Creating a coaching culture in a school setting

Creating a coaching culture

I have just published my second book about the curriculum, Secondary Curriculum Design and Delivery. I published Primary Curriculum Design and Delivery in 2023. (To buy either book click here and use the discount code UK25BOOKS to claim 25% discount). In both books I have emphasised the importance of collaboration and a shared commitment to the highest quality outcomes for teaching and learning. The curriculum and how it leads to the development of successful learning is the fulcrum for defining the success of a school. Senior leaders need to create a vision for excellence that transcends all subjects and weaves the threads of literacy, numeracy and the wider thinking skills into a tapestry of learning that ensures all pupils can access a growing bank of knowledge, apply that knowledge and as a result achieve their full potential.

The message throughout both books is that cohesion and a collaborative approach to the design and delivery of the curriculum, the intent into implementation will not happen by some kind of happy accident. The only way to build the kind of collaborative structures that will deliver whole school excellence is to create a culture of professional dialogue built out of a non-judgemental and non-directive approach that empowers every leader, manager, teacher and Teaching Assistant to know the part they can play in achieving the whole school vision for excellence.

Creating a coaching culture is the catalyst that will bring the kind of changes that builds cohesion, creates a shared commitment to excellence and allows everyone involved in teaching and learning to innovate, share their successes and learn from their failures and ultimately create excellence in pedagogy and learning in every classroom.

Leadership and creating a coaching culture

Creating a coaching culture requires a commitment from the senior leadership team to focus on a process of professional development that does not rely on a performance management or a top down approach to supporting individuals in their quest to continuously improve their skills in leadership, management or teaching. The essence of coaching is in creating a culture where individuals set their own goals and priorities for change.

This might not always be possible for the new teacher, the inexperienced teacher the teacher returning after an absence or the teacher who is struggling with performance.

It may not be immediately possible for the new leader, the person promoted to lead a department or someone taking on a pastoral leaders role to be expected to learn through coaching. It is a process where a coach can define where along a spectrum from telling to facilitating they are with supporting members of their team. The essence is in guiding someone towards positive change, new learning and opportunities to practice and reflect so that they themselves can see that they are improving and growing in their role.

Where senior leaders learn the principles of coaching they learn to create the kind of dialogue and professional conversations that ask others to find the solution, take the risk. solve the problem so that the onus is not always on the shoulders of those at the top to make all the decisions and create all the pathways towards the strategies that harmonise a school system. This process is all about trust, trust in those who make up the teams that deliver the processes, the structures and the procedures that lead to high quality outcomes. Senior leaders have to develop the skills that will empower others to take responsibility for decision making within their own sphere of influence.

Coaching is empowering, uplifting and motivating for both those who coach and those who are coached. When leaders coach those who will deliver the strategy and the vision they convey respect and a belief that their teams, whether curriculum, pastoral or administrative can deliver and can take credit for their contribution to the high quality outcomes the school aspires to achieve.

CPD for the journey towards creating a coaching culture

Here at Learning Cultures we have a team of qualified and highly successful coaches who have also been accomplished senior leaders in education. We have worked with schools here in the UK and internationally for 15 years. Learning how to coach is powerful professional development for all those in education.? and creating a coaching culture does require strong leadership who can drive positive change and build the quality assurance systems where every individual across the school is an integral part of the process.

One highly successful approach is for one or more members of the senior leadership team to undertake the Senior Leadership Coaching Certification Programme which is a three term programme where individuals learn how to coach through working with a coach, attending six half day sessions online or in person and undertaking 20 hours of reflective coaching with colleagues. Those taking part can cascade their learning to others over the duration of the course as part of their development as a coach.

Another is where senior leaders take part in a shorter introduction to coaching Coaching for Senior Leaders which is an online webinar over two sessions of two and a half hours to learn the principles of coaching. In this model we then recommend that deputy, assistant or other managers such as curriculum, subject or pastoral leaders undertake the Certificate in Coaching Competence programme or the The Middle Leaders Coaching Certification programme both of which run over three terms and are hands on programmes where individuals have to undertake 20 hours of coaching with colleagues.?

We then have a suite of webinars and digital download courses that will support all staff to understand and practice the principles of coaching.?

• Coaching for pastoral leaders - impacting on well-being, self-esteem and resilience
• Coaching for Middle Leaders - empowering change and challenge
• Coaching tor the SENCO - SEND and widening participation
• Coaching Towards Outstanding Teaching and Learning - coaching as a pedagogy in the classroom
• Coaching the Early Career Teacher - going beyond mentoring
• Coaching for Teaching Assistants and Support Staff
• Coaching for Cover Supervisors
• Rethinking appraisal - from performance management to professional development
• The Art of Positive Lesson Observation - ensuring lesson observation is an essential part of CPD
• Creating a Culture of Well-being Through Coaching

Join us and learn the power of coaching

Our unique approach has some significant benefits in your quest for excellence in the pursuit of the highest quality of education.

?

• The certificate programmes we offer are hands on and provide opportunities to learn with colleagues so that they have a significant impact for more than one person. They are not NPQ which is aimed at an outcome for one person only.
• All our CPD, short and long courses come with a wealth of resources, materials, research and activities and are designed and written by experts
• We have the facility to run courses face-to-face on a digital platform and many are new available as digital downloads
• You can access two free coaching sessions with one of our expert education coaches. These normally cost ￡120.00 per session.
• If you choose to start with a shorter course and you want to move to a certification course we will discount the cost of the shorter course you have bought from whichever of our Certificated Coaching Programmes you choose
• All our CPD is designed so that it can be cascaded to others. The materials, resources and activities will help the participant to share their learning thus consolidating it for them and passing on valuable learning to others

Contact me?Glynis Frater?by phone on?07974 754241?or email us using our?Contact us form.

?

Remember, if you would like to buy a copy of either of my books click here and claim a 25% discount with discount code UK25BOOKS