NEWS / FEEDBACK / TESTIMONIALS

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Almost exactly a year ago, Positively MAD created its own YouTube channel to provide a platform for some of our promotional adverts and videos. We started my making a few teaser adverts for each of our courses, and then progressed to making narrated promotional videos for our events. In order to attract teachers to our channel, we also made a series of Positive Teaching Tips – little nuggets of wisdom in simple 2 to 3 minute presentations. These included hints on improving reading, questioning skills and classroom management. We were expecting a couple of hundred views at the most, and guessed that we would make a few friends and get a couple of subscribers too. One year on and all our expectations have been exceeded. Continue Reading

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Given the austerity measures and the restricted budgets made available to schools, the 2010-2011 academic year has been a challenge for companies such as ours. Which is why we truly value and appreciate the new and repeat custom we have been fortunate enough to enjoy. This is our thank you letter to all our customers and clients. Continue Reading

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The ‘Learning to Remember’ Year 9 Workshop is an interactive course which shows students how to improve their memories by introducing them to effective encoding and recall methods. Commissioned and sponsored by Aimhigher Suffolk, the workshop is part of the Learning to Remember Tour (which includes a teacher training event called Teaching to Remember) created and delivered by Positively MAD’s senior presenter, Alan David Pritchard. Students who recently experienced this powerful learning experience are virtually unanimous in their praise, describing the course as “positively brilliant”, “genius”, and “incredible”. Continue Reading

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Alan David Pritchard was in Sudbury last week, delivering his Aimhigher-sponsored memory improvement course, “Learning to Remember” to Year 9 students at Great Cornard Upper School. The course is designed to show students how powerful their memories are and to provide them with simple but effective techniques to improve recall. Alan was very impressed with the behaviour, attitude and response of the students who participated with gusto and tried their best. “I remembered more than I thought I would. It’s fun and I like the techniques he used and the videos we watched in between. It was the first time I have paid full attention in a 100 minute lesson,” remarked one of the students afterwards. Another student reported: “Alan proved that everyone has the ability to use their brain well, even if you struggle normally. He also helped by giving us useful techniques to help us in the future with our learning.” From the feedback received, over 94% of the 78 students who attended the course w Continue Reading

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Mark Kennedy is enjoying a good year with Positively MAD. The reviews for his events are always expressed in superlatives and the students find his approach and methods to be engaging, practical and highly entertaining. Mark was at the Q3 Academy in Birmingham last week, delivering Super Speed Study Skills presentation to year 9 pupils. “Today taught me how to study better “reported one of the students afterwards, with another adding, “Mark Kennedy was great and made it exciting!” “It was awesome,” was another of the comments received. “It was fun and interesting.” We asked the teacher observers to rate the presentation. Read on to discover that they had to say: Continue Reading

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Rachel Eltham delivered the primary presentation ‘Creative Approaches to Learning’ to staff and pupils at Belvedere Junior School in Kent this week – and wowed them with her enthusiastic and animated delivery. Creative Approaches to Learning consists of 2 presentations to Key Stage 2, showing audiences how to use effective memory-improvement techniques to learn in ways that are more fun and creative. From the feedback she received, it is clear that Rachel made a wonderfully positive impression on both teachers and pupils. Read on to discover what they had to say about this event. Continue Reading

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We love getting positive feedback from schools who have benefited from our empowering courses. Here is a collection of the really positive things that teachers and students have said about this fantastic learning opportunity. Continue Reading

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Positively MAD has created a new workshop for students in Year 9. Endorsed and sponsored by Aimhigher Suffolk, the Learning to Remember Memory Improvement Tour kicked off this month with 2 pilot sessions at Westbourne Sports College. The response was overwhelmingly positive. Continue Reading

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Here is a collection of some of the fantastic reviews that we have received for this very popular learning event. Continue Reading

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Alan David Pritchard was up in Cumbria recently delivering a couple of Hooks, Lines and Thinkers English revision classes to students preparing for their GCSE English exam. One student remarked, “When I went into this, I was expected the usual stagnant talk but I was proven wrong.” Indeed, all the students who attended this course were amazed at just how effective the learning tools were. “I got everything he said and it sunk in. It was mint!” said Katie, a Year 11 student. The aim of the course is to show students how to remember over 100 facts needed for their English exam – without writing them down or remembering them through rote learning. “This course shows students that they are more than capable, that they have the ability and brain-power to learn in ways that are effective, quick and interesting,” comments Alan, who created the course to help students achieve a C grade and above. Read on to discover what the other students thought about this empowering learning event: Continue Reading

