to our students and how we can make it better.
• Inspiring!!!

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• It is making me think about how I can use the structure this year to inform next years SAR.
• Very enjoyable – held a large group for a whole day – impressive.
• I’m now going to introduce an induction/curiosity pack for all learners.
• Changing our approach to self assessment.
• We are going to change induction.
• Useful and meaningful SAR writing.

NESCOT

Data Springboard

• Unmissable.
• Valuable insight from a very experienced inspector and teacher.

Grade 1 Leadership and Management

• Tony was like a Cheshire cat; provoking curiosity and a desire to find a way out of the madness.
• Inspired to be curious
• Inspirational talk. The symptoms vs issues debate and implications was enlightening.
• Lots of food for thought.
• A bookshelf full of ideas.
• Enlightening moment of clarity.

Perfect Induction Practice

• Unlike ‘footprints in the sand’, this will hopefully stay in my brain!
• One of the first training courses that kept my interest throughout!
• A twisting, green-slimy feeling of guilt and abject excitement.
• It reignited my desire to create a dynamic induction for learners and not on a mechanism for delivering dry college policies.
• This was far better than a toolkit of activities!
• Icing on the cake – my induction is the cake – the session today is the icing.
• Teaching backwards – start with the end in mind.
• It reaffirms some key messages and ideas, but shifts thinking about impact – a good focus.
• The induction experience needs to be motivating enough to make learners curious!
• New ideas to make ‘expert learners’.
• I could tell by the buzz that colleagues were engaging with this.
• A rich and stimulating event that engaged everyone.
• A paradigm shift – thinking much more about impact on students and exciting ways of achieving real impact.
• Out of the box – in the zone.
• Fuelled my imagination for developing more creative ways of delivery for induction. Also helped me pin point what I want my induction phase to achieve.
• Interesting and thought provoking.
• A rethink of induction.
• Aspirational.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Finding more clarity in the mist.
• Really helpful.
• Enlightening.
• Sunshine on a cloudy day.

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Enlightening
• The pieces that were missing from the jigsaw puzzle have been found!
• Inspirational. Also given me a sense of relief that this approach to education and learning is being promoted at Nescot.
• Extremely interesting.
• Colourful journey which will make me consider my text more carefully.
• Too short!
• Like opening a window and having the sun illuminate the room where before there was only a candle.
• Fascinated by new routes.
• Excellent session – different, but simple.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• The meerkats have landed.
• A Phoenix from the ashes!
• Transformational.
• Inspired to transform T&L.
• Have much greater confidence in valuing and evaluating the impact.
• Felt suitably challenged by activities but appropriately supported and pleased with own learning journey!
• Impact is King.
• Reaching for the stars (stars being the teachers).
• Like emerging from a rain cloud into the sunshine!
• Shift of paradigm for the college.
• This helped immediately calm my concerns about observing teaching.

Trafford College

Independent Learning

• I feel I have just done a somersault
• A squeezed out, dried up dinosaur teacher that’s just been rehydrated
• Arriving at a new world of colour from the more usual black and white
• Made me question everything
• I will re-assess my preconceived ideas about teaching and learning and make significant changes to my current practice and approach
• Very useful to explore where perceptions of good practice may actually stifle the creativity of learners
• A voyage of exploration
• A few light bulbs were switched on
• This session was excellent
• Inspiring
• Opening a door
• Being released from mind traps
• Exciting
• A journey of discovery, consideration and reflection
• A journey in which I took the car off the road, stopped the engine, and considered whether I’m heading in the right direction
• Productive – challenged and stretched!

