Courses Evaluations About Barry Hymer

Course Evaluations – what others have said about Barry’s in-service training days and his presentations and workshops at conferences:

A high-calibre keynote speaker – brilliantly informative.
I am grateful for any presentation which encourages my staff to think more critically about what they are doing in the classroom, and their reasons for doing it. I am additionally grateful when such a presentation is done with so much skill, expertise and flair.
It’s the best set of conference evaluations we’ve seen as a team of South London Borough Coordinators.
Many thanks for your stunning contribution to the conference last Monday. Judging from the evaluations it’s quite clear that you changed a few lives there! Your involvement gave the whole event the drive and excitement it needed.
Your input today was excellent. It was that great combination of affirming people and challenging us to do it differently. Thanks once again. I don't usually do feedback but found today stimulating.
Not only was it a thoroughly enjoyable morning, but it has already had an impact on our planning. I have received, and am continuing to receive, loads of positive feedback. It is sometimes difficult to ‘move on’ from a Training Day but this is one occasion when the ripples are spreading from the proverbial pebble in the pool.
Many people said how thought provoking it had been and that it had been the best INSET ever offered by our school.
It’s a long time since I’ve felt so motivated/inspired/switched-on at a course. I have to admit to coming to Lea Marston more out of a sense of duty, but I was mesmerised by the sense of what you were saying.
Two weeks after your course in Birmingham we had an OfSTED ‘benchmarking’ visit and, for the first time in my career, I had a lesson given an ‘outstanding’ rating by the inspector. I’d like to think that this was at least in part down to your guidance.
It is refreshing to get the opportunity to develop ideas and strategies without having to adhere to a pro-forma which is being ‘delivered’ as a package. Great opportunities to think about my own teaching and how this relates to the whole learning experience.
Even ‘uncomfortable’ ideas/thoughts were productive learning opportunities.
This has been a fabulous day for me. I am now ready – after some years of looking into this area (G&T) – to take forward the dream of really meaningful education systems. Although I achieved a roundness in my knowledge today, I am very aware of the learning and work still to be done – and which only I can do.
Both the course leader and the material were inspirational. This was the most valuable course, personally and professionally, I have taken part in in years.
Thank goodness there are still voices of reason and truth out there! I have returned to school full of enthusiasm. My Head is delighted with the response and wants me to trial P4C with Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 and I cannot wait! This is what I hoped education with children would be all about! Watch this space!
Thank you for delivering the latest P4C Level 1 course. The comments on the evaluations are the most consistently stunning that any of us have ever seen.
Thank you again for such an uplifting day. All too often I find myself overwhelmed by the paperwork and red tape that I am required to respond to or act upon. Days like yesterday serve as a gentle reminder of why, from the age of five, I only ever wanted to teach and share my enthusiasm for learning with expectant and open young minds.
This has been a totally fantastic, reflective day – really encouraging creative questioning of my philosophy of education AND LIFE.
Barry’s delivery was captivating and every opinion given to him warmly received.
I would highly recommend inviting Barry to spend a day in any school, as I defy anyone not to gain from the experience in a unique way. Do not expect easy answers though: Barry excels at leading open-ended questioning sessions that will hopefully lead you to devise the appropriate strategies for your school community’s own needs. A course with Barry is not an easy option, but if approached with the right frame of mind, it becomes a voyage of discovery of one’s own teaching potential.
Simply the best teacher training course I have ever been on.
Fantastic! Head spinning but very inspiring; motivated my own thinking – I’m dying to get back in the classroom!
Last September you led an INSET Day for all our staff. I want to let you know that we have just had our OfSTED inspection and have gained over 50% very good and excellent lessons. The input you gave us had a significant effect on this result – many thanks for your help.
A brilliant trainer, with lots of opportunity to try out elements leading up to an enquiry and to practise enquiries as a group. Best course I’ve been on …
Absolutely inspirational. Would love him to be my mentor.
I’ve been on loads of courses/conferences this year. This is the only one that I’ve enjoyed and felt inspired by.
The best keynote address I’ve heard in ten years of attending this national conference.
I leave the training feeling excited, inspired and confident that by using philosophical enquiry in my class I will enrich the children’s thinking and understanding. As a bonus, I am also sure that this will improve their academic performances.
