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  • Coaching

Leading coaching in schools

Developing coaching helps leaders address many of the key issues facing schools today: school improvement, reshaping the workforce, succession planning, personalisation, standards and accountability. The NCSL publication Leading Coaching in Schools is grounded in evidence from research and provides school leaders with a practical guide to the implications of the new National Framework for Mentoring and Coaching

Tools and processes

Download tried and tested processes and edit your own planning tools

Publications and useful links

A list of downloadable material and links from NCSL and other sources

Case studies

Read about the experiences of those who have begun to implement a coaching culture

Learning to be a coach or mentor is one of the most effective ways of enabling teachers or leaders to become good and excellent practitioners .

CUREE, 2005, p7

Whilst it takes many different forms, coaching is essentially a joint enterprise in which one person supports another to develop their understanding and practice in an area defined by their own needs and interests.

The coach will help the learner to identify a clearly focused aspect of practice upon which to work. They will secure a positive rapport with their colleague, listen intently to their needs and concerns, ask probing questions that help clarify the area for development and ask challenging questions that stretch their awareness and perspective of the issue in focus. The coach will help the learner identify new behaviours and help them embed enhanced practice.

Coaching interactions of this nature can be short informal learning conversations, as well as longer, sustained and formally structured CPD opportunities. Although informal, such conversations are most effective when driven by clear principles that are linked to action.

Coaching is about unlocking potential in order to maximise performance;
it's about bringing out the best in people .

What skills and qualities should coaches develop and how should school leaders respond?

coaching graphic

The NCSL workbook frames six propositions and seven action implications for school leaders who wish to develop coaching in their schools.

Coaching graphic