Courses Completed: ICB Levels 2-4 Bookkeeping & Accounting plus Level 3 Diploma in SelfAssessment Taxation

IDEAL Schools' ICB Student of the Year 2016

Ideal Schools has a long-standing ethos of providing the highest quality education for students of all stripes, at all stages of their careers and lives. Terry Ramm is a great example of what can be achieved with determination, and the right school.

At 63, one of the oldest students ever taken on by Ideal Schools, Mr Ramm had already served as a director in an international IT company. He had spent the past 17 years in Canada before retiring to return to Britain, but didn’t want to relax and choose to get straight back into the world of work.

In his own words, Mr Ramm “didn’t fancy stacking shelves in the supermarket, and didn’t want to go back into IT.”

Instead he wanted an intellectual challenge, and was familiar with the world of bookkeeping, albeit, in his former career, from the other side of the numbers. He started with Ideal Schools in October 2015; his aim was to achieve level 3 standard of the Institute of Chartered Bookkeepers (ICB) qualifications and set up his own practice by March 2017.

He has now, June 2016, passed levels 2, 3, and 4, all with distinction, and has completed the Self-Assessment module, and has opened his practice, TLR Bookkeeping and Taxation, a full 12 months ahead of schedule, and already has 8 clients.

Mr Ramm said: “From the very first meeting with Brian McVean there was no sales pressure. He gave me a sample of course materials, and a 24-hour invite to the Facebook page to see how the students got on together, and I was sold.

“I’ve never heard Brian talk about any situation without positivity. He, and all the tutors and staff I met at Ideal Schools were always very positive and caring.

“The tutors don’t see students as cash dispensers, like some other schools might. They gave me support, and I really felt they wanted to see me succeed. I was on the phone to them at eleven o’clock at night, or getting answers and help on Saturday evening, and I can’t imagine getting that kind of support elsewhere.

“Finally, I want to commend Ideal Schools on the administrative side. From the moment of signing up, I got my course materials within 24 hours, and there has never been the slightest hitch since. The staff really are first-class. It seems like a small thing, but after so many years in international business, I recognise the value of efficiency.”

Click here to see the services that Terry offers.