Thanks again for a wonderfully informative and entertaining day. Even the old cynics in the department couldn’t help but express how much they’d enjoyed themselves!
Without exception, the evaluations indicate that you were the highlight of our two-day Heads’ & Officers’ Conference. Your session really set the conference alight.
Just a quick note to thank you so much for the wonderful INSET you gave last week. All staff are really fired up about philosophy now and every teacher has already planned their first activity for next week. Two classes have already done their first session and the feedback has been fantastic!
Staff said this was the best training session they’d ever had, and did not realise how fast the time had passed.
Confirms my belief in trusting children and giving them responsibility for their learning.
I just wanted to say thank you, on behalf of all the staff, for the inspirational and witty INSET that you delivered. People admired your style of delivery and enjoyed being back in school – which is a fantastic way to begin a term.
I only wish my colleagues could have experienced what I have this morning.
Refreshing – and getting back to the point of education.
You put forward provocative views that had the desired effect of making teachers question what they do and challenge their current practice. The feedback that I received was very positive, with typical comments such as ‘very inspiring’ and ‘thought provoking.’
Brilliant – entertaining, motivating, and because of this – you learn!
The quality and clarity of Barry’s thinking and presentation always leaves me inspired to think afresh around the area/issues of G&T provision in our school.
Well-paced and used a range of techniques to elicit responses. Informative and enjoyable.
Inspirational. Can’t wait to get involved. I feel like I’ve found my own strength in the education world.
What was particularly helpful was the opportunity to apply the principles to practical classroom scenarios.
Before today, I’ve never known our staff to applaud a speaker at the end of a training session. This was a first for us.
Such a thorough and enjoyable presentation is what INSET days should be about.
Very interesting to note that Barry demonstrated in his questions/activities the ideas he was informing us of. Could he come again?
Absolutely FANTASTIC!! The best course I’ve ever been on. I enjoyed ‘doing’ instead of merely looking at powerpoint slides. I can’t rate it enough.
Encouraging that we ARE allowed to think – and so are CHILDREN!
He made me want to teach again, and probably saved my teaching career.
We are all agreed that it is the most stimulating and inspirational day we have had as a staff. It has given us lots of food for thought and practical ideas which we will be discussing further at our staff meeting today.
This was one of the best and most thought-provoking courses I have been on in the last nine years – since I completed my training.
I know what we wanted was a little bit out of the ordinary, but you hit the button perfectly and the feedback from all the schools concerned has been excellent – thanks again.
The most thought-provoking course I have ever attended. The one I have spoken at most (confidence!). Very relevant to my needs – 50% of my class have special behavioural needs.
Time flew by. As a kinaesthetic learner, I did not doodle or look out the window.
Barry’s effectiveness: ice-breaking, bringing people into the discussion, communicating the theory simply, his sense of humour and thorough understanding of the topic area. I honestly do not think the day could be improved.
He addresses the heart of education as I see it. And practises what he preaches.
Tremendous speaker – got me thinking and feeling about pupil needs – left buzzing with ideas.
Excellent, well-paced delivery of relevant information. All delegates commented on the success of the day, all rating it with the highest score on their evaluation sheets. I therefore have no suggestions for improvement.
This is the best thing I have ever taken part in as regards my teaching career.
A fantastic concept delivered by an exceptional facilitator.
Thanks for a fantastic day. Many delegates expressed the view that it was the best they had ever attended, and I was one of them!
EXCELLENT session – practical AND philosophical – will influence my work.
Excellent speaker – fired me with enthusiasm. Well pitched.
Wow! Stimulating, interesting, entertaining and THOUGHT PROVOKING. Interactive, positive and extremely valuable – makes me think and think again …
Thoroughly enjoyed both theory and practical sessions. Was upbeat and full of useful tips and strategies for helping pupils to ‘think up’.
Brilliant! – Challenging perceptions. An inspiring workshop in educational thinking which left me feeling that my own thought processes had been liberated.
The two of us who attended have been absolutely ‘wowed’ by the experience and the excitement of introducing sessions into our school.
Awesome and inspirational.
Can’t wait to get started. I felt that the facilitating modelled by Barry was one of the most valuable aspects.