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Rachel Eltham was in Chichester this month, delivering the highly-successful Mastering Student Motivation course to Year 12 students and teachers. Rachel inspired her audience to nurture intrinsic motivation skills and to see their futures in the context of their aspirations. Using wit, energy and a wholly engaging presentation manner, she engaged the students and helped them to realise how they can take personal responsibility for the lives they want to lead. One student reported that the course ‘changes your view and makes you realise what can be achieved’, while others were impressed with the way the event made them overcome negative thinking habits. Read on to discover more about the feedback received for this energetic and uplifting learning experience. Continue Reading

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Vicky Long is one of Positively MAD’s long-standing presenters. Her dynamic style, terrific sense of humour and no-nonsense approach has won over students from all parts of the country, and she consistently receives four and five star reviews for the courses she presents. Vicky’s delivery of the Exam Busters and Super Speed Study Skills events has prompted many to write to attest to the positive impact she has made and to rave about the way she inspires and motivates her audiences. We have pleasure in publishing the many positive reviews she has received in the last two months for her outstanding delivery. Well done to Vicky on making such a terrific impression on all who are lucky enough to attend her courses. Continue Reading

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Positively MAD’s hugely successful Hooks, Lines and Thinkers English Revision presentation was run at Jo Richardson Community School in Essex last Saturday and was described as an “Interesting and unique way of learning that encourages everyone to learn.” Delivered by Alan David Pritchard, the course creator, this inspirational learning event was run as a Saturday revision class, attended by over 70 enthusiastic and well-behaved students – all of whom provided very positive feedback indeed. “It is amazing,” reported one student. “There are so many exam tips that can help us understand things and overcome our fear of exams.” The course shows students how to use the Number Rhyme Memory Hook System to encode and recall over 100 facts needed for the English exams. It shows them how to avoid the common errors that usually prevent students from achieving a C grade in the exams. “It was more like a show rather than a study revision session. Alan made it funny,” reported another student. Read on for more reviews Continue Reading

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Positively MAD was recently invited by Broadway School in Birmingham to provide a combined parent-pupil motivational event. Blending goal-setting and motivation, the event was aimed at students in years 7 – 11 and their parents, and was delivered by the irrepressible and highly engaging speaker, Mark Kennedy. Using his talent for delighting audiences with real-life anecdotes, and mixing common sense with highly motivational content, Mark challenged his audience to think about what they really want in life and how to motivate themselves to achieve their goals. Staff, parents and students all found the presentation to be entertaining, enlightening and very worthwhile. Here is a sample of the feedback that Mark received for this inspirational learning experience. Continue Reading

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Positively MAD frequently receives rave reviews for its MASTERING STUDENT MOTIVATION course for secondary students. For schools looking for ways to motivate students this JUNE and JULY, here is a sample demonstrating what all the fuss is about. Continue Reading

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This month, Positively MAD was invited to deliver a combined parent-pupil aspirational event at Bonus Pastor, where 50 Year 9 and 10 students and their parents/carers were treated to the Mastering Student Motivation seminar. The event was part of the Lewisham Challenge Network Meetings where aspirational events are part of the programme. Positively MAD had a really positive impact at Bonus Pastor – so much so that the event was featured in the Lewisham Challenge Equalities and Achievement Spring Bulletin. Continue Reading

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Mark Kennedy had an enjoyable and worthwhile day at Fearns College recently, where he delighted students with his delivery of the Hooks, Lines and Thinkers English Revision Sessions. Using a memory hook system, students were taught how to remember over 100 facts without writing them down. Covering basic skills to writing improvement techniques, the course demonstrated alternative approaches to revision and showed students how powerful their abilities really are. After the course, the students were asked to rate the course using a 5 star rating system. The majority of the students rated the course as 4 and 5 stars, reporting that they had a great deal of fun while learning how to remember better. Read on to discover what the students had to say: Continue Reading

