Dragonfly Training Ltd

Alan Jervis has over 27 years’ teaching experience, including 7 years as Assistant Head teacher of a comprehensive school, with direct responsibility for teaching, learning and assessment. Alan has extensive experience of deploying new teaching and learning strategies, along with techniques to reduce student underachievement. He has facilitated significant improvements in both GCSE and A level examination results (GCSE results have improved by 36%). The incredibly positive feedback we receive from delegates about Alan's Courses is due to his enjoyable hands-on approach, backed up with clear classroom strategies. Alan is widely regarded as one of the UK's leading INSET providers and is Dragonfly Training's senior trainer.

I make my courses as practical and 'real world' as possible. I've attended so many courses in my teaching career and left thinking 'but what can I do with my classes tomorrow?' The courses I deliver are different. With all of my courses, I pack the day with strategies you really can use in the classroom. I don't expect you to stop up all night making resources either (we've all done too much of that!) Instead I offer quick and easy ideas that really push kids much further. I’m not a fain of 'games for games sake' either. I offer activities that make kids think, boost their concentration skills, get them producing high quality extended language and really motivate the, I’ve taught the 'willing & able' and the 'switched off & stroppy' - the strategies I offer teachers work across the age and ability range, save you time, push kids further and are all backed with DIES references so we can 'cover our backs' and do our learners justice. My best recommendations come from the teachers comments on my flyers and the fact that so many teacher come back on my various courses year and year. So, take a look at what they have to say and hopefully, I'll see you soon.

Colin Troy is a consultant and trainer who specialises in pupils with Special Needs. He has been the head of two special schools and has over 25 years teaching experience. He runs workshops in schools for pupil’s to develop self esteem, behaviour management and other PSHCE issues. He has undertaken work with the United Nations Development Fund to promote awareness and develop provision for children with special needs internationally, and has lead conferences in Prague and Kuwait. Colin is an assessor for the Inclusion Quality Mark in schools and acts as an advisor to Local Authorities on Inclusion issues. Colin has developed a style of delivery which allows delegates to gain an experience of how pupils with special needs and challenging behaviour experience the classroom and offers practical help to develop teaching and learning. Delegates have found the courses practical and thought provoking and have enjoyed the dynamic and interactive style. Colin is undertaking research for a book on practical steps for working with a range of SEN issues for parents and professionals.

Colin Wood has been teaching P.E. for 34 years at schools in Tamworth during which time he has coached winning teams at county level, as well as the Midlands area team at National inter-area tournaments. Colin was a National League player with a Birmingham Bullets and progressed to be head coach where he enjoyed success, winning the National League and British Championship, as well as competing in European competitions. He holds the EBBA Senior coach, and level 2 instructor's awards, and has experience running coach award courses in the Midlands area.

BSc.PhD.CBiol.FSB is an experienced GCSE and A level biology teacher and founder of imaginative learning. Neil has taught in several secondary school in Cardiff and was head of biology and an A level lecturer in human biology and environmental science at a FE college near Cardiff. With over 10 years teaching experience,Neil is a biology A level examiner, a course work moderator and specialises in accelerated learning techniques. Neil is a chartered member and fellow of Biology. 'I am a firm believer in hands on learning. The best professional development sessions are where teachers not only leave wanting to put their new skills to use but where they have developed them by using them already' Neil has used Virtual Learning Environments (VLEs)to successfully motivate student learning since 2004.His teachers network allows teachers from across the country to share and develop their resources together. 'Moodle gives the teacher the ability to create a range of different activities to appeal to every kind of learner. Because work is accessible from outside the classroom it really extends the boundaries of learning.'

Emma-Jayne Lloyd has been teaching jewellery, art and textiles techniques to both secondary school pupils and adults for several years. Having emerged from a textiles background, Emma-Jayne has since become a specialist in both glass and jewellery. Following experience in the fashion industry, Emma-Jayne set up her own glass jewellery business 'Designs by EJ' in 2004, which retails throughout South Wales and on the internet. Her real passion however is teaching. Emma-Jayne currently teaches art & design in South Wales, but is also trained in D&T and textiles. The experience of teaching art and design inspired Emma-Jayne to devise interesting schemes of work, for design led subjects. The aim was to excite pupils and challenge their perception of the arts and crafts, particularly disruptive pupils and those who struggle with drawing and painting