“Yes, were all individuals” Bryan, 1979

• Fascinating session!
• Raise the bar
• Enjoyable and aspirational, inspiring.
• I am in a dark tunnel, but there is a light at the end of it.
• Very informative and made me want to change the way I deliver some of my units at level 3.
• It will hopefully make me a better teacher.
• Truly inspirational.
• Enjoyable and creative.
• Made me think about how I can change my next lesson.
• Sprinting through exploding raindrops of inspiration.
• Fantastic ‘open’ and ‘progressive’ learning.
• A journey of enlightenment and clarification.
• Well divided, wonderfully digestible cake.
• I have realised the importance of challenging the independent learner further by providing opportunities for them to flourish beyond the constraints of the syllabus. (Lynsey Warner)
• A box of delights – a rainbow of sunshine.
• Moving from playing scales to symphonies.
• Olympic
• Diving into the deep sea and catching a starfish.

Stroud College

Wiki Wonderland

• Like a box of chocolates.
• A rich overview of new ideologies to learning.
• Ray of sunshine.
• Eye opener.
• Like browsing a flea market and finding an antique you’re fascinated by.
• Excellent session, and a pleasure to be a part of.

Andover College

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• The lights are on! I am going to use my play-day session.
• Ideas for pushing me out of my comfort zone.
• It was like orbiting the earth – visiting new places and revisiting old places.  A good and timely start to the year.
• Was good to work with the other subject areas to share/swap ideas.
• Curiosity keeps the dream alive.
• Encouraged creative thinking.
• Excellent session, very helpful. Learnt a lot without trying.
• Really enjoyed session. Excellent opportunity to discuss ideas across departments and to develop own teaching.
• It got me excited about teaching and doing new ideas rather than here we go again.
• Optometrist leading the partially sighted.
• In the zone.

West Yorkshire Music Service

HoT Learning

• Eye-opener.
• It enabled me to consider the important aspects of each lesson to get the maximum outcome.
• A bag full of ideas.
• I wasn’t that motivated when I arrived, but I enjoyed it!
• A reluctant child finding that they do like peas when they finally try them.
• I will challenge myself to constantly have high expectations.
• Everything is achievable.
• I have so much to learn about becoming better than good as a teacher.
• Inspiring.
• A really good confidence builder as a teacher.

Totton College

HoT Learning

• Concepts have become more tangible.
• A shot of vitamin D.
• I came, I saw, I will get a grade 1!
• Inspired me to concentrate more as I plan.
• Reminds me why I love my job!
• It feels like I’ve just got some new cheat codes for a difficult computer game.
• A meerkat experience.
• Some very valuable information was provided which has challenged some of my assumptions about teaching and learning.

Data Springboard

• Makes me love data more.
• It changed my idea of what constitutes data.
• Congratulations for making data interesting!
• This is embarrassingly simple and understandable.

Sparsholt College

HoT Learning

• Apprehensive about the content of the session, but fully engaged and interested for the whole time.
• Enjoyable, interesting, eye opening.
• Beyond expectations.
• Liked the opening about achieving happiness – kept me thinking throughout session and wanted to get to the end.
• A fantastic in-the-zone journey!
• Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get!
• A ray of sunshine.
• Will try and let my students fly more.
• Good use of wiki and new strategies.
• I was in the zone for most of the lesson!
• A toolkit to improvement.
• Very inspired by zone experience.

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• Like a high-energy snack halfway through a very long migration.
• I will develop some of the strategies I have never used before to make my teaching more varied.
• Like finishing a set of directions towards the light at the end of the tunnel.
• The motivation has given me food for thought to start the year as I mean to go on and try to develop more and better teaching strategies.
• Bumper cars of ideas.
• Thanks – most useful CPD in ages!
• They were all buzzing with ideas of how to improve their teaching, and you had buy in from all, some of whom were in their first year of teaching, and some in their 20th year!
• Like a breath of fresh air providing the answer to a long-standing question.
• I am full of ideas that I look forward to using.
• I love the envelope full of new innovative tasks for teaching.
• Makes a change to be inspired by staff development, not depressed!
• Rather than being told you have to change your teaching, we were given ideas as to how to.
• Eureka moments.

The Self-Assessment Flip

• A great journey, full of excellent ideas.
• Excellent use of games.
• Fun and creative.
• The however concept is fundamental.