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Every year, the Hampshire Teaching and Leadership College offer aspiring primary and secondary school leaders courses in leadership and learning. Last year, they approached Positively MAD to create and deliver a training event called “Linking Thinking Skills with our own Learning”. The event last year was so successful that Positively MAD was invited to deliver the course again this April. Presented at the Marwell Hotel in delightfully pretty surroundings, the course was delivered by senior Positively MAD presenter, Alan David Pritchard. “It is always a pleasure,” reports Alan, “to deliver courses to passionate and enthusiastic people, and this year was no exception. All the delegates on the course engaged fully with the activities and really seemed to enjoy their day.” The teachers were asked to provide a star rating for the event, and to provide a brief reason for their ratings. From their feedback, it is evident that they found the course to be enjoyable, practical and worthwhile. Read on to di Continue Reading

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Nick Osborne was in Glastonbury recently, delivering an Exam Busters session to students at St Dunstan’s. Using his energetic delivery style, confident approach and engaging manner, Nick ably demonstrated techniques and methods that students could use to enhance their revision skills. The presentation aimed to stimulate a positive attitude towards revision and to provide simple but effective techniques to improve exam preparation. From the feedback Nick received, it is clearly evident that both aims were well and truly met. In fact, Nick received 4 and 5 Star reviews for his delivery at this school. Continue Reading

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Rachel Eltham was at Wilnecote School this month, delivering an Exam Busters session to the Year 11’s. Exam Busters is a dynamic presentation that shows students how to effectively prepare for the exam experience. It helps Key Stage 4 and 5 students to get into the right mental state to prepare for exams and shows them how to learn how to learn using various principles of revision, and memory improvement techniques. Rachel, who has had previous experience working in television, delighted her audience and kept them totally engaged for two hours, using wit, humour, passion and her genuine enthusiasm for performance and delivery. We asked a random sample of students to provide star-rated reviews for the course, and this is what they had to say: Continue Reading

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It is always such a delight and pleasure for us to read letters from appreciative schools and organisers of our impactful learning events. Recently, a teacher in Leicester wrote to us to sing the praises of one of our star presenters, Vicky Long. Read on to discover why this teacher was so impressed with Vicky's efforts Continue Reading

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Positively MAD’s school presentations are not only highly informative and crammed with practical tips and techniques – they are also hugely entertaining and loads of fun. This is amply demonstrated in the feedback that Kim Shirley recently received for her delivery of the Mastering Student Motivation course at schools in Leicester and Tonbridge last month. Students who experienced the course all agreed that it’s a course worth recommending to others, and their post-course comments all mention how much fun they had. The teacher reviews are equally positive and encouraging. Kim is one of Positively MAD’s longest-serving presenters and consistently receives high praise for her unique delivery style and the effortless way she engages her audiences with her radiant personality and enthusiastic manner. Read on to discover what students and teachers have said about Kim’s delivery of the MASTERING STUDENT MOTIVATION course. Continue Reading

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Natalie Donohue is a dynamic and powerful presenter whose ability to entertain and engage young audiences continues to make a positive impact in primary schools. Recently, Natalie was at St Jude’s Junior School where she delivered the Creative Approaches to Learning presentations to pupils and teachers. . Both students and teachers were thoroughly delighted by Natalie’s sparkling delivery and described the day as ‘creative madness.’ The event even received mention in the Egham & Staines Newspaper, and for your reading pleasure, we have transcribed it below. Well done Natalie on once again making such a tremendously positive impact on young learners. Continue Reading

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Alan David Pritchard was in Clitheroe this week, at Ribblesdale High, where he presented his 2 popular GCSE Revision Sessions, ‘Hooks, Lines and Thinkers’. Alan created these workshops to help students feel more confident about revising, and more interested in using effective and creative learning techniques. Alan delivered an English session in the morning, followed by a workshop for Science students. At first, when the students were told that they would be able to remember over 80 facts without writing them down, the students were somewhat sceptical. However, by the end of the sessions, they realised that they were capable of remembering a lot of information without making traditional notes or rote learning. An analysis of the feedback shows that 100% of the students would definitely recommend the course to others. Here is the collection of 4 and 5 star reviews Alan received for the courses he presented. Continue Reading

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Rachel Eltham has once again been weaving her magic on Year 11 students through the Exam Busters study skills presentation. Rachel delivered the course to teachers and students at Hawthorn High and The Piggot School. At both events, Rachel showed students that learning can be fun and revising can be something rewarding. Once of the teachers commented that the course “helps students see that they can succeed”. All the students who provided feedback would recommend the course to others, and Rachel received 4 and 5 star reviews for her delivery. Read on to discover the wonderfully positive reviews for these empowering learning events: Continue Reading