Archive:

Mark Beales – NPQH

Mark Beales is currently working as the Head of Senior School in an Australian International School in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Having previously completed our NPQH course, we wanted to hear from Mark how he found his time studying with us.

What made you choose the Real Training course over other options?

I was looking for a provider who could work with teachers based overseas. The leadership elements of the course looked particularly interesting, which is why I chose Real Training, via a Google search.

What was your experience of learning with Real Training?

The course is a detailed look into what it takes to become a school leader. As someone who has worked in international education for nearly 20 years, I wanted to look at some of the non-academic issues that school leaders deal with. Issues such as recruitment, budgeting and general principles of leadership were of particular interest to me, and these are covered in detail in this course.

How has the course helped make an impact at school?

As a result of taking this course, I have established links with other international schools in my city. This has led to training days involving teachers from both schools.

How has the course developed you as an educational professional and what do you hope to achieve with the new knowledge/skills in the future?

The course has given me a detailed look at the qualities needed to become a school principal, and what steps I can take to develop them. The forums include highly-experienced school leaders, and having the chance to talk with them and exchange ideas was invaluable. The feedback from Real Training’s own course leaders (all of them experienced principals) was excellent.

An Interview with Yassar Hussain – NPQH

Yassar Hussain completed the NPQH with us at Real Training in August 2020. He is currently working as a Lower Key Stage Two Coordinator at a Prep School in Jeddah – Saudi Arabia. He has kindly provided his views on his time with Real Training and our delivery of the NPQH. Read on to see what Yassar had to say.

What made you choose the Real Training course over other options?

I discovered Real Training through a Google search and was delighted with the customer service I received. The form I had to fill out was simple and not as laborious as some of the others I had seen. The course was competitively priced for someone who was living and working abroad and the online portal suited my needs as there was a blended approach to learning with online material and webinars with one to one contact with your tutors. 

What was your experience of learning with Real Training?

My experience with Real Training was fantastic. It certainly met my expectations and went beyond them. I was challenged and supported throughout. All three of my tutors were very experienced in their field, friendly and always at hand when I needed them. The pandemic was a worrying time for all candidates, however the tutors were always reassuring and if they did not know the answers to my questions, they would go out of their way to find out and get back to me as soon as possible.

The support I received from my Project Reviewer was very valuable and John made it look simple. The feedback was very constructive and important when making the relevant links to the course material and when writing up my assignment.

How has the course helped make an impact at school?

The course allowed me to challenge myself, my colleagues and all stakeholders. My reading project had a huge impact on making all parties aware of the importance of reading and we raised attainment levels across the prep school.

The course material was relevant with many case studies that were current and relevant to what I was wanting to achieve from start to finish.

The second project allowed me to look at a different school’s budget and I really enjoyed working with different practitioners from all the different backgrounds who have a wealth of experience and knowledge. I also enjoyed looking at their accounts and helping them save money on resources and staff.

How has the course helped develop you as an educational professional and what do you hope to achieve with the new knowledge/skills in the future?

The course has given me the theoretical knowledge needed to understand a school from a leaders perspective. I understood everything about a school not only from a classroom but from a holistic perspective. This meant that I was able to develop and take my colleagues with me on the journey I embarked on to develop as a leader.

In the future, I hope the knowledge, skills and experiences I was able to gain and have exposure to, whilst on the NPQH will allow me to be a suitable candidate as a headteacher of a primary school.

An Interview with Almas Iqbal – NPQH

Almas Iqbal is currently the Head Teacher at a Primary School in Croydon. She embarked on our NPQH in 2019 and completed it in March 2020. You can read below how Almas found her time studying with us at Real Training and the impact the course had on her professionally and her school.

What made you choose the Real Training course over other options? 

I was looking for a course which I could complete online with tutor support. After looking at a number of different options Real training suited me best.

What was your experience of learning with Real Training?

I was impressed with the support that I received, my tutor was very helpful in alleviating any concerns and clarifying any queries that I had. It was easy to access and the process was straightforward. Overall, I had an enjoyable and rewarding experience.