Bespoke Quality System Training

• The two days were nothing less than brilliant.
• You have made a great impact upon the management team.

South Leicestershire College

HoT Learning

• Inspirational, though provoking.
• Happiness = success in teaching.
• Someone came into the room and said, You’re right, the Emperors not wearing any clothes!
• My head is spinning with ideas.
• Falling down a rabbit hole with Alice and developing a new perspective.
• Lovely atmosphere, engaging activities, stimulating.
• Awakening!
• Really liked the development plan – will trial using it on a weekly basis to improve classroom problems.
• Prometheus unbound.

Data Springboard

• Emerging from the dark into light!
• Thank you, an opportunity to shift culture and start change.
• The fog cleared.
• Feel back in focus, and full of hope.
• You’re a lighthouse!!
• Feel energised after this – not worn out.
• I love data, but this session gave me more ideas.
• I’m not really into data, but the need for it and the relevance of it became apparent as the session progressed.
• An excellent day. Tony is an outstanding communicator, enthusiastic and energising.
• Ideas flooded in and I made copious notes.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• I am excited about the possibility of change.
• Observations could be such a positive driving force – at present they are not.
• I like to sing, but I now want to write the song!
• Best CPD I have engaged in re observation training.
• Inspirational system.
• Focus on questions after an observation rather than providing feedback.
• We need a new system that eliminates fear and fosters creativity.
• Inspired.
• Change how I feedback – focus more on coaching model practised in the session.
• I shall use all the information, ideas and concepts, building them into my work as an observer in order to support colleagues in actively improving impact and learning.
• It is regrettable that the ‘architects’ of the system were not present.
• Inspirational. Left me with a desire to make a positive change within the organisation.
• Changing culture is challenging.
• Eye-opening.
• Lesson observation is to improve teaching and learning and not mirror Ofsted.
• The observation system needs a complete rethink following these guidelines.
• Why aren’t we doing this already!!

Richard Taunton College

HoT Learning

• It helped me articulate what I thought was gut instinct and feeling.

Reaseheath College

HoT Learning

• Excellent – opened my eyes!
• Totally made me realise the difference between grade 2 and grade 1!
• Inspiring and reignited my passion for developing my practice.
• It was good to take a fresh view rather than thinking about meeting a tick-box form.
• My sessions need to inspire curiosity.
• Clouds clearing from a mountain top.
• The spotlight has been redirected.
• Opening a door to new horizons.
• Heading onwards and upwards without any limits – thank you!
• Developing teaching and learning where the person delivering the session has actually practised what he preaches!
• A wake-up call.

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• Enlightening.
• Made me reflect on creativity – how to make sessions fun and engaging.
• The zone experience was very useful.

Reading College

HoT Learning

• One of the most inspiring learning experiences in my life and I will undoubtedly change what I do and how I do it.
• Bringing reality into focus and seeing more detail, colour and possibilities in the environment.
• Very much improved my grasp of what to do and how to evaluate my own practice.
• Excellent session – really enjoyable, thought provoking.
• A very refreshing session.
• Pushing through a membrane.

“Yes, were all individuals” Bryan, 1979

• Mind blowing – blooming brilliant!
• Welcoming the challenge ahead.
• Liked the pulsed polyphony model.
• I came with my eyes closed and they were prised open.

The Self-Assessment Flip

• I want to do it all differently!
• I can’t wait to get started!

Wiki Wonderland

• Great use of wikis.
• Inspiring.

Portsmouth College

HoT Learning

• A high-flying jet now going into outer-space!
• Opened a new window for me!
• Inspired – can’t wait to get started.
• It raised my curiosity and strengthened my determination to improve my teaching.
• It helped me realise for myself the importance of learner-centred lessons.