Francis Jones is a teacher who also writes, produces and directs for television and radio. Having taught English & Drama and EFL for years in the UK and abroad, and at both junior and secondary level, Francis branched out into television and radio in the mid-1990s. Five years ago he decided to combine the best of both worlds; a move that finds him teaching and training for Dragonfly as well as writing and producing for BBC Radio and television. For the past five years Francis has run highly successful video production workshops for pupils at secondary schools across the UK. His broadcasting experience includes working for the BBC and ITV across a broad range of genres. During this time he has worked with some of the UK's top names in broadcasting. With huge enthusiasm for video and film production, Francis, an advocate of plain English, has the rare ability to place himself in the position of the learner, identifying their requirements and responding to each individuals needs as they arise.

Jonathan Bockelmann-Evans BSc (Hons), MISMA, SCSP, SRP is a stress management consultant and a member of the International Stress Management Association. With an impressive record of treating stress-related illnesses in the NHS, Jonathan now divides his time between running Stress Management training courses in Schools, businesses and hospitals and helping patients at his busy private clinic in South Wales. Jonathan's courses are constantly in demand from schools throughout the UK. His reputation as an outstandingly competent INSET provider has been confirmed time and again by hundreds of glowing references, endorsements and letters of recommendation received from teachers around the country. His training days are a must for any school.

Karl Turner has taught for 28 years, predominantly in state secondary schools, in which socio-economic disadvantage has contributed to significant educational challenges. He has worked successfully at all levels in these schools, competently fulfilling such roles as Head of Science, Deputy Head teacher and Head teacher. Karl has a proven track record of providing effective developmental leadership in support of sustained pupil, subject and school improvement. He has written for the TES and other professional journals and has written, directed and performed in commercially produced teacher training videos. Karl genuinely enjoys delivering inspirational courses to large number of professional colleagues and his excellent interpersonal skills underpin a proven ability to lead, persuade, inspire and motivate all who are stake holders in our collective educational endeavours. He currently trains on a national and international level.

Mary Rebelo specialises in supporting teachers to use ICT to deliver the curriculum. She taught full time for 15 years until 2001 and then worked for 18 months as a fulltime ICT adviser for her local LEA. Since 2002 she has been working as an Independent ICT consultant and has been helping to create materials to support ICT in art, science and early years for her local LEA website; she has also been ICT training in schools across London and the Home Counties. She teaches 2 days a week in a City learning centre where they are lucky enough to have interactive whiteboards in every classroom and has used them across the subjects and age ranges. Mary has unbounded enthusiasm for ICT to support learning and teaching, and has convinced many a sceptical or nervous teacher of the merits of its use with simple practical examples and a lively hands-on training style

Neil Atkin has taught Maths, Science and ICT for 20 years, the last 9 of these as an AST in Science and ICT. Both his last two schools were failing, when he joined them as part of the teaching and learning team. Both were transformed to remove the failing status and OFSTED wrote in reports of Neil’s ‘outstanding’ and ‘inspirational’ work. Having founded 'movement for learning', Neil is currently working with the British Surfing and Kite Surfing Associations on integrating the science of these sports into the mainstream curriculum. Neil is pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved by integrating new technologies into the classroom and the creative use of ICT and is developing his own VLE. A freelance Educational Consultant Neil is working for the NSLC as a triple science support consultant.

Norman Harrison is a graduate of the University of London with 33 years’ teaching experience at secondary level, nineteen of those as a Deputy Head teacher. Originally trained as a mathematician, Norman has used IT in schools since its inception and set up the first school computer network in Staffordshire. He has taught Mathematics and ICT at all levels and with experience of running LEA and whole school INSET, is now concentrating on developing training and practical resources for teachers. In addition he has taught art for 12 years, making successful use of ICT in a variety of projects. He believes that building the confidence and competence of colleagues through practical support is the key to effective use of ICT in all subjects. He also has experience of digital video editing and has developed web sites and commercial database applications.

Pamela John has over 17 years’ teaching experience, most recently as Head of English in a comprehensive school. Pamela is an enthusiastic practitioner who is keen to share ideas and strategies with colleagues in order to maximise pupils’ learning experiences. Pamela, who holds a Master’s degree in Education, still teaches Key Stages 3, 4 and 5 as well as being an Examiner for GCSE English Literature, and a Consultative Moderator for GCSE Speaking and Listening.

