Coaching for personal and professional development for those working in education
From my experience of working in the education sector, I understand and have empathy for the demanding nature of the work and the challenges of meeting the diverse needs of children, young people and their families. It is well understood that to support the wellbeing and education of children and young people the adults around them need to be able to manage their own stress and strong emotions.
Coaching is one method of providing a different quality of time and space to reflect and build on strengths, explore and review practice and identify opportunities for improving wellbeing and for personal and professional development. Change may appear slower than in some forms of professional development but is likely to be more embedded. Individual, group and coaching may also reveal some ideas for changing and improving the setting.
Coaching offer for those working in education
1:1 coaching
This would be valuable for those with one or more particular issues or concerns. For example:
Dealing with stress
Managing workload
Managing a team
Managing complex and sensitive issues (including working with parents and carers)
Career development or change
Balancing the demands of work and home.
You can self-fund or be funded by your institution as part of your professional development. 4-6 sessions hour-long would be recommended.
Team coaching
This would work well for a team (a department, year team, pastoral team, local authority team for example) that wants to
Work more effectively together
Develop values or priorities
Explore challenges
Get support
Reflect deeply on current systems and implement changes.
4-6 sessions of an hour and half length would be recommended.
Group coaching
An education setting or education service may want to offer a package of group coaching sessions to staff who want to commit to attending. These could either be open sessions for people to connect, share and problem solve challenges and learn more about themselves through the group process or could be theme based. Example themes for group coaching include:
Stress management
Developing wellbeing
Menopause in the workplace
Managing difficult conversations and emotions
4-6 sessions of an hour and half length would be recommended.
GF (1:1 coaching) (2024)
The coaching was both professionally and personally useful and timely. I work alone in this area of education, and it can feel isolating or exposing. The coaching and the additional tools and resources I became aware of have been important in helping me become a better resource to myself; less passive, more aware of the importance of my own reflective practice and accepting of aspects of my work persona that I perhaps considered weaknesses, but which I came to view differently when asked ‘Does it work for you?’ I looked forward to each session; I journalled and reflected (I wish now that I’d set more time aside for that). I found exactly what I needed from the coaching, and I felt like it came at just the right time.
