5 Dos and Don'ts for Successfully Embedding Coaching in Education

Coaching is a powerful tool for personal and professional growth, and one that countless schools are carefully considering right now. They’re asking questions like, how would this fit with what my school is already doing? What challenges will this solve? What is the overall purpose? How will I know it’s successful? After years of partnering with schools to embed coaching, here are five key dos and five key don'ts to keep in mind. 

THE DOS

1. Put time in the calendar. Allocate dedicated slots in the schedule for coaching sessions. Protect this time and treat it as a priority.

2. Practice practice practice. Encourage staff to form pairs and trios for peer coaching. Practicing regularly will build their coaching confidence and foster a supportive learning community.

3. Clearly state the purpose. Position coaching as an integral part of the school culture. Emphasise the value of coaching as how you want your community to grow and develop. Ensure you bring it up in meetings, whole school gatherings and thoughtfully share it with students and parents. 

4. Develop a clear vision, structure and strategy. A well-defined framework will ensure consistency and effectiveness. Consider a mixture of quick wins and slow burns. Use our Strategic Plan Guide to get started.

5. Make it someone’s job. Appoint a Director of Coaching to oversee the programme whilst also being on the ‘ground’ to support coaching efforts. A dedicated leader committed to the role will help to ensure its success.

THE DON’TS

1. Rush the process. Coaching takes time and not everyone will be on board immediately. Lean into patience and allow for a gradual adoption.

2. Expect coaching to solve all problems. It's a valuable tool but not a panacea. Recognise its limitations and use it alongside other supportive measures.

3. Neglect training. Ensure staff receive proper guidance on effective coaching techniques. Investing in professional development will enhance the quality of coaching. When you’re ready, consider training students and parents as well.

4. Allow coaching to become a top-down initiative. The aim of coaching is to foster a sense of equality and community, if it’s only in the hands of leaders, you won’t reach this harmony. Encourage a collaborative approach where everyone feels valued.

5. Shoehorn it into one area. Coaching is applicable to all areas of school life. It’s simply too valuable to be used solely for teacher development as a feedback tool or student wellbeing as a mentorship tool.

If your school feels ready for coaching, get going. Follow these dos and don’ts and access the resource we provided to cultivate the thriving culture you’ve been wanting.

Together, we can unlock the transformative potential of coaching for your staff and students alike.