Peter Talman has enjoyed a long career teaching drama and is an examiner and team leader for GCSE and A level Drama. He was formerly Head of Drama at Corfe Hills School in Dorset. He has directed every kind of drama with students including major musicals which have been performed on the professional stage at Poole Centre for the Arts for the past 20 years. Pete has run a Youth Theatre and has been a representative for Cultural Hub, a government scheme for the Arts in schools. He has written a number of shows and has a musical - "Arf-n-Arf" - published and available for School Productions. He recently directed two hundred children in the opera Noyes Fludde with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and he is currently directing with Ringwood Musical and Dramatic Society.

Peter Dawes has 17 years’ experience of teaching MFL in a variety of schools, including A-level. During this time he has acquired a large repertoire of ideas and practical materials. Although he ceased full-time MFL teaching in 2001, his expertise is constantly applied and updated: not only through regular supply work, but also at the highly successful residential courses he has run at Kilve, Somerset, since 1998, and more recently at Devizes, Wiltshire. Peter has also become increasingly involved with languages and the internet. He is the author of the KS4 German Section of the Digital brain website and also wrote the GCSE revision materials for French and German, on the Schoolsnet site. Now based near Bristol, Peter has been working since 200 as an independent consultant in MFL/ICT, visiting language faculties around the South-West and speaking at conferences, most recently for ALL. He is an engaging and enthusiastic trainer with a penchant for practical ideas and activities that require minimal preparation time.

Rachel New has been teaching Maths for fourteen years. Her extensive experience includes a Head of Maths post in a challenging multicultural school, during which time exam results in maths improved significantly. She has successfully mentored a number of student teachers and NQTs, who have benefited from her strategies for behaviour management and her creative approach to lesson planning. Rachel has had articles published in the UK and USA, and created PowerPoint presentations for publication. She runs an email support group for maths teachers to share ideas and resources. Her schemes of work at KS3 were given a high rating by OFSTED and published by an LEA for use in other schools. Rachel has created an extensive range of resources and lesson ideas for active learning, student self-evaluation, target setting and literacy in Maths; she has had very positive responses from the teachers she has trained. She continues to enjoy the challenges of teaching the full ability and age range in a comprehensive school.

Ron Norman is a highly regarded fulltime English and Dram teacher of many years standing. At various points in his career he has flirted with senior management roles but has always gravitated back towards the classroom, where he’s happiest. He has held Head of Department posts in sixth form colleges and is currently course leader for English Language A level at Ashton-under-Lyne Sixth Form College. He started teaching A level English Language way back in 1985, when the former JMB course (later to evolve into AGA B) was in its pilot stage. He has written a number of popular English text books (including the AS/A2 English Language for AQA B titles for Heinemann) and is an experienced senior examiner. He is well-known among his colleagues for his lively and enthusiastic approach to course design and teaching methods. He has a first class English degree from Cambridge, as MA from Sussex and trained to teach in Reading.

Sally Melhuish is an experienced, practising teacher and senior examiner of AS/A Level English. She has been in teaching for 9 Years and held various positions of responsibility, and, throughout that time, has always taught English at AS/A2 levels. She is an innovative and enthusiastic teacher of English and enjoys the sheer creativity and dynamism of the subject which drives her to keep refreshing her ideas, creating new and exciting resources and means of delivery

Stacey McCabe is an independent Teaching and Learning Consultant with extensive teaching experience at senior management level. Her innovative training courses utilise the latest learning strategies to promote excellence in teaching. Stacey works with several market leading training companies including Dragonfly Training and Bath Spa University. She delivers INSET in Schools across the Country on topics including Assessment for Learning, Emotional Intelligence and Motivational Teaching, High Impact Lessons, Study and Revision Skills and Thinking Skills. Her Most recent full time role was assistant principal with responsibility for SEN, Transition and Inclusion; prior to this she has held positions of PSHE and Citizenships Coordinator, Thinking Skills Coordinator, Head of Year and Head of Geography. She has also had work published as part of a DIES research and pilot programme. Stacey was recently accredited as a chartered geographer with the RGS and is now a member of the GA's Secondary Phase Committee. An experienced and engaging trainer, Stacey promises 'hands-on' activities during her practical and inspirational courses.

