2009 Review: Aiming Even Higher 02 Dec 09

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Positively MAD has been supporting the Aimhigher regional teams across the country in many different ways over the last 5 years: initially through the EIC networks, and ultimately now helping them achieve and succeed their Learner Progression Frameworks.

Word of our impact has spread – and this year we celebrate working with 15 Aimhigher regions across the UK.

Our support this year has incorporated Aimhigher partnerships from Surrey, London South, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, Buckinghamshire, Milton Keynes, Northampton, Black Country, Birmingham, Liverpool, Merseyside, Preston, Burnley, Accrington, Tyne and Wear, Chesire and Warrington and Lincolnshire.

The work we have provided them with has ranged from effective study skills support - to equip them with tools and techniques for exam preparation and revision, to providing exclusive personal development programmes that raise the students’ aspirations to realise their true potential and futures through the channels of FE and HE.

From the mountains of feedback, emails and letters that we have thus far received, we know that at the point of delivery, we make an enormous impact. Our audiences tend to leave walking just that little bit taller.

They seem to have a spring in their step, and when they talk about teaching and learning, they talk with more confidence and enthusiasm.

Here are just a few comments from Aimhigher co-ordinators and managers to give a small idea of the impact we have every day in schools up and down the country.

Dear Positively MAD

Many thanks for a great week. The positive feedback we have had from the pupils who attended your YR10 & YR11 study skills workshops were quite overwhelming. Everyone seemed to enjoy themselves & were remarking how they will be using mind mapping to help them with their school work & beyond!! Here is a little taster of some of the feedback we received…’ It was fantastic, I always thought mind mapping was confusing & difficult to understand, but once it was explained it seemed very easy…I was amazed how much I remembered’….  ‘It has made me realise how mind mapping can help in my revision’. Thank you once again & please say a big thank you to Jay & Sander in how well it was presented. I hope our paths will cross in the New Year.
Jill Yeowell, Manager, West Essex Aimhigher, 2.12.08

I would like to recommend the Positively Mad presentation on Goal setting and Goal mapping; we had the presentation yesterday in school and it was Fabulous. The presenter was lively, funny and really knew how to pitch the material at the right level for the target audience of students. He made the talk extremely relevant to the students and they readily engaged with the material and activities presented. It was very thought provoking and I shall continue to reinforce some of the points raised when I talk to this Year group again about raising aspirations. He dealt with challenging behaviour effectively and clearly works with young individuals a lot! The presenter was very professional, arrived promptly and set up quickly, he was not even thrown by the problems with ICT that we experienced, he remained calm and dealt with the situation accordingly. I have fed back to Aim Higher in Suffolk my opinion on the presentation and will certainly use Positively Mad again next year and even try to find the funding to allow more activities to occur this year. Thanks very much we sometimes need inspirational individuals to come into school and really spark the students imagination, that certainly happened at Thurleston yesterday! (I am even going to make a goal map myself as a result of listening to the talk!).
Many Thanks
Nicola Manning, Aim Higher Co-coordinator

I am writing to thank you and pass thanks on to Sander for the excellent delivery to our Year 12 and 13 students. We had high expectations of the day, which were exceeded by the standard of delivery and the response of our students to the sessions. We have been getting very positive comments from the students who say they found the day very interesting.
We look forward to working with you in the future.
Kind regards
Elaine Luckham, Aim Higher Co-ordinator

With such tremendous endorsement, we are sincerely looking forward to working with Aimhigher again next year – and making even more of an impact.