ISA Courses

ISA training promotes excellence in independent education and helps schools to keep up to date with the latest best practice. Our online day courses take place via Zoom and offer a mixture of expert advice and networking opportunities.

Online training is offered at the affordable rate of £120 per delegate. Face-to-face training is £175 per delegate, with every second delegate offered at a discounted rate of £139. For more information and to book, please visit our website:

Who should attend? All staff who require up to date information on drugs issues

• Examine the impact of new psychoactive substances • Understand the problems associated with poly-drug use, in particular the impact on mental health • Understand the increasing role that the internet and social media play in drugs culture • Explore appropriate harm reduction advice to give pupils • Explore the issues around advising pupils

Who should attend? Heads, deputy heads, existing and new pastoral leaders and boarding staff (middle or senior leadership)

• Examine key facets of pastoral care • Examine how ISI evaluate the quality of pastoral provision under the new inspection framework • Explore practical ways to ensure your school conforms with current best practice • Complete scenario-based exercises to develop strategies for tackling difficult pastoral issues

Who should attend? Heads, deputy heads, heads of department and pastoral leaders

• Provide guidance on dealing with instances of serious pupil misbehaviour in a legally compliant manner • Provide strategies for dealing with various types of difficult parents • Equip leaders with the knowledge and skills to challenge staff under-performance and deal with misconduct • Identify reasons for resistance to change and explore ways it can be overcome

(Or via Zoom as necessary) Who should attend? Headteachers, senior leadership teams and team leaders

• Equip leaders with further leadership knowledge and skills • Develop more powerful communication skills for handling difficult people • Understand core motivators and how it can influence people’s choices and actions • Learn how to leverage natural strengths and recognise potential weaknesses in your team • Discover strategies to improve communication, teamwork and productivity

Who should attend? Staff involved in making appointments and those who have a responsibility for recording evidence of the process.

• Gain a greater understanding of required and best practice elements of the staff recruitment process • Work with an experienced safeguarding specialist who will advise on ISI Regulatory Requirements • Learn about the expectations of the recruitment process and how to ensure that its requirements are correctly evidenced • Get assistance with developing procedures and associated checklists

Who should attend? SLT, middle leaders and teachers looking to develop critical thinking skills in their pupils

• Explore practical ways to increase students’ abilities in problem-solving pedagogies • Turn typical classroom activities into engaging tasks, where learners do the cognitive work • Discuss potential barriers in the way of critical thinking and how to remove them • Promote a culture of deep thinking in the classroom

(Or via Zoom as necessary) Who should attend? Any member of staff who has responsibility for data collection, analysis, dissemination and use.

• Take a more critical and evaluative approach to the acquisition and use of data • Learn how to generate and use data from within your own school • Understand how to get under the surface of the data and what it can tell us about pupils and classrooms

(Or via Zoom as necessary) Who should attend? Those responsible for safeguarding within the school

• Enable delegates to identify when and how children might be exposed to risk, including grooming and cyberbullying • Bring you up to speed on all the latest trends in social networking, messaging, gaming and other activities • Understand how the school can help to encourage safer online behaviour through education, positive cultures and school policies

With a mix of informative speakers and open forum discussions, our day conferences offer an invaluable opportunity to join together with other like-minded professionals and keep up to date with the latest developments in your area.

As always we are also holding a range of inspection training, helping your school to stay up to date on the latest ISI guidance and keeping your staff prepared for whenever the inspector calls. More information can be found on the website.