Professional development for leaders and teachers : Training courses 2024/25
Teaching and school leadership is complex and multifaceted and if we are to create excellent schools we need excellent continuous professional development.
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I offer a range of central training courses for teachers each year enabling colleagues from a range of schools to come together to train, to think, to share practice, to access research, and to equip themselves to make improvements.
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I design bespoke leadership CPD and training courses for teachers that are tailored to your school's or MAT's specific priorities and needs.
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Additionally, you can explore our self-paced training courses, a flexible option for teacher CPD, focusing on in-depth issues related to improving academic outcomes, particularly in relation to topics which support closing the gap for disadvantaged pupils.
To make improvement usually requires you to change one or more of the following: skills, knowledge, ideas, mindset, strategy, motivation, practice, routines, systems. My courses are carefully crafted to ensure change is facilitated.
Happiness at Work
Investing in “Happiness at Work” is not just an investment in employee well-being—it’s a strategic approach that can transform the entire school environment and deliver substantial returns. Learn to harness the 7 drivers and shift gears on wellbeing and employee experience. Rigorous, strategic, evidence based.
Attend a face-to-face senior leader strategic training course and take away a copy of a handbook, questions and framework. Rather than targeting surface level and tokenistic measures, this delivers on the deeper drivers of job satisfaction, engagement and long-term productivity.
Instructional Coaching
Three elements:
1. Face-to-face day for senior leaders to learn about the research, make decisions about the programme, set out the practical actions to launch, design an instructional coaching policy and set out a 3-year strategic plan.
2. Access supporting resources and documentation to help you run instructional coaching effectively.
3. Coach education - training for all your coaches to ensure they can embody the key principles of effective instructional coaching, create the optimal conditions for impact, and have the confidence they need to operate effectively within a coaching framework.
Metacognition
Face-to-face training day in Leeds.
23rd June 2025 at Weetwood Hall
Return to school equipped to lead the development of metacognition, including a plan of action and a wealth of resources to aid implementation. Grounded in high quality research, participants will extend their knowledge and understanding of this exciting field of psychology. The course particularly focuses on how metacognition can be used to improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils. The EEF rates metacognition as the highest impact strategy for closing the attainment gap, reporting that pupils can make 7+ months of progress. The course will help to show you how.
Coach training
Instructional coaching - training for coaches.
This is a package of support:
9th June & 19th June (face-to-face) at Weetwood Hall, 15th September (virtual half-day) & one-to-one support in October.
"Brilliant activities which really helped me to think about how to be an effective coach." "Teachers found it incredibly useful and I've already received lots of positive feedback." Headteacher
Become a reading comprehension expert
This is an exhilarating one-year programme that equips participants to be in-school experts for reading comprehension. It combines research evidence of best practice with practical solutions for use in the classroom. Colleagues attending this training have commented on how confident they feel in leading whole school developments.
Research - Developing reading to learn - Enhancing teaching - Assessment for Learning & testing - Tackling comprehension barriers - Oracy linked to books.
1 full day + five sessions 2.00-4.00pm
Plus self-directed online study.
Celebration event in July 2025.
Oracy Development
Learning to talk; Learning through talk; Learning about talk;
This is a fantastic opportunity for oracy leaders to engage with a framework that supports oracy development in school.
Deepen knowledge of effective practice.
Excellent supporting resources for leaders.
"Vicky's whole course was outstanding!"
"Brilliant ideas easily put into practice."
Support for progression and implementation.
19th May 2025
Weetwood Hall, Headingley, Leeds
My leadership programme
Develop bespoke leadership training programmes for your school or trust, or watch out for central courses starting in September 2025. Register your interest early!
Deputy Headteacher Training 2024/2025
"Lots of research, ideas, information giving food for thought and challenging current practice - backed up with practical resources." "superb"
Face-to-face development days : North Leeds venue
People centric leadership: 14th January 2025
Operating strategically: 25th February 2025
Strategic oversight of English: 24th March 2025
Increasing DHT impact: 19th May 2025
Join individual days or the full set!