How has the course helped make an impact at school? 

My project was to establish a middle tier of leadership. The course was able to help me by giving me the confidence in bringing my ideas to life in a practical setting. I was able to develop a system which worked well for the school and benefitted the children. The school had an Ofsted inspection soon after I had completed my project. Middle leadership was a huge aspect of the inspection. The inspector was very impressed with the middle leadership structure and how it had been thought out and implemented throughout the school. The school received a grading of Good with Outstanding so I was very pleased.

How has the course helped develop you as an educational professional and what do you hope to achieve with the new knowledge/skills in the future?

The course has provided me with confidence, I have knowledge of educational models around the world, this assists me in making informed decisions and has an impact on my decision making.

 An Interview with Christine Dehnel – NPQSL

Christine is currently the Progress Lead in an alternative secondary education provision for students with SEMH needs, she is based in Milton Keynes. Christine says in her school all of the students have an EHCP for SEMH needs as their primary need however 70% of our population also have ASD as a secondary need. She says her “passion lies in allowing ASD students greater access to the curriculum with minor classroom modifications.” 

What made you choose the Real Training course over other options? 

My Deputy Head recommended me to do it, and I chose to do so based on the online flexibility in learning the modules, and the research-based assessment to drive forward attainment at our provision was a perfect fit.

What was your experience of learning with Real Training? 

I found Real Training really supportive throughout the course. I had reminders and check-ins if I hadn’t logged in for a few weeks. I found the modules informative and easy to access and my tutor really available to offer help and guidance throughout the course. As a professional qualification gaining my NPQSL was a really rewarding process. 

How has the course helped make an impact at school? 

My course project has made all staff more aware of how to approach their subject to allow ASD students greater confidence in accessing the curriculum. We have also increased communication with parents at home by releasing a school app, this allows everyone to keep up to date on school events. Not only has my project made an impact over the duration of my course but these are changes we will continue to support moving forward.  

How has the course helped develop you as an educational professional and what do you hope to achieve with the new knowledge/skills in the future?

This course has allowed me to understand the minor classroom modifications that we as educators can make, to allow ASD students greater accessibility to our lessons. I plan to move forward in applying to study my Educational Doctorate and develop our school as leading experts in this field.

Why did you decide to study with us?

With such a busy role at school, an online NPQH was ideal as I could manage the workload much better.  When this was suggested by the head teacher I was working with at the time, I felt it was a good way to complement and develop my leadership role but at the same time not be intrusive or add more workload.

What was your experience of learning with Real Training?

Initially I was conscious about not having enough support as it was online. I can say whole heartedly that Joan has been extremely supportive and reachable throughout the course. I nearly gave up on this course a few times due to work related pressures and not being able to meet my deadlines but Joan’s support has ensured that I have completed it. The course itself has made me grow immensely as a leader. I feel that I am much better equipped for the role now. Liaising with other people on the course has been invaluable and helped me to reflect a lot. The coaching sessions with tutors and other headteachers were brilliant. I will definitely be recommending Real Training other colleagues.

How has the course(s) helped make an impact at school?

The project has definitely raised standards in my previous infant school as it helped staff grow and raised expectations. Since then I have moved schools and I can honestly say I am much more equipped to lead a larger school alongside the head teacher and when deputising in her absence.  I feel I have much more knowledge about the role of a head j c my skills in leading teams effectively, managing others and finance related tasks have particularly grown.

How has the course(s) helped develop you as an educational professional and what do you hope to achieve with the new knowledge/skills in the future?

My leadership ship skills have grown two fold. I have changed my styles based on all the research and models I have learnt about. 

My whole leadership style has changed. My 360 was an eye opener as I did not realise how valued I was by staff and how much they respected me as a leader. The areas to develop helped me grow even more. I have also helped grow my previous setting based on all the learning and developed others to the point that I can leave knowing they have the capability to maintain the high standards I have set.

My projects have given me confidence in leading necessary initiatives linked to the SDP.