Stephen Badger & Tony Woolstone have been running Modern Foreign Languages Courses for many years and their dynamic and eccentric style will be familiar to many. They are both experienced classroom teachers. Stephen teaches French and German at an 11-18 school in Hampshire where he is Head of Languages. Tony is Deputy Head at the same school and teaches French and Spanish. Both have been involved in curricular development for some time - Tony is Chair of Examiners for a major examining body and Stephen has successfully published A level support material. They are actively involved in preparing the new 'A' Level specifications for MFL.

Stephen Chapman is one of the most highly regarded teacher trainers in the UK. He has studied at the Universities of Liverpool and Cambridge and taught at schools in Kenya, the Caribbean, the USA and as head of department at a London comprehensive. Steve is regarded as an expert in the field of teaching and learning and ensures that he remains in touch with classroom practice by working in a local school. He has provided training at over 400 schools in the UK and abroad with superb feedback from all of them.

Steve Garnett has been a senior teacher in a large Nottinghamshire comprehensive where his role involved specific responsibility for developing learning and teaching. He is also a very experienced trainer having supported colleagues in the Primary, Secondary and Independent sectors. He is author of ‘Using Brain Power in the Classroom – Five Steps to Accelerate Learning’, which demonstrates his detailed knowledge of current thinking about learning. Steve has also been asked to write about his highly innovative ideas in various journals. Steve aims to deliver a value for money course that is highly practical and focussed on saving the teacher hours of time. Delegate feedback from courses run by Steve rates them highly for their wide range of excellent ideas delivered in a humorous and dynamic style.

Stuart Gibson is a former Director of ICT at a leading school in the north east of the United Kingdom. He has worked in a number of schools teaching ICT and Design and Technology for 15 years. As a curriculum manager he managed ICT, Computing at GCSE and A level, and also successfully introduced ECDL as an alternative course at KS4. With an excellent track record. Stuart moved into consultancy and training as a path for personal development and career progression. 'I always enjoyed the INSET we provided in school and I didn't want to move away from working in IT, so the logical progression was to move into providing stimulating INSET opportunities for colleagues in emerging technologies.' Stuarts review on 'rate my teacher.co.uk' says 'pure legend, always helpful and doesn’t give students a hard time!' He certainly brings this skill set to his INSET sessions. Stuart is a senior moderator with Edexcel and an experienced examiner with AQA. He trains on a variety of leading edge software applications as well as working with teachers and departments to develop coursework outcomes as KS4 and A level.

Suzanne Templeton is currently an independent educational consultant specialising in Citizenship and PSHE who has spent 20 years in the secondary sector and continues to teach today. She delivers high quality Citizenship and PSHE training. She has worked as a consultant supporting and advising schools on appropriate provision. Suzanne has worked across a number of authorities in to help strengthen provision of Citizenship and PSHE and helped to action plan some schools to improve provision. Suzanne has supported schools in establishing adequate provision and provided guidance on ways to move towards “outstanding provision”. Suzanne has extensive experience of working in schools in secondary, primary, post 16 in both the state and independent sector. She has led and organised educational conferences and experience in advising and supporting international schools. Suzanne has worked as a consultant in a number of initiatives for Cognita, CfBT, COBIS, ASM, Catholic partnership and LEAs.

Tony Dickens has been teaching for 15 years. He has been a head of department at schools in Oxfordshire and Lincolnshire. He has published poems, short stories and ideas on how to improve writing at Key Stage 4. Tony has consistently achieved outstanding results with students of all ages and abilities through innovative, imaginative and engaging lessons. On observing one of his lessons an OFSTED inspector once wrote that he had seen some 'remarkable teaching'. Tony embodies what Dragonfly Training is all about: an outstanding teacher who wants to share his ideas with others.

Stephen Badger & Tony Woolstone have been running Modern Foreign Languages Courses for many years and their dynamic and eccentric style will be familiar to many. They are both experienced classroom teachers. Stephen teaches French and German at an 11-18 school in Hampshire where he is Head of Languages. Tony is Deputy Head at the same school and teaches French and Spanish. Both have been involved in curricular development for some time - Tony is Chair of Examiners for a major examining body and Stephen has successfully published A level support material. They are actively involved in preparing the new 'A' Level specifications for MFL.