Inspire and Enthuse Your Staff with AFL Training that Brings Simplicity to the Complex Business of Teaching Great Lessons

I can still remember seeing Dylan Wiliam speak when assessment for learning was first making waves.

It was an electric presentation that inspired me to change my approach to teaching.

And to write a book that went on to become a bestseller.

Since the early days of AFL research there has been a tendency to make the approach more complicated than it needs to be.

And that has caused problems for teachers, making their lives harder.

The goal of my AFL Unlocked training is to do the opposite.

To make assessment for learning simple, clear and practical for skilled teachers working in busy classrooms right now.

Leverage Mike’s AFL Expertise and Give Your Staff the Practical Solutions That Actually Work

For me, mastering assessment for learning has been a fascinating journey. One I’ve shared with hundreds of schools and thousands of teachers over the years.

Whenever I deliver AFL Unlocked, I always begin from the premise that teachers are skilled, experienced professionals.

They don’t need to be told what to do.

They need access to what works, to understand why it works, and to think about how it can work for them, in their classrooms.

To be given the space to discuss and reflect on their own practice, and the ideas and strategies I share.

That’s why my training always favours a 50/50 balance.

Fifty percent expert input from me.

And fifty percent interactive discussion, professional reflection, and trying out strategies for real, to see what they feel like and how they work for learners.

So what do we do on the training?

Every session begins with my Simplifying AFL Introduction.

I well understand that teachers are familiar with AFL and having often been using it in their practice for many years.

So this is a chance for me to tap into their expertise, give them opportunities to reflect, and to then present my take on assessment for learning, bringing clarity and simplicity to this fundamental driver of effective classroom practice.

I’ll unlock The Three Pillars for your staff, help them understand the AFL cycle, and give them the too often overlooked key that ensures the cycle is successfully completed – in any lesson.

Then, we move onto practical strategies, including:

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Unlock the Key Pillars of Assessment for Learning and Understand What Great Practice Looks Like

A full-day with Mike gives your staff the insights, energy and motivation to bring assessment for learning to life in their classrooms.

Here’s an example of a full-day schedule:

Across sessions one and two, I share my insights into AFL, clarifying and simplifying the approach for colleagues, before looking at some of the most high impact practical strategies and techniques around.

After lunch, we get colleagues into teams, focussing on implementation.

For me, this is crucial.

Staff need the opportunity to translate the ideas and techniques we look at during the morning into their own practice.

While they are working on this, I circulate, spending time with each team in turn.

It’s incredible just what colleagues can produce in this timeframe. The quality and depth of work I’ve seen teams create is remarkable.

I always encourage one or more senior leaders to come round with me as I circulate, so they can get a sense themselves of what staff are developing.

Finally, we have the reflective plenary.

I bring everyone back together and teams have the opportunity to share their work with each other in a supportive, collegial atmosphere.

This creates great momentum to carry into the next full week of teaching, and beyond.

It ends the day on a high, and gives staff the confidence and energy to drive forwards with the new ideas, strategies and materials they’ve created.

What is included in a full day of Assessment for Learning Unlocked INSET, Training or CPD?

All bookings include:

For half-day and twilight INSET or CPD, we focus on the expert-led sessions from Mike, and remove the implementation and plenary sessions from the agenda.

Everything else listed above is included in half-day and twilight bookings.

One input from Mike and, if you follow his guidance on how to maintain momentum around developing assessment for learning, you’ll have scope for 12+ months’ sustained impact in your school.

Plus, an exclusive bonus to celebrate the launch of my newly developed CPD platform, Mike Gershon’s Effective Teaching and Learning.

World-Leading Expertise on Practical Teaching and Learning That Works

Five reasons you can rely on Mike to deliver expert training and practical guidance for your staff.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you do half-day and twilight training?

Yes. I offer both and recognise the flexibility schools sometimes need around their calendars. Half-day and twilight CPD focuses on expert input from me. We remove the teamworking and plenary sessions to accommodate this.

Do you offer follow-up packages?

Yes. Many schools I work with ask me to come back and work with them again, to support them in their developmental journey. Follow-up options include further training, supportive observations with constructive feedback, paired observations and SLT coaching.

We’re a small primary school, can we still work with you?

I always hold back a few dates each year for small primaries, recognising the challenges the smallest schools face in accessing high-quality training. We can also work around tight budgets by looking at online options and in-person training involving multiple schools. The smallest primary I’ve worked with had four teachers – and we had a great day together!

We’d like to look at online training. Is that something you offer?

Yes. It is not my preference as I believe that in-person is always better, and includes elements that can’t be replicated online. However, I do provide online training for schools where in-person may be difficult due to geography, time zones and other factors. My one rule for online is that staff must sit together so that I can facilitate discussion and interaction just as I do when delivering in person.

How far are you willing to travel?

I travel across the UK and overseas from my base in York. Far flung visits have included Shetland, Cornwall, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Pembrokeshire. Even further flung visits have included Romania, Norway, Italy, Bahrain, Kuwait and The Falkland Islands. Trips that require extensive travelling attract a higher cost to cover additional time and mileage.

Can we book you in conjunction with another school?

Yes. Many smaller schools opt for this approach. Sometimes this sees two or three primaries joining up for a full-day session, sometimes a cluster of schools combine budgets and I work with them over an extended period. Occasionally schools ask if they can book me and then sell tickets to the event to nearby schools to cover costs. That is also fine with me.

Is the training relevant for all age groups?

Yes. I have worked with hundreds of primaries, hundreds of secondaries, and dozens of FE colleges over the years. I present in a curriculum agnostic way, using examples that are relevant for the audience in front of me and the age group they teach. A big part of all my training is giving colleagues the opportunity to think about how they can take the ideas and strategies I present and use them with the learners they know best.

Start Changing Your Staff’s AFL Practice Today With Mike’s FREE Assessment for Learning Knowledge Base

Get a head start on developing assessment for learning in your school by exploring my Assessment for Learning Knowledge Base and sharing it with your staff.

The Knowledge Base features 32 blogs, guides and articles adapted from my bestselling book How to Use Assessment for Learning in The Classroom: The Complete Guide.

You’ll find explanations and practical strategies covering:

So enjoy – I hope you and your team find it useful!

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P.S. Don’t forget, when I deliver my AFL Unlocked training, the emphasis is always on making life simpler and easier for your teachers, so they can adapt, develop and enhance their practice in ways that work.