Contact us Current vacancies Leading e-learning, educational services and training – powered by psychology
In 2004, three educational psychologists created Real Group to make a real difference to young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Our mission today is to transform lives and societies by providing outstanding and inclusive professional development. Our values are inclusivity, integrity, positivity, curiosity, growth and sustainability.
Already globally recognised as being at the vanguard of our sector, we aim to expand further the professional development offered by Real Training and Dyslexia Action to become industry-leading examples of professional development utilising our innovative fusion of psychology, education and technology expertise.
Our group of companies strive for a world where effective and sustainable professional development is accessible to all professionals.
Real Group Brands
We’re the UK’s leading provider of training in educational testing and professional assessment. Our courses are taught by senior practising psychologists with real expertise. We deliver the best thinking, teaching and practice using the latest online learning technologies (Campus Online™).
Our experienced educational psychologists (EPs) deliver innovative and accessible educational psychology services across the UK and the globe. Our principal and senior EPs work with parents, schools and organisations to help each child fulfil their potential.
We are an innovative, Ofsted 'Outstanding' apprenticeship training provider, creating opportunities and raising aspirations through apprenticeship pathways, in order for everyone to learn, train and upskill in education, PE, health, and wellbeing.
Our innovative online courses strengthen the expertise and confidence of education professionals who support students with literacy difficulties, dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties (SpLDs).
As we’re an open membership group, we welcome all professionals with an interest in dyslexia/SpLD. We offer discussion, information and best practice in the field and an array of member resources. We are also a SASC-approved assessment practising certification body.
Our shop was established in November 1995. We offer a range of carefully selected products that provide educators and the public with the best resources to improve outcomes. Our team is based in Real Group’s Canterbury offices.
Awards
News
May 14, 2025
We are pleased to announce our latest venture, the publication of a new assessment test for use in exam access arrangements. Written and developed by Anna Smith, Louise van der Valk and Sophia Butler, the Test of Retrieval Efficiency (TORE) offers educators the ability to assess a group of learners simultaneously on their speed of […]
November 11, 2024
Collaboration between Real Group and Whole School SEND secures a double win at the 2024 Teach Awards
We are delighted that the Universal SEND Services: Online SEND CPD Series which we work on in collaboration with Whole School SEND has won in both the CPD category and the SEND category at the 2024 Teach Primary Awards. This exciting news comes as ‘Supporting reading and comprehension across the curriculum’, the final unit of […]
October 22, 2024
The DfE recently announced that schools have until 31st December 2024 to claim grant funding for senior mental health leadership courses. Applicants must apply by filling in Application form 1 by 31 December. You can then claim your funding by completing Application form 2 by 31 January 2025 (with evidence of your course booking). […]
How we work
Our network of talented and expert individuals is led by a team of experienced psychologists and senior managers. We have a wealth of experience in the analysis and optimisation of learning needs, education environments and project management.
Executive Board
Dr Mark Turner
Mark founded Real Training with Alan Macgregor in 2004 and is now Managing Director. Real Group is the third successful education enterprise that Mark has founded. Mark creates highly effective teams which embrace innovation and focus on impact. He completed his educational psychology doctorate in 2010. He publishes, speaks at conferences, and is a Governor of an inner London Secondary School. He is an alumni of the Goldman Sachs and the University of Oxford Säid Business School 10KSB programme.
Dr Siobhan Mellor
Siobhan has established and led teams of professional tutors and expert witnesses across Real Group. She excels in developing effective operational systems and teams and takes the lead role in managing the team and collating, interpreting and reporting quality-assurance data for the directors and Middlesex University. As an experienced EP, she has worked with children and young people in mainstream schools for almost two decades. She believes in helping educators to meet the needs of children with SEND.