Data Springboard

• Really enjoyable session and kept me curious!
• Lack of curiosity is a risky beast.
• Portsmouth College

Peterborough Regional College

HoT Learning

• Will inspire and motivate me to relook at how I plan my lessons.
• Changed my mind-set towards teaching and learning.
• Made me want to put things into action soon!
• Confirmation of my own understanding of a grade 1 lesson which has increased my confidence.
• Excellent knowledge, interactive, relevant to new teacher.
• Gave me space and opportunity to actively reflect on my own teaching practice.
• Next lesson replanned in head while attending.
• Inspirational new ideas.
• I found this the most useful and helpful training/workshop the college has ever provided. Ofsted inspection? Bring it on!
• It was inspiring, awakening and motivational.
• Inspiring teacher, made us reflect on own practice and realise how to change/improve.
• I was inspired.
• A thorough session delivered by an expert in the field.
• The whole session was enlightening and interesting.
• The HoT Learning model will be displayed on my desk to support my planning.
• Going from using a match to using a torch in a dark cave of treasure.

People 1st (Northern Ireland)

HoT Learning

• From a spark to a flame.
• Enhanced the flavour of an already fine tasting meal.
• A stunted tree trying to grow new shoots 🙂

Data Springboard

• Scaled the mountain of data.
• I feel like I surfed a wave of knowledge today.
• Helped me see things in a different way.
• I can see clearly now the fog has gone.
• Explosion of ideas.
• It was like the meeting of tiny streams that flow into a river.
• So much will now change.
• Major food for thought. Can’t wait to put it into practice.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Peeling back layers of bureaucracy to get to the kernel of the self-evaluation process.
• This session helped me expand my knowledge of self evaluation and made it clear to me where I have been going wrong.
• It helped broaden my mind on how to self assess myself.
• Enlightening.
• Will commit to completing self-evaluation for own internal improvement purposes rather than to meet requirements of external agencies.

Northern Regional College (Northern Ireland)

HoT Learning

• I would like to say how stimulating, informative and inspiring your CPD sessions were. You have even got an old cynic enthused.
• Wow. Lots of food for thought.
• Realised that the same lesson plan won’t suit all learners.
• Refreshing – a reminder of what learning is all about.
• It definitely has helped me to look at my lesson planning in a new light.
• Reach for the stars.
• A masterclass.
• Tony is an excellent role model who obviously practises what he preaches.
• An eye opener.
• A light being turned on.
• Champagne bottle.
• Very stimulating and constructive – enlightening.
• Aladdin’s cave full of gold.
• Aspirational.

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• Finally feel like spring time is here – budding with enthusiasm for my teaching.
• It refreshed my desire to teach.
• Think and grow rich.
• Excited about ideas.
• Like a rocket.
• Like a visit to the Tate Modern – lots to inspire me, motivate me and set me thinking new ideas.
• My eyes have been opened to view a lesson from the learners’ perspective.
• Being reborn after 25 years teaching.

“Yes, were all individuals” Bryan, 1979

• Rub out some of my thoughts on differentiation and rewrite.
• Mind-opening enlightening.
• A blossoming rose.
• Excellent delivery. Thoroughly engaged in session.
• Challenging.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• I felt like a rocket launching into space.
• I was feeling tired this semester and now I’m energised.
• If I had not attended this session I would probably have used a tick list system.
• It has changed my view of how observation should be carried out.
• Our observation ethos needs to be reformed.
• A great session that challenges traditional ideas of lesson observation.
• I never analysed impact before.
• Unmissable.
• I was aware how the bar was raised for me today and how the rubric challenged my classroom performance.

North Hertfordshire College

HoT Learning

• Everything becomes connected. Made me nervous/excited about continuing to develop my teaching and learning.
• I will now approach my lesson planning using the (HoT Learning) model.
• Made me really think!
• Let the sun shine.
• Made me think about how I teach and how to improve.
• Inspiring.
• Like jumping into a plungepool – feeling more revitalised.
• Dancing my way to success.
• It’s not what you do, it’s the impact you have.
• The mist has cleared!
• Teaching an old dog new tricks!
• It’s inspired me to explore outstanding ways of teaching.
• Plan differently (aspirationally).
• Clearest explanation I have had to date of what an outstanding lesson is.
• Clear and concise. I have the desire to plan sessions in a different way.
• I feel like I have had a large can of red bull.
• Feel enthused and thinking about possible strategies for improvement.

