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Teachers from schools around the area gathered at Wellington College this week to learn some advanced skills in coaching.
The six teachers had all previously done the foundation course in coaching at Wellington.
Coaching is a form of helping or development in which a coach helps someone to develop heightened self-awareness and greater self-propulsion, or to increase their capacity to take action to achieve a personal or professional goal. This happens specifically through listening and questioning, rather than providing advice or guidance.
Afterwards, Amanda Hulse from Ranelagh School in Bracknell said: “I feel rejuvenated and passionate about the way that schools and communities can really make a difference with coaching, and how it can be life-altering personally as well as professionally.
“Since the foundation course I’ve purposely sought out opportunities to coach people. I’ve found that beneficial for my own development as a coach and the people I’ve coached have also benefitted from it.”
Jemma Soden from Manor Green School in Maidenhead, who is a teacher mentor for early career teachers, said: “I found it incredibly inspiring. I feel like not only did I gain tools I will be able to use in my professional life but also ones that are the basis of personal growth as well.
Jo Madzelewski from Edgbarrow School in Crowthorne said: “Coaching is an unsung hero that I think more of society and teachers can benefit from. Teachers are leaving the profession and I think coaching could save it.”
The two-day course, which took place on Monday and Wednesday this week, was led by James Ellis, a former teacher at Wellington who now runs a coaching business, and Iain Henderson, Deputy Head (Educational Developments and Partnerships) at Wellington.
He said: “We practised all the skills developed on the foundation course and then we did five major coaching skills, three of them designed to help people develop their internal resources and two of the designed to bring long term goals to fruition.”
The course is a core module for all leaders participating in the Diploma for the Wellington Leaders in Education Programme.