Strategy Board
Dr Mark Turner and Dr Siobhan Mellor are standing members of the Strategy Board
Claire Imhofe
Claire joined Real Group as Finance Director in September 2020, with over 20 years of financial experience, supporting both the commercial and charitable sectors. Claire is a qualified Chartered Accountant (CGMA), and has a BSc degree in Economics. As FD, Claire works collaboratively with the Directors of the Board, to ensure robust sustainable financial plans are in place; provides analytical insight, and financial consultancy, to drive continued strong business performance, and the achievement of Real Group’s strategic goals.
Louisa Moger
With over 20 years of business experience, Louisa is an expert in go-to-market strategy and has extensive, in-depth experience of working across a diverse range of sectors, from multinational corporations, government, not-for-profit and SME’s. She gained insights into how education and technology can contribute to improving the choices and voices of people with learning disabilities through extensive work with RIX Research & Media at the University of East London. Louisa is the founder and Managing Consultant for Evolve Consult, a published author and builds strategic capability for marketing leaders through her work as a Course Director with the Chartered Institute of Marketing.
Innovation
Mark Turner and Siobhan Mellor believe in the power of psychology and technology to change lives. Real Group constantly strives to stay at the leading edge of education technology and the latest thinking.
Programme leaders
Katie Hickin
MEd SEND Programme Lead
Katie has worked within educational settings for a decade as a teacher, a qualified SENCO, and a member of the Senior Management Team since graduating from the University of Cambridge with a Masters in Educational Research Practice. Now working for Real Group, Katie tutors and leads on Real Training's MEd SEND Programme, including the NASENCO and iSENCO qualifications.
Sarah Norris
Mental Health Programme Lead
Sarah joined Real Group as a senior educational psychologist, having had over 13 years experience working within a local authority. She has extensive experience of working with schools and young people for a range of SEN. She has a diploma in solution focused practice and has worked therapeutically supporting young people and developed and delivered an early intervention approach with a mental health service.
Jalak Patel
Professional Assessment Programme Lead
Jalak qualified as an Educational Psychologist in 2005, she worked in the UK before moving to Hong Kong to take up a post with the English Schools Foundation. Joining Real Group in 2017, Jalak is a facilitator of Real Training’s face-to-face intensive Certificate of Competence in Education Testing qualification. She has delivered lectures and workshops at higher education institutes and is an experienced conference speaker.
Nicola Margand
Dyslexia Action CPD Programme Lead
Nicola was a distance learning tutor first with the Hornsby International Dyslexia Centre and then with Dyslexia Action. She moved into higher education as a Dyslexia Support Tutor, screening students for dyslexia, supporting the study needs of students across a variety of university under and postgraduate courses. In 2022, she took on the role of CPD Programme Leader alongside tutoring on the suite of Dyslexia Action CPD courses.
Gill Cochrane
MEd in Professional Practice in Dyslexia and Literacy & Level 5 Specialist Teacher Programme Lead
Gill has worked in the field of education for over twenty years. She writes and researches on the teaching of literacy and mathematics. Within Real Group, her work includes the design and management of courses to enhance teachers' professional development. Gill is the lead for the Masters of Education (MEd) in Professional Practice in Dyslexia and Literacy & the Level 5 Specialist Teacher Programme. She is also one of the lead developers on the Dyslexia Action Literacy Programme.
Contact us
Main switchboard
Dyslexia Action Training
Dyslexia Action Shop
The Dyslexia Guild
Find us
Greenwich office
Real Group Ltd, 4 Victoria Parade, London SE10 9FR, United Kingdom.
01273 35 80 80
Canterbury office
Real Group Ltd, 70-72 Stour Street, Canterbury, CT1 2NZ, United Kingdom.
01273 35 80 80
Staines office
Dyslexia Action, Centurion House, London Road, Staines-upon-Thames, TW18 4AX, United Kingdom.
01784 22 23 04
Stevenage office
Educational and Sporting Futures, Business Technology Centre, Bessemer Drive, Stevenage, Herts, SG1 2DX, United Kingdom.
01438 79 10 68
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