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• Exciting session which I was fully engaged in. On reflection in the tea break, I realised I was ‘zoning’!
• Blue sky thinking!

Implementing Live Self Assessment

• The best input we’ve had by miles!
• Moving from black and white to Technicolor.
• Made me look at the real issues I need to consider.
• A journey into the unknown (or rather something I thought I knew but actually didn’t).
• My head is spinning with ideas.
• I’ve walked around the mammoth with my knife and fork and I’ve a good idea how I’m going to eat it, although I’ve decided my cutlery is not fit for purpose.

The Self-Assessment Flip

• Lightbulb moment!
• I now feel confident to begin writing my first SAR.
• We liked the impact assessment tool.
• Huge impact.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• The exercises were a brilliant tool to realise and understand the positive impact of standards on performance and strategy.
• Like a penny that has been polished and revalued.
• Illuminating – I have not done an observation before. I will talk less and listen more.
• Let there be light.
• It was “unmissable”.
• I’ve been observing for many years and have been involved in double observations as part of Ofsted inspections. Having a significant rethink now re my impact judgements.
• I was in the ‘zone’.
• Quite a few meerkat moments!
• Opening of a flower in spring.
• Helped me reflect on our current (observation) system that does not improve T&L.
• Inspiring to see some people challenging the system.
• Windscreen wiper moment.
• Inspirational and encouraging knowing what observations could and can be.
• Changing trains – changing perspectives.
• This session really helped me be more objective.
• Opens the mind.
• It has opened my eyes and I’m going to have to re-think my own style of assessing/teaching in order to be an effective observer.
• It has focused me on the learning impact and judgements words to help guide the evaluation and grade.
• Provided an excellent insight into what impact a lesson has on the learning journey.
• This session encouraged me to think about learner outcomes. In courage me to see observation in a different and effective way.
• I now have a better idea about how to focus on impact.
• I feel inspired to develop my own teaching sessions based on what I’ve learned.

“Yes, were all individuals” Bryan, 1979

• Really enjoyed the participation and being included, even though I am not teaching staff.
• Nothing worthwhile comes easy.
• Very interesting to explore differentiation examples from both Tony and my peers.

North East Worcestershire College

HoT Learning

• Challenging but inspiring.
• Like taking the stabilizers off your bike.
• I am curious to learn more…
• Fantastic, engaging, really useful, not what I expected.
• I just wanted to say thank you for a really energised and enthusiastic development day.

Data Springboard

• An excellent opportunity to track problems with learners before crisis point.
• Great to look at data without numbers.
• Differentiation: how do I re-engage learners who weren’t engaged last week?
• Made me think about the data I have available as a teacher! Not just the data held by MIS and the departments.

Kendal College

HoT Learning

• Space travel.
• Canoeing to the end of the lake then arriving to a wonderful picnic!
• I will endeavour to introduce curiosity and re-gain some excitement with my lessons.
• Really valuable and enjoyable. You have enthused me and I am looking forward to teaching on Monday!
• You made data much more interesting!

“Yes, were all individuals” Bryan, 1979

• Walking a familiar journey with new boots!!
• I have learnt that I usually focus on my low achievers and have discovered methods of challenging my other students.
• Like dipping a toe into an ocean of thought.
• As a 2nd year Cert Ed student, this session was really useful.
• Breath of fresh air.
• Very stimulating. Will be thinking hard when I’m planning future sessions!
• Felt session was excellent – very well prepared for such a large group.
• Old dog! New tricks 🙂
• Warp drive.
• Creative and very motivational. Thank you 🙂
• Energising. Felt it made me sit up and take notice.
• It was an extremely motivating session to start 2012. It made me evaluate my role and how I can improve in certain areas.
• There’s a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
• Tony delivered a great session – fun and informative. The practical demonstrations and activities were great.
• Delivered with passion.

