REVIEWS: Testimonials from Education Action Zones

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Our View on Positively MAD

The Kent-Somerset Virtual Education Action Zone schools have worked with the Positively MAD Team on several initiatives.  I have been really pleased to receive positive and enthusiastic feedback from all 20 schools taking part and would not hesitate to recommend Positively MAD to other schools or LEAs.

Office staff are friendly, easy to work with, extremely personable and tremendously helpful.  I receive quick replies to all requests and the team keep me up to date with planning processes involving Zone schools.  In particular I have found your team to be an outstanding ambassador for the company - their enthusiasm and special ability to relate to people are a real asset.

The team of presenters visiting schools are creative, highly motivated, energetic and effective.  They relate equally well to children in the classroom and adults in the staff room.  Children are enthusiastic, readily participate with enjoyment and are able to remember and retain a large number of facts long after the event.  Teachers and support staff have found the methods interesting, stimulating and inspiring.

Here are a few of the feedback comments received following a three day course:

"I really enjoyed this course"
"Inspirational delivery"
"Very well structured"
"The resources were superb"
"It was fabulous!"
"I felt very empowered"
"I was so excited to see an approach which involves and
values children to such a degree"
"I wanted it to last longer!"

Both primary and secondary schools are catered for by Positively MAD and their keeness to continue working with the company is testimonial in itself.  Once again, I would recommend them to anyone - so , what are you waiting for?!

Wendy Smith
Project Manager
Kent-Somerset Virtual Education Action Zone
 

 Dear Positively MAD,

I write with regard to the recent Year 9 Study Support Package delivered by Mr Michael Tipper to Y9 pupils at the Dearne High School during the first week of March 2005.

The style and pace of delivery on this occasion was superb, and the pupils really did enjoy learning the techniques of Mind Mapping.  I am sure they will benefit from this programme as they prepare for this year's SATS.

The staff who attended the sessions were also enthusiastic about the programme and have already taken the techniques modelled with the pupils forward into their own planning.

As you are aware, The Dearne High School and its eight Primary Partner Schools make up the Dearne (EiC) Action Zone.  I would like to take this opportunity to say how much our Primary Schools have benefitted from the Positively MAD trainers they have worked with over the past two years.

Pupils and staff experienced at first hand the enormous potential of accelerated learning techniques.  The trainers working in the schools had energy, drive and commitment to ensuring the learning process was fun for everyone involved.

When Positively MAD launched the Key Stage 2 Saturday Clubs last year, parents were also invited to attend.  Their feedback was also extremely positive with parents feeling informed, empowered, encouraged and confident in the knowledge that they could give their children some additional support to prepare for SATS.

Although it is very difficult to ascribe to a particular project, event or individual to the success of our Zone school results, this year's SATS results at KS2 in English and Maths showed improvement with pupils achieving Level 4+ in English 2004 rising to 67% and increase of 18% on 2003, and in Maths 58%, an increase of 5% on 2003.

I will leave the last statement to one of our Y6 pupils:-

"Positively MAD helped me a lot.  They taught me ways to remember things and it showed me that learning can be fun.  Every school should have the chance to work with the Positively MAD trainers because they can help you such a lot.  Everything was explained in such detail and I LOVED IT!"

Yours sincerely

Susan Evans
Zone Director
Dearn (EiC) Action Zone
 

 Dear Positively MAD,

Following the work of Positively MAD with the schools in the zone, I felt compelled to write to let you know my thoughts on the Programme and provide you with some feedback on the activities.  May I also take this opportunity of thanking you personally for all of the co-ordination of school events as well as the overall success of the Partnership Programme.

The schools in the zone had particularly high expectations as a result of your reputation and the exposure you had already had in the area.  These expectations were exceeded in the teacher training events as well as the whole school events where your team not only captivated the teachers and pupils attention but also inspired them to think and behave differently about their own teaching and learning.

The teachers that attended the 3-day programme have made massive impact back in their respective schools and the subsequent "handover" events were incredibly valuable for all.

We are all looking forward to the joint training day in September as a way of bringing all the great ideas we have been using together and furthering the momentum already evident.

Many thanks to all at Positively MAD for making our events so transformational and I look forward to working with you again in the future.

Trevor Watson
Project Director
Thornaby Education Action Zone
Stockton on Tees