Andy Vass

‘Andy was an absolute inspiration to my staff and the impact on behaviour and therefore teaching and learning has been crucial in moving us forward.  Students are working more co-operatively and progress of students has improved as a result.  If you only spend your CPD budget on one thing this year – make it Andy Vass’

And who are we to argue with such feedback on one of the top trainers and coaches in the UK.

The TES said Andy “challenged conventional thinking” – here’s how.

In the classroom world where it seems as if sticks outnumber carrots by significant numbers, Andy worked throughout the UK helping teachers understand the power of their influence, rather than the influence of their power. In other words, how they say things so often means more than what they say and can have exactly the right sort of effect in the classroom.

What Andy learned is that it is what the teacher does, rather than what the child does, that is often the deciding influence in most classroom interactions and this led him to develop his work in coaching and mentoring, both with classroom teachers and school leaders.  Behaviour, relationships, communication, a positive learning culture – these are all part of the emotionally intelligent school that Andy’s work helps develop.

What’s more, his approach is straightforward and down to earth. For example, his approach to working both with organisations and individuals is summed up in the four profoundly effective yet incredibly simple questions he always poses:

1. What have you done recently that you are pleased and proud of?
2. How could you do even more of that?
3. Where would you like to focus so that you become even better?
4. What, specifically, can I do to help that happen?

‘The work on coaching has had a profound effect on changing the culture of our school.  The questions we ask of each other and of our students are generating better leaders and better learners’

Do you want leaders in your school to engage and motivate staff to create improved learning? Do you want calmer and more emotionally intelligent classrooms? Do you want support and pastoral staff to be skilled in generating positive change with the hard to reach?

If you are committed to these things Andy will help you and your staff make more of a difference - to more children - more often!

He has delivered his unique “Sanity in the classroom” workshop to over 10,000 teachers and personally trained over 350 senior leaders in coaching & mentoring skills. What’s more, he was a co-writer on the first national training programme in the UK for TAs and contributed widely to the National Behaviour & Attendance Strategy.

Feedback from teachers who have benefitted from Andy's input include:

• I have just witnessed complete mastery of the coaching process over four days. Andy is awesome and inspiring and totally authentic.
• Andy’s presentation & style is inspirational – makes me want to put it all into practice right away
• Superb presentation – totally relevant and tremendously thought provoking. Excellent group activities and feeling of involvement
• I’ve been teaching 30 years and I still took copious notes
• An absolutely brilliant course.  Extremely influential and inspiring.  Thankyou
• The most useful and empowering training I have participated in as a headteacher
• This has had a significant impact on the way I behave
• Better than therapy!
• The frequency and brilliance of my light bulb moments was due to the way Andy presented detailed and perceptive ideas with academic and experiential support in a totally seamless and engaging way

So, why not book Andy for an Event with your staff (Andy delivers Events for early years, primary, secondary and further education).

People who have benefited from Andy have also enjoyed Roy Leighton.

To find out more about how Andy can help you and your school simply call us on 0844 589 0490 or e-mail us on learn@independentthinking.co.uk

Andy's CRB number is 001272251357 issued 12th March 2010.

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