Data Springboard

•  I thought the session was excellent and has made me reflect on my practice and develop ideas for the future.
• Energising – sparkling water.
• Definitely will introduce volatile indicators to catch learners who are faltering earlier!

Itchen College

Data Springboard

•  Eye opening!

HoT Learning

• Motivational.
• An excellent session!
• A rollercoaster.
• I thought the HoT Learning hierarchy put into perspective the importance of the elements that make an outstanding lesson.
• Energetic river – it led me somewhere really interesting.
• Inspiring.
• Was excellent – especially given the large group size!

Supercharged Evaluation Skills

• Child in a sweet shop.
• Full-colour vocabulary – awesome.
• I felt like a student again!! Feeling open to learning and working hard.
• Practical, effective and applicable.
• Wonderful inspiring input.

Isle of Wight College

HoT Learning

• Outstanding, thoroughly enjoyed the session.
• Fully understand what is needed in a grade 1 lesson.
• Steeplechase – high fences – got there in the end!
• It has showed me that every lesson is an event not to be missed.
• The concepts of curiosity and transformation teaching has profound consequences. I must move into these areas and dig out the gold in my students.

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• Made me think about how I do things and the way I can improve strategies.
• I got some great ideas to use in my lesson, thanks!!
• I needed this input to advance towards next year. My energy had been dissipated, but has been rekindled.
• I believe I am on the right train, and it has just sped up.
• This is a really great session to help focus planning for the new year – it gives focus and allows new thought. I’m quite excited at the thought of planning :).

“Yes, were all individuals” Bryan, 1979

• Toboggan ride.
• Very informative – couldn’t be better.
• I can see coaching and Q&A in a completely new way.
• Have learnt a lot from this especially on the questioning techniques.
• Coaching was new to me. Good practical session.
• Reopened my eyes!
• So much to take away as a manager.
• A re-awakening.
• Like exploring in the woods.
• This is one of the most useful development sessions I have attended.
• Thoroughly enjoyable, yet useful!
• I leave today with lots of ideas for my teaching and my students learning.
• Back to the drawing board in an exciting way.
• A new direction to follow – lots more focus on how I use my teaching time.
• Loads of food for thought – has really opened my eyes to what I already do and how I can do it better.
• It has highlighted my tendency (or comfort) to teach towards the more able..
• Mind changing.
• This should culminate in a regular teaching and learning group to assess practice.
• It persuaded me that differentiation is very important. The benefits to learners is well worth the extra planning effort.
• Just to say many thanks for organising the Tony Davis training yesterday. He is so inspiring and we are lucky to have had his input into our professional development.

Huntingdonshire Regional College

HoT Learning

• Like someone throwing me a very different but exciting new torch to illuminate the dark corridor I’ve wandered down.
• A clearer view of the mountain we have to climb.
• There is another way.
• Looking through a glass bottomed boat – magnified what I have known before and widened my knowledge (added layers of learning).
• Reassuring – there is another way.
• Refreshing to know what common sense is still out there.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Enlightening.
• It has made me really think about what the point of induction is.
• Refreshing/positive, encouraging!
• A revelation in terms of the format and process. Really enjoyed it.
• Fantastic.
• Writing judgements which are objective: the practical session on this was excellent.
• A clearer view of the mountain we have to climb.

