I am only a beginner and I am hopefully going to be taking a winter skills course to improve my knowledge but wondered if there were any recommendations for crampons that might work with these boots or if I need to look at a different set? It's mainly just so I can get out on the hills a bit this winter and be prepared.
It may be for the winter course you *need* crampons and some slightly better boots - but the provider may be able to loan or rent you some.
However, I am going to stick my neck out here, and others may have different opinions. I am winter ML holder, as a reference.
I and my wife both have Nortec Ice spikes as well as the crampons I have. We use the ice spikes 99% of the time, with a walking axe.
We deliberately aim for easier, less steep and gnarly hills in the winter. For this, walking 'flat' on the ice spikes is perfect for what we need. We don't have front points but having tried to use front points on flexible crampons and boots, I found they just keep working their way off. They feel less secure - but we have never had a pair fall off once fitted.
A full crampon does on steeper ground offer some more security, ours start struggling if you want to traverse steep slops, but you just point feet downhill and walk sideways. No front spikes to catch trousers either and lower to ground so walking is a little easier. We have not yet had them ball up as badly as proper crampons either, my wifes more flexible boots being better in this respect than mine.
I wouldn't trust some of the cheap ones, Nortec, Salewa and Kahtoola seem to be good brands.
Part of the reason we can use them is we have enough judgement and experience to know 'enough is enough' - but we have had one day (on Tarmachan ridge steep part) where I was uncomfortable, but I think I would have been in crampons that day.
At the end of the day it is a judgement which if you are starting off may not be right - but for hills that have classic winter dousing of snow and ice, on easier paths rather than scrambles, I find good ice spikes more than adequate.