I share Rob's surprise that a school would let anyone do an IMC rating (which after all is only going to be used in the UK) without going near a cloud. The mental discipline needed when you first go into a cloud will be so much more if you have only ever done it under the hood on a nice day.
Nothing quite prepares you for flying IMC in bumpy convective cloud (below the freezing level of course.)
Kirstey, IMHO, the things which will stop you flying most will not be low cloudbase, unless EGKA is very prone to these things owing the close terrain and chimney; rather it will be out of limits winds and low freezing level which will inhibit your IMCing.
And enjoy it and intend to use it. My post-IMC learning comprised
Getting practice with friends, not just the approaches, but navigation, especially where you are going somewhere there isn't a convenient VOR or ADF en-route
Getting fluent with en-route radio stuff
Rigorous fuel planning and plogging, especially if destination was close to mimima
Rigorous understanding of safety altitudes en-route. eg What will happen if the freezing level is lower than forecast, and terrain in 1,300 feet below?
Learning when to say "I'll go by car / train"
Enjoy!
Adrian