I can’t thank you enough for your brilliant input to our full advisory team last Friday. They are quite a difficult group to please but everyone was very positive about the session. Your warmth and humour added to your clear messages which engaged all the group – and which had people buzzing all day.
Normally I lose interest in the afternoon and don’t pay full attention. This was so interesting I didn’t notice the time go by or look at my watch once!
Brilliant speaker – very thought-provoking. I am now inspired to try new activities in the classroom.
Made me think about my own teaching and questioning skills. Good, practical, relevant activities.
Fantastic session, interesting and entertaining speaker. Informative and provocative. I really feel that I got a lot out of it that I can take back into school with me – thank you.
An excellent day. Well prepared. Easy manner. The evaluations were very positive.
Barry’s session was inspiring and interesting. Good delivery – a great mix of video, visuals and activities. Both thought-provoking and entertaining. I could have listened forever …
Charismatic speaker. Good delivery. Well-prepared. Relevant.
I want to extend my thanks and the thanks of all the delegates for an enlightening, intellectually stimulating and, perhaps most importantly on such occasions, entertaining day’s training.
Barry’s section of today was brilliant because it gave us the inspiration and ideas to take directly into the classroom.
Good knowledge of his topic and his ability to connect and empathise with the audience was excellent.
I felt the most valuable part was taken by Barry Hymer – both informative and inspirational. Definitely makes you feel you’re in the right profession (something that can easily be knocked out of you!)
Barry Hymer renewed the ‘buzz’ for me, and I will pursue it further.
Barry’s presentation very informative and interesting; obviously loves his work, knowledge very high and this showed.
The Inspector-Advisers’ evaluations indicated that Barry’s session was well-received, informative, challenging and well-delivered. He was a great success. From my point of view, as organiser, he was a model presenter.
Barry Hymer was inspiring. Made you think about the subject matter and question your experiences.
A very effective speaker, and triggered lots of ‘thoughts’ on the subject discussed. To the point, informative, new material, and brilliantly presented.
A star. I could listen to him all day. Some great ideas and discussion shared.
Very well-prepared. Delivery excellent with good humour. Very authoritative and fluent. Dealt with questions and answers admirably.



			Home Page Biography Publications Reviews Consultancy Forthcoming Courses Client Feedback Contact
							Course Evaluations – what others have said about Barry’s in-service training days and his presentations and workshops at conferences: A high-calibre keynote speaker – brilliantly informative. I am grateful for any presentation which encourages my staff to think more critically about what they are doing in the classroom, and their reasons for doing it. I am additionally grateful when such a presentation is done with so much skill, expertise and flair. It’s the best set of conference evaluations we’ve seen as a team of South London Borough Coordinators. Many thanks for your stunning contribution to the conference last Monday. Judging from the evaluations it’s quite clear that you changed a few lives there! Your involvement gave the whole event the drive and excitement it needed. Your input today was excellent. It was that great combination of affirming people and challenging us to do it differently. Thanks once again. I don't usually do feedback but found today stimulating. Not only was it a thoroughly enjoyable morning, but it has already had an impact on our planning. I have received, and am continuing to receive, loads of positive feedback. It is sometimes difficult to ‘move on’ from a Training Day but this is one occasion when the ripples are spreading from the proverbial pebble in the pool. Many people said how thought provoking it had been and that it had been the best INSET ever offered by our school. It’s a long time since I’ve felt so motivated/inspired/switched-on at a course. I have to admit to coming to Lea Marston more out of a sense of duty, but I was mesmerised by the sense of what you were saying. Two weeks after your course in Birmingham we had an OfSTED ‘benchmarking’ visit and, for the first time in my career, I had a lesson given an ‘outstanding’ rating by the inspector. I’d like to think that this was at least in part down to your guidance. It is refreshing to get the opportunity to develop ideas and strategies without having to adhere to a pro-forma which is being ‘delivered’ as a package. Great opportunities to think about my own teaching and how this relates to the whole learning experience. Even ‘uncomfortable’ ideas/thoughts were productive learning opportunities. This has been a fabulous day for me. I am now ready – after some years of looking into this area (G&T) – to take forward the dream of really meaningful education systems. Although I achieved a roundness in my knowledge today, I am very aware of the learning and work still to be done – and which only I can