Everything we do is aligned
with our three core objectives
Inspire
Creating an emotional and intellectual ‘buy-in’ from students is vital to ignite their passion and drive for future success. All our workshops are underpinned with introspective and reflective moments, encouraging students to ask, “what’s in it for me?”. When students understand and clarify the outcomes of their efforts their fire is hard to extinguish. We inspire students to be the very best they can be.
Equip
Schools, colleges and academies do an incredible job of teaching students a broad and deep curriculum, covering a huge amount of information across multiple subjects. However, many institutions find it challenging to explicitly teach the independent thinking skills that could enable their students to achieve higher levels of success. This is where we can help. Through our training, we teach students specific strategies for enhancing their; learning, confidence, motivation, resilience, goal setting, studying, revision, exam preparation and stress management.
Sustain
Creating an environment and culture for the adoption of new behaviours requires strategic coordination of inputs, resources and stakeholders – it is not simply the result of a single, student intervention. We work with students, staff and parents to help integrate new methodologies not only in the classroom, but also at home. Regular review and practice of new skills and strategies is vital for developing mastery and that’s why we have created a suite of online video resources and materials. Now students can learn our thinking skills whether at home or at school. We have spent 10 years researching and developing our methods for delivering and sustaining impact. Our feedback and evaluation statistics speak for itself.
Meet the team
Discover more about our dedicated team and how we can help you to achieve outstanding results
Sander de Groot
Director and Head of TrainingRoz Pearce-Gray
Project ManagerCorinne Stratford
Business AdministratorDaniel Tierney
Academic CoachJoe Rowntree
Associate TrainerDanny Ward
Associate TrainerJames Sherwood
Associate TrainerRob Snell
Associate TrainerMartin Travers
Associate TrainerRoy Owen
Positive Mindset SpecialistMatt Smith
Associate TrainerDominic Waldron
Associate TrainerRationale
As students make progress ascending the educational ladder, they are exposed to ever-greater needs for independent learning and self-motivation. Studies suggest that independent learning flourishes where it is encouraged to flourish. Students equipped with strategies for learning independently are more likely to succeed at school, college and university. We develop independent and motivated learners through interactive and engaging skills-based workshops and online courses. We empower students to go further in education and in life, by giving them a toolbox of thinking strategies that build confidence, increase competence and improve results.
Methodology
We deliver skills-based workshops in schools, colleges and universities and then extend the impact of the live training through online resources. We work with all those supporting academic and life progression; students, teachers and parents/carers.
History
2010
Launched with three workshops: ‘Exams MADE Easy’, ‘Studying MADE Simple’ and ‘Futures MADE Real’.
MADE chosen by Aimhigher Suffolk to work with all their partner schools, leaving a positive and lasting legacy in their final year.
Worked with Newcastle University in the first of many ‘widening participation’ projects with UK universities.
2011
Launched two new workshops: ‘The Lighthouse’ and Stepping UP’
Shortlisted for Chamber of Commerce New Business award.
Bucks New University selects MADE as training provider for all new student ambassadors.
‘Staff overview’ sessions created to enable schools to adopt and integrate our teaching and learning strategies.
2012
STABILO offer to supply all student delegates with high-quality stationery for use in student-facing workshops.
In response to school requests, MADE launches new ‘Parents’ Evenings’ workshops.
Worked with Dulwich College Shanghai in our first international project.
2013
Reach landmark of having worked with 50,000 students.
Launched two new workshops: ‘CSI:MADE’ and ‘Self MADE Motivation’.
Blog article entitled ‘10 Top Tips for Parents of Exam Students’ written by Sander de Groot (Head of Training) is read by over 20,000 people.
2014
Launch of new website.
Training team doubled to meet increasing demand.
Moved to new office : HMS President, Embankment.
2015
Reach landmark of having worked with 100,000 students
Launch of new one-hour workshops entitled ‘power hours’. First workshop entitled ‘moving forwards’.
Creation of MADE video.
2016
Suite of bite-sized Power Hour workshops now expanded to four. Marginal Gains, Rapid Revision, Managing Stress and Goals & Aspirations.
Partnering with Study Higher and Essex Collaborative Outreach Network to deliver elementsof their Widening Participation programme.
Moved to new office: 2 Stephen Street, Fitzrovia
2017
Working with 8 consortia within NCOP (National Collaborative Outreach Programme). Helping students to make informed decisions about their future.
Working with students at Bingham Academy in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
First time working in hospital schools.
2018
Launched new workshop entitled ‘Thinking BIG’; exploring the theory of growth mindset.
Delivered CPD training to NCOP personnel at conferences and bespoke events.
Suite of bite-sized Power Hour workshops now expanded to eight, including: Inner Winner, Independent Learning and Advanced Note Taking.
150,000 students reached
2019
NCOP partnerships rises to 11.
Commissioned to co-develop a new careers focussed workshop by Next Steps South West (consortium of 14 Universities and colleges in the Cornwall, Devon and Somerset) ‘Fast Track to Success’ is born.
200,000 student milestone reached
Moved to new office: Flint Barn, High Wycombe.
Peter retires as financial administrator after 9 loyal years of service.
Roz recruited as new Account Manager.
2020
We hit the magical milestone of 250,000 student, teacher and parent participants in our workshops.
Covid-19 sadly brings a pause to Live Workshop delivery.
The Remote Learning Video Portal is born, providing study skills and goal setting courses to students at home.
New Website launched!
Two new trainers added to the delivery team; Jenny and Roy.
Virtual workshops launched.
2021
Launched new workshop entitled ‘Positive Mindset’; exploring strategies for stress management and positive self-talk.
300,000 student milestone reached.
Launched new workshop entitled ‘The Write Stuff’; covering techniques for confident essay planning and writing.
CPD course launched entitled ‘Advanced Stagecraft – facilitation and delivery strategies’.
Digital resources evolve into fully-fledges LMS: Thinking Skills Platform.
2022
Branched out into European delivery, with an International school in Luxembourg.
400,000 student milestone reached.
Published Impact Brief, showcasing 12 years of successful raising aspirations and attainment.
MADE welcomes Corinne Stratford as Business Administrator.
Training team grows as we welcome our latest Associate Trainer, Natalie Potts.