Developing a Coaching Culture

Empower staff to initiate change, enable peer to peer problem solving, and support resilience and job satisfaction.

This programme was developed in partnership with Gosforth Schools Trust, and the North East Mayoral Strategic Authority, and can be tailored for your setting.

Elements may include:

An introduction to coaching, including differences between coaching and mentoring
Sessions exploring the different coaching skills (questioning, listening, pausing, paraphrasing)
Opportunities to practise the skills using a deliberate practice model
Reflection session on how learning has been applied, and how it will be disseminated further to colleagues
‘Train the Trainer’ programme to embed coaching across the school

In addition, we have developed coaching programmes for Cedars Academy Trust and Northumberland Church of England Academies Trust.

Here are some quotes from our coaching participants:

“I thought this was an excellent programme, delivered with real credibility and genuine warmth. The combination of theory and live practice across four sessions was well judged, and the progressive structure meant each session built meaningfully on the last. The only thing I would add is that a follow-up session six months in, even a short one, would help embed the learning and give participants an opportunity to reflect on what has actually changed in their practice.” - Cedars Academy Trust Participant

“This has been a really valuable project. It has given us the space to reflect on our leadership as a team and to better understand how coaching can be used to build colleagues’ confidence and strengthen the impact of our leadership.” - Cedars Academy Trust Participant

"I think I maybe had a view of coaching as a bit of a light touch approach to leadership and perhaps the poor relation to mentoring, however, the more I've learned (and more importantly, tried to practice) the more I have realised that a successful coaching conversation is actually a very skilled art, with many components." - Gosforth Schools Trust Participant

"The course definitely placed me out of my comfort zone which it promised to do but I have definitely gained confidence with coaching and an awareness of my own strengths and progress. I do believe I can really help others which is what I really aim to do." - Gosforth Schools Trust Participant

For more information on how we can support you to develop a coaching programme in your school, please contact us at elcoffice@newcastle.ac.uk