Phase leader training 2024/2025
6 afternoons across the year 1.30-4.30pm
This course focuses on phase leaders having impact beyond their own classroom and influencing the teaching of others. It supports colleagues to grow and develop their leadership, increase their effectiveness and efficiency, and have the means to evaluate both the quality of their phase and their own leadership. The course provides phase leaders with a deeper understanding of the issues for their particular key stage and practical solutions to challenging problems. It increases their ability to play a key role in school improvement and be impactful in achieving high standards.
"Really informative and engaging sessions. The tasks helped me to focus my thinking in terms of phase and school wide issues."
Inspire - Facilitate thinking - Empower
Vicky is a school improvement consultant offering a range of senior leadership courses and continuing professional development (CPD) courses for teachers. From short live Zoom courses to self-paced training courses, there are several teacher cpd options aimed at boosting performance. With over twenty years of teaching, leadership, and consultancy experience in the education sector, Vicky understands the demands leaders face in both the day-to-day running of a school and forging ahead with a school improvement agenda. From senior leadership courses for newly appointed Deputy Headteachers to developing a growth mindset school and using metacognition in the classroom, Vicky has put together a range of high impact courses for teachers CPD particularly related to improving leadership and increasing academic achievement.
Central courses
A range of live courses are offered each year that enable leaders from a different schools to train together.
Bespoke training
Schools, MATs and groups of schools can have a bespoke training package developed to meet their needs.
Think pieces
In-depth education articles, case studies and associated resources can be accessed via my blog and shop.
STARS
STIMULUS materials for leaders with a focus on skills, thinking, application, reflection, and connections.
These continuing professional development courses are designed for teachers and senior leaders in primary schools. From training for new to post Deputy Heads to how to lead with a focus on disadvantaged pupils, these courses are designed to be challenging, yet rewarding.
Courses can be designed to suit your need across a range of teaching and leadership issues, from single events to year-long programmes.
Hear from leaders who have benefited from our leadership CPD programs:
“After the final session I cannot tell you how many staff burst through my door very inspired by the activities they had been part of. I am delighted by the way this programme has developed all my leaders and managers. I know it will have a lasting impact on everyone who has been a part of it which of course will translate to the continued success of our school. I cannot thank you enough for understanding what I needed to achieve and being able to inspire and engage at such a high level.” Headteacher in reference to a year-long leadership programme.
“Just a quick email to say a massive thank you for the training you did on Tuesday. I have had many positive comments about it and people have made a point of coming to tell me about some things they have tried or changed over the past few days...which is great so thanks very much.” Headteacher in reference to a full training day focusing on reading.
“Just to say a very big thank you for your work on Friday. I very much appreciated your direct approach and your hard work. I know the day will move the school on in our marking and feedback and increase the impact on pupil progress.” Headteacher in relation to a marking and feedback review day.
“A massive success and I thank you for your first class training and organisation.” Headteacher in relation to a multi school event for over 90 teaching assistants.
“I appreciate everything you've been doing with EYFS and transition. Staff have spoken extremely highly about everything. Both EYFS and KS1 have had successful moderations with the authority, and transition strategies that were worked out with you are going extremely well. You've really helped with helping to move both these key stages forward, and have a really successful year. A real credit to all involved.” Headteacher in relation to an EYFS / Year 1 writing project.
My guiding principle is to empower primary teachers and leaders through focused teacher CPD and leadership CPD, ensuring professional growth. To achieve this, I believe in:
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Balancing theory and practical application. Colleagues need to be able to turn research and theory into reality.
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Encouraging colleagues to challenges themselves, be open-minded, ask questions, analyse current practices, and remain curious.
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Supporting colleagues to acquire a deep knowledge base so that they empowered to take action and implement quality solutions that are right for their schools.
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Facilitating critical thinking to enable colleagues to explore problems from multiple perspectives.
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Providing equal levels of challenge and support - high expectations and a commitment to excellence.
If you are someone committed to growth and achieving excellence, then I am the right training provider and school improvement partner for you.
Other training and development options for primary schools
In addition to bespoke training, I offer a variety of online self-paced options, emphasising teacher CPD, tailored to close the gap for disadvantaged pupils.
If you have not worked with me before, why not book a 'discovery meeting' to see how I can be of assistance. Choose a date and time to discuss your requirements and ask questions about the service you can expect.
Or, if you are a school who has worked with before but you have a new project in mind, book a 1 hour discovery meeting to map out the deliverables.