Hertford Regional College

HoT Learning

• A solution to Fermat’s last theorem!
• I have swum through a salty sea and surfaced, taking a huge gulp of sweet air!
• The sky is the limit.
• I’m no longer in a coal mine with a box of matches.
• Reassuring that learning can still be exciting.
• Want to do more!
• Inspirational.
• Enthralling.
• Refreshing perspective.
• Inspired to create more Meerkat moments.
• Empowering – filling lungs with fresh sea air.
• Very uplifting and relevant.
• Awakening.
• Like opening a box of goodies.
• Feel more confident to write a session plan with meerkat moments.
• Looking into lots of interesting boxes.
• (I need to) write the lesson plans and scheme of work with less focus on what I’m doing and more emphasis on creating space for the learner to take control.
• Aspirational.
• Drop bombs in lessons to keep learners engaged and develop curiosity in learning.
• Looking forward to giving all these ideas a go in my teaching.
• Burning bright.
• Particularly liked the Hierarchy of Teaching and Learning and feel this would be a useful tool for colleagues.
• (I want) To take my sessions to the next level!
• I now have a better understanding of what an outstanding lesson may consist of.
• New expectations.
• A new approach to lesson planning so opening a new door to lessons!
• A great session with lots of new ideas to try and practical skills I can use in my teaching from herein.
• Has extended thinking and ideas for changes to practice.
• A polished stone.

Independent Learning

• I will look at developing independency skills rather than just allowing students to work independently.

Transformational Lesson Observation

• Revealing.
• Excellent – informative and enjoyable.
• Eye opening!
• Jimmy Choo moment.
• I need to coach the teachers to accurately assess their session.
• Quite liberating.
• Lifting the lid off the box of possibilities.
• I think this session should be for all staff and not just observers.
• I will approach giving feedback to staff in a whole new light.
• Inspiring.
• Exciting.
• Enlightening.
• Enthused. Really get it now!
• Challenges received ideas – calls for change!

Gloucester College

HoT Learning

• This was brilliant, if we don’t have any other training this year I’d be happy to wait until Tony can return.
• Very inspirational session – the best in years. I have a lot to think about.
• A thoroughly interesting and vibrant session which certainly stimulated my thought processes and raised my excitement and motivation to change our focus regarding teaching, learning, observation and development planning.
• We are currently tick boxing creativity out of lessons. Hopefully the context of today’s session will redress this.
• I need to share the HoT Learning Model with staff by taking them through the activities so that they can identify what constitutes an outstanding lesson.
• This session was expertly delivered by a highly knowledgeable and inspirational presenter.

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• Helter-skelter!
• Re-engaged!
• The 28 teaching methods really made me think!
• I have taken a great deal away with me.
• I have now some ideas to expand my teaching strategies in lots of areas.
• I will be doing less talking and the students will be more engaged!
• Now I know what “to experience being in the zone” is!
• I’ve found a new recipe book I want to try.
• Just what I need to improve my repertoire after teaching adults for many years.
• Time has flown. An excellent, inspiring session.

 Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Everything was considered from a different angle and a new light was shed on issues.
• Really like the aspect/element – intention/action process.
• SARs need to be written from a learner impact perspective.
• Opening my eyes but also my mind to new possibilities.
• A mystery tour through a jungle of challenges with more than one right path to the correct conclusion.

Data Springboard

• I arrived as a sceptic and left as a believer.
• I didn’t think about data at all!
• Data has been given a whole new meaning today – nothing to be scared of, and something to be embraced.

Belfast Metropolitan College

HoT Learning

• I’ve been inspired!
• Discovering – like learning the chords at the end of Stravinsky’s Symphonies for Wind Instruments.
• To infinity and beyond.
• I feel that I’ve been involved in going the extra mile today, and look forward to more.
• Very enjoyable – creative and grabbed my attention throughout.
• Cant wait to get started!
• Cutting apron strings – let learners go!
• Super – thought provoking, intelligent, and very, very helpful.
• A colleague who had dreaded 3 hours this morning sent a message to say it was well worth coming. She was not wrong.
• I will rethink many aspects of the way I teach.
• Many things are a lot clearer.
• A pedagogical whirlwind.
• Refreshing and extremely helpful.
• A clearing mist.
• I will now see the learners at the heart of what I do rather than aim to ‘get through’ the syllabus.

