Solutions & Services

Consultancy

We offer a range of bespoke consultancy activities to meet the needs of individuals, teams and organisations. Our experience ranges from supporting key individuals within organisations through to actively advising large institutions and partnership teams.

This consultancy work can take many forms, depending upon the needs of the customer. The work may arise from specific challenges being faced, from restructuring activities or from a desire to move in a particular direction.

Consultancy can be offered for a range of aspects including curriculum, learner support, Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG), Quality Assurance, Statutory Compliance and duty of care, or for general institutional improvement as identified by the customer.

Training and staff development (including 'train the trainer' programmes)

The associates have a wealth of experience in delivering training and development activities for teams, organisations and partnership groups. In addition, several team members deliver modules for honours degree programmes for the University of Hull.

These training and development events are designed to meet the needs of the host organisation or group and have an active learning focus with an emphasis on discussion and problem solving.

The team has experience of successfully delivering teacher training and education programmes ranging from the City and Guilds 7303 (level 3) to Masters level (level 7), and including Preparing to Teach in the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTLLS) and Certificate/Postgraduate Certificate in Education, leading to Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) and Qualified Teacher Learning and Skills (QTLS). All training programmes offered can be tailored to adopt a 'train the trainer' approach.

Support and advice

In an ever changing education sector it is difficult for individuals to keep up to date at all times with regional and national developments. We can make this easier for you by highlighting key publications, articles and websites, conferences and training events, ensuring that you always have information and guidance at your fingertips.

Our support can be given in one-to-one or group face to face sessions or remotely via teleconferencing or e mail. A support package can be offered to suit your circumstances and needs.

Coaching and mentoring

The team members have experience of coaching and mentoring individuals and teams to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to perform effectively in their role. This includes advice to organisations on Talent Management, Equality and Diversity and Action Learning. A professional dialogue approach is used in coaching and mentoring, one model used being the Purpose, Strategy, Outcomes, Review (PSOR) framework used by the Learning and Skills Improvement Service (LSIS).

Project management

Members of the team have successfully managed local and national pilots and projects whilst working with organisations and local authorities. We have an excellent track record in writing successful bids for funding on behalf of organisations and in managing high impact projects funded by the DfE, QCDA and LSIS. Many of these projects have resulted in case studies and development projects which are available within the LSIS Excellence Gateway.

In recent years team members have set up and run on behalf of Local Authorities the Key Stage 4 Engagement Programme and the 14-19 QCDA Foundation Learning Pilot.

Members of the team continue to advise Local Authorities, Schools, Academies, Further Education Colleges and Third Sector institutions on coherent personalised learning programmes.

We will consider project management contracts of any size.

Action research

We can carry out action research projects of all types, including projects that focus on improving teaching and learning in one classroom situation through to research across partnerships, such as the Local Authority Strategic Area Review. This research capability extends to being able to evaluate projects or initiatives you may have running already, providing a comprehensive and objective view of their impact.

Diagnostic organisational assessment (including Amici Culture and Relationships Audit)

In times of rapid change it is often necessary to 'take the temperature' of an organisation. We are able to utilise some of the more common organisational and leadership analyses, such as the Competing Values Framework and the Myers Briggs Indicator.

As an alternative, we are able to offer a 360 degree analysis of the culture and relationships of your organisation or of any team within it using the Amici Culture and Relationships Audit in partnership with Cathexis Consultants Ltd. This is an exceptional tool for establishing beyond doubt the effectiveness of the relationships within an organisation and for measuring the attitude of employees to change and progress. This tool can be offered on its own or alongside the Competing Values Framework analysis in order to give you a complete view of your organisation's relationships and culture.

For more information click here.

Quality Assurance

Team members have a wide range of expertise in quality assurance, from the assessment of standards for teaching and learning, through to the development of quality systems and frameworks and quality marks. Team members have previously used national standardised quality assessments such as the LSIS Health Check process for Foundation Learning so we are in a good position to provide you with a performance benchmark both locally and nationally