Learning and skills sector consultancy, training, facilitation, coaching and interim management
 
What we do

I offer expert support in a range of areas

Continuous quality improvement and sharing best practice

What are your values and how do you they shine through in your quality improvement strategy? How do you exceed the expectations of your learners, the inspectorate and funding bodies? I work both strategically and operationally with organisations on all aspects of quality – I support you with working towards quality standards such as the Common Inspection Framework, Investors in People, PQASSO and from the autumn also with EFQM. We can work together to define your own standards and make sure that you have the processes in place to make them work for your stakeholders. I have an excellent track record supporting organisations with improving their self-assessment processes, establishing observation and peer observation schemes, implementing RARPA and introducing peer review as well as helping in many other ways to support you on your journey towards being an excellent provider.

Inspirational learning and teaching outstanding customer service

This is what your organisation is really about. Whether you call them learners, students, clients or pupils – their learning is why you exist. If you want your learners to get the best possible experience, make sure they are challenged and inspired, ensure they develop the skills to work independently as well as collaboratively as well as succeed and achieve in their learning then you also will want to make sure your staff are equipped to do so. I work with providers on putting the buzz back into teaching and learning through a range of practical approaches and methods that work in harmony with learners’ brains. Brain friendly learning is learning that is relevant, active, collaborative, personalised, multi-sensory and takes account of learner state. I also specialise in integrating digital technologies in the learning and teaching process in a way that keeps it real for learners and enhances and enriches the learning process. Together we can improve your entire customer service focus from meeting to exceeding your customers’ expectations.

Values-based leadership and management development

Essentially your success and therefore the success of your learners will depend on your capacity to lead and manage and develop others at every level of your organisation. This implies becoming a master at managing change, which in today’s world is certain and constant. I work with managers and leaders individually and in teams to improve their effectiveness by becoming more resourceful to deal with change and getting the best out of people. I facilitate meetings on developing values, missions and visions; I support you with implementing new organisational structures as well as with developing systems for improving effectiveness across your organisation.

Embedding ILT across your organisation

Digital technologies are here to stay and they can significantly enhance the learning process. If you want to employ digital technologies in a brain-friendly fashion, then I can definitely help you. I have much experience facilitating senior and middle management groups to think strategically about the potential of digital technologies and then making it happen on the ground. Ag consulting is also an accredited EPICT centre and I offer training and accreditation of the European Pedagogical ICT Licence. I also offer training in the pedagogical use of Moodle, which is an open source Virtual Learning Environment.

Specialist support for languages (MFL, EFL, ESOL)

I have years of experience of providing high quality support to languages departments. Whether you need to develop your curriculum or train your tutors to teach more inspirationally I can provide you with the required expertise. Some popular topics include teaching communicatively, differentiation in the languages classroom, using the taught language effectively, the use of games and creativity as well as effective assessment practices in languages.

Promotion of equality and diversity

I provide strategic support with developing policies and strategies to promote equality and diversity as well as offer practical equality and diversity awareness training.

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Making CPD arrangements work for you

Whether you want to improve the impact of your training and staff development activities, offer train the trainer or facilitation courses for your staff or in fact want me to help you organise, run and evaluate staff conferences I can help you make it a success. How effective is your current induction programme? Does it introduce new staff to the core values of your organisation – does it make them excited and proud to be part of you, does it engage hearts and minds or is it a run through the most important policies? Does your teacher training model the behaviours, capabilities and beliefs that you would like to experience when you observe classes? Did you realise that staff training effectiveness is significantly enhanced when followed up through individual coaching support? So, if you would like to make some changes with any of the above in your organisation, just get in touch.

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Responsive and innovative curriculum development

I can support you with ongoing curriculum review, making sure that your planning is in line with your values, your learners’ needs and interests as well as your funding sources. In addition I support newly appointed as well as established curriculum managers with managing their departments more effectively.

All round inspection support

I can support you with all aspects of pre- and post inspection preparation as well as carry out regular “health checks” to ensure you are on the right tracks. I provide inspection briefings for staff, nominees and other stakeholders as well as carry out mock inspections. I help you identify what exceeds and meets current sector standards as well as the areas that really need to be tackled because they fall short of expectations. I will support you identify clear actions to build on your strengths and the areas that are fine as well as work on your weaknesses. Wherever you are on the 1 to 4 grading scale we can work together towards greater excellence.

 

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andrea@ag-consulting.co.uk / +44 (0)20 8776 9111
© 2005-2007 ag-consulting and associates ltd - all rights reserved.
Company registration 5444945
   

I specialise in the following types of support

» Consultancy

» Training

» Facilitation

Examples when group facilitation can be really useful include

You want to achieve an agreed outcome in an agreed time frame. This allows you to concentrate on the content and being creative and let me make sure the process works for you and your team. Examples may include visioning, business planning and strategic away days.

You want your team to work more productively and resourcefully together. Together we can explore communication patterns and better ways of working together.


» Coaching

You may find coaching useful when you want to


improve your life balance
reduce stress
develop your leadership/management skills or effectiveness
change perspective
consider career progression or changes


» Interim management

I take on assignments for interim senior and middle management in post-16 education

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I will draw upon suitable methodologies and techniques such as

• Appreciative Inquiry
• Solution-focus
•Coaching
• Brainstorming and using springboards
• Other problem solving and creativity approaches such as those of Edward de Bono, Roger van Oech and Walt Disney
• Neuro-linguistic Programming
• Accelerated learning
• Active learning
• Action learning sets
• Visioning
• Models such as SWOT, PESTEL, EFQM

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How can you get the best out of external support?

Think through carefully, before the first visit, what you would like to get out of the support.

• What is your intended destination/outcome? What do you want to be different after the intervention?
• How will you know that it has been successful? What will you see, hear or feel that will be different from now?
• What resources do you already have that help you with this intended outcome?
• Who needs to be involved and at what stages?
• What budget and resources do you have available to reach the outcome(s)? Does the intended outcome need to be revised in light of this?
• How does the intended outcome relate to other targets and objectives within your organisation?
• When consultancy/training/facilitation/coaching visits are planned, make sure the relevant staff have time for them and understand what is expected from them in the process.
• Supply the consultant with the information they ask for in good time before any meeting or training.

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Additional support

Graphic design and website design

I closely work with a designer with experience in education. We have produced learner and tutor handbooks for a number of providers.

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