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• A wilted flower that’s just been given a drop of water.
• Think big first, then refine as cost/needs dictate – great idea..
• Eating a huge bar of chocolate.
• Very good session. We tend to become bogged down in processes which block creativity.
• I need to think about how to build in the ‘curiosity’ idea – to keep students motivated.

“Yes, were all individuals” Brian, 1979

• TED talk.
• Exceptionally interesting.
• Sunrise/dawn – illumination!
• Rocket.
• Excellent reflective session and clearly one that challenges teaching strategies to date.
• An oasis of sense.
• An eye opener.
• Rekindled old ideas lost over time.
• A light has come on!
• Plenty of proactive techniques.
• Enjoyed questioning how I question.
• Excellent ideas on differentiation which we do not do enough of now.
• Thought provoking, with some very good practical tips.
• A light being switched on to illuminate a dark room.
• It helped me with what I have always considered to be the main difficulty in teaching further education.
• Stimulated such useful pedagogical discussion.
• Very challenging – would love to build all this in.
• A journey of discovery!
• Make me re-think my teaching strategies for next year.
• I need to get to know individual students and their needs early on, and try to plan strategies to meet their needs.
• Now I’ve had a glass of wine, I want the bottle!
• This session has enhanced my motivation ahead of next week.
• Good to be reminded that we should always reinvent our teaching skills.
• Helped me reconsider what to do with over achievers.
• A new perspective. Lots of great ideas.
• Need to revisit my scheme of work and invest in my teaching in order to work smarter.
• Eye opener.
• Some of the fog has lifted.
• Several Damascene moments.
• Excellent presenter with very innovative and creative tasks.

Data Springboard

• Very thought provoking and unusually enjoyable.
• Expanding my mind to make me better than I am.
• Touchstone – a reminder of what is important.
• Inspiring.
• I will increase my observation of useful data; note it and act on it earlier.
• I will integrate the concept of volatile indicators into the units I teach.
• Eye-opening.
• Kenny Dalglish taking Liverpool to 6th.
• Moving from HD ready to 1080!
• Controlling the rapids rather than being controlled by them.
• It will help me contribute to our quality assurance process.
• An oasis.

Preparing for Live Self Assessment

• Plato’s cave
• Challenging.
• Excellent.
• Journey down quality street.
• Food for thought… feeling full!
• Excellent self assessment is honest self assessment.
• The scales fell from my eyes.
• I will certainly use the ‘so what’, but I will focus more on trying to get the ‘roadmap to outstanding’ out of the SER.
• You can teach an old dog new tricks.
• Everyone should go on this training.
• Revelatory.
• Revolutionary.
• My SER (SAR) is going to become more student focused rather than management.
• Excellent session with some great pointers from which to improve my SER and indeed have that IMPACT.
• Enlightening.
• Exciting.
• It demystified the language needed to make this a meaningful process.
• Very enjoyable. Difficult topic, well handled.
• Discovering cornerstones.
• Found games very helpful and informative. Really like the football analogy.
• Magical mystery tour!
• Switched the light on!
• Thoroughly enjoyable. Best so far.
• Audit to impact.

The Self-Assessment Flip

• I really got a lot out of your session and have been singing your praises to anyone who will listen.
• It has improved my understanding of what we are expected to do.
• Roses are red, Violets are blue, This session made me want to improve, So thank you!!
• Enthusiastic and knowledgeable presenter who clearly has a passion for this area of work.
• Super-duper.
• Inspirational.
• Excellent – very useful – creative – practical!
• Challenging!
• Excellent workshop.
• Engaging and thought provoking.
• Make it longer. It was excellent.
• A first class event.

Wakefield College

HoT Learning

• An excellent and inspiring session.
• A gourmet meal.
• I will find it easier to articulate what an outstanding lesson consists of.
• Wish you could give this presentation to all our teaching staff.
• This will change my old fashioned views.
• I will do most things differently.
• Excellent session – you have inspired me to become an independent learner!

HoT2 – Techniques for engaging learners

• Inspirational