do. Both the course leader and the material were inspirational. This was the most valuable course, personally and professionally, I have taken part in in years. Thank goodness there are still voices of reason and truth out there! I have returned to school full of enthusiasm. My Head is delighted with the response and wants me to trial P4C with Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 and I cannot wait! This is what I hoped education with children would be all about! Watch this space! Thank you for delivering the latest P4C Level 1 course. The comments on the evaluations are the most consistently stunning that any of us have ever seen. Thank you again for such an uplifting day. All too often I find myself overwhelmed by the paperwork and red tape that I am required to respond to or act upon. Days like yesterday serve as a gentle reminder of why, from the age of five, I only ever wanted to teach and share my enthusiasm for learning with expectant and open young minds. This has been a totally fantastic, reflective day – really encouraging creative questioning of my philosophy of education AND LIFE. Barry’s delivery was captivating and every opinion given to him warmly received. I would highly recommend inviting Barry to spend a day in any school, as I defy anyone not to gain from the experience in a unique way. Do not expect easy answers though: Barry excels at leading open-ended questioning sessions that will hopefully lead you to devise the appropriate strategies for your school community’s own needs. A course with Barry is not an easy option, but if approached with the right frame of mind, it becomes a voyage of discovery of one’s own teaching potential. Simply the best teacher training course I have ever been on. Fantastic! Head spinning but very inspiring; motivated my own thinking – I’m dying to get back in the classroom! Last September you led an INSET Day for all our staff. I want to let you know that we have just had our OfSTED inspection and have gained over 50% very good and excellent lessons. The input you gave us had a significant effect on this result – many thanks for your help. A brilliant trainer, with lots of opportunity to try out elements leading up to an enquiry and to practise enquiries as a group. Best course I’ve been on … Absolutely inspirational. Would love him to be my mentor. I’ve been on loads of courses/conferences this year. This is the only one that I’ve enjoyed and felt inspired by. The best keynote address I’ve heard in ten years of attending this national conference. I leave the training feeling excited, inspired and confident that by using philosophical enquiry in my class I will enrich the children’s thinking and understanding. As a bonus, I am also sure that this will improve their academic performances. Thanks again for a wonderfully informative and entertaining day. Even the old cynics in the department couldn’t help but express how much they’d enjoyed themselves! Without exception, the evaluations indicate that you were the highlight of our two-day Heads’ & Officers’ Conference. Your session really set the conference alight. Just a quick note to thank you so much for the wonderful INSET you gave last week. All staff are really fired up about philosophy now and every teacher has already planned their first activity for next week. Two classes have already done their first session and the feedback has been fantastic! Staff said this was the best training session they’d ever had, and did not realise how fast the time had passed. Confirms my belief in trusting children and giving them responsibility for their learning. I just wanted to say thank you, on behalf of all the staff, for the inspirational and witty INSET that you delivered. People admired your style of delivery and enjoyed being back in school – which is a fantastic way to begin a term. I only wish my colleagues could have experienced what I have this morning. Refreshing – and getting back to the point of education. You put forward provocative views that had the desired effect of making teachers question what they do and challenge their current practice. The feedback that I received was very positive, with typical comments such as ‘very inspiring’ and ‘thought provoking.’ Brilliant – entertaining, motivating, and because of this – you learn! The quality and clarity of Barry’s thinking and presentation always leaves me inspired to think afresh around the area/issues of G&T provision in our school. Well-paced and used a range of techniques to elicit responses. Informative and enjoyable. Inspirational. Can’t wait to get involved. I feel like I’ve found my own strength in the education world. What was particularly helpful was the opportunity to apply the principles to practical classroom scenarios. Before today, I’ve never known our staff to applaud a speaker at the end of a training session. This was a first for us. Such a thorough and enjoyable presentation is what INSET days should be about. Very interesting to note that Barry demonstrated in his questions/activities the ideas he was informing us of. Could he come again? Absolutely FANTASTIC!! The best course I’ve ever been on. I enjoyed ‘doing’ instead of merely looking at powerpoint slides. I can’t rate it enough. Encouraging that we ARE allowed to think – and so are CHILDREN! He made me want to teach again, and probably saved my teaching career. We are all agreed that it is the most stimulating and inspirational day we have had as a staff. It has given us lots of food for thought and practical ideas which we will be discussing further at our staff meeting today. This was one of the best and most thought-provoking courses I have been on in the last nine years – since I completed my training. I know what we wanted was a little bit out of the ordinary, but you hit the button perfectly and the feedback from all the schools concerned has been excellent – thanks again. The most thought-provoking course I have ever attended. The one I have spoken at most (confidence!). Very relevant to my needs – 50% of my class have special behavioural needs. Time flew by. As a kinaesthetic learner, I did not doodle or look out the window. Barry’s effectiveness: ice-breaking, bringing people into the discussion, communicating the theory simply, his sense of humour and thorough understanding of the topic area. I honestly do not think the day could be improved. He addresses the heart of education as I see it. And practises what he preaches. Tremendous speaker – got me thinking and feeling about pupil needs – left buzzing with ideas. Excellent, well-paced delivery of relevant information. All delegates commented on the success of the day, all rating it with the highest score on their evaluation sheets. I therefore have no suggestions for improvement. This is the best thing I have ever taken part in as regards my teaching career. A fantastic concept delivered by an exceptional facilitator. Thanks for a fantastic day. Many delegates expressed the view that it was the best they had ever attended, and I was one of them! EXCELLENT session – practical AND philosophical – will influence my work. Excellent speaker – fired me with enthusiasm. Well pitched. Wow! Stimulating, interesting, entertaining and THOUGHT PROVOKING. Interactive, positive and extremely valuable – makes me think and think again … Thoroughly enjoyed both theory and practical sessions. Was upbeat and full of useful tips and strategies for helping pupils to ‘think up’. Brilliant! – Challenging perceptions. An inspiring workshop in educational thinking which left me feeling that my own thought processes had been liberated. The two of us who attended have been absolutely ‘wowed’ by the experience and the excitement of introducing sessions into our school. Awesome and inspirational. Can’t wait to get started. I felt that the facilitating modelled by Barry was one of the most valuable aspects. I can’t thank you enough for your brilliant input to our full advisory team last Friday. They are quite a difficult group to please but everyone was very positive about the session. Your warmth and humour added to your clear messages which engaged all the group – and which had people buzzing all day. Normally I lose interest in the afternoon and don’t pay full attention. This was so interesting I didn’t notice the time go by or look at my watch once! Brilliant speaker – very thought-provoking. I am now inspired to try new activities in the classroom. Made me think about my own teaching and questioning skills. Good, practical, relevant activities. Fantastic session, interesting and entertaining speaker. Informative and provocative. I really feel that I got a lot out of it that I can take back into school with me – thank you. An excellent day. Well prepared. Easy manner. The evaluations were very positive. Barry’s session was inspiring and interesting. Good delivery – a great mix of video, visuals and activities. Both thought-provoking and entertaining. I could have listened forever … Charismatic speaker. Good delivery. Well-prepared. Relevant. I want to extend my thanks and the thanks of all the delegates for an enlightening, intellectually stimulating and, perhaps most importantly on such occasions, entertaining day’s training. Barry’s section of today was brilliant because it gave us the inspiration and ideas to take directly into the classroom. Good knowledge of his topic and his ability to connect and empathise with the audience was excellent. I felt the most valuable part was taken by Barry Hymer – both informative and inspirational. Definitely makes you feel you’re in the right profession (something that can easily be knocked out of you!) Barry Hymer renewed the ‘buzz’ for me, and I will pursue it further. Barry’s presentation very informative and interesting; obviously loves his work, knowledge very high and this showed. The Inspector-Advisers’ evaluations indicated that Barry’s session was well-received, informative, challenging and well-delivered. He was a great success. From my point of view, as organiser, he was a model presenter. Barry Hymer was inspiring. Made you think about the subject matter and question your experiences. A very effective speaker, and triggered lots of ‘thoughts’ on the subject discussed. To the point, informative, new material, and brilliantly presented. A star. I could listen to him all day. Some great ideas and discussion shared. Very well-prepared. Delivery excellent with good humour. Very authoritative and fluent. Dealt with questions and answers admirably.