Emma Appadoo (Headteacher) Lincroft Academy
How Coachinginschools Made Me a Better Leader – And Why Sixth Form Staff Need It
What's the impact of the Coachinginschools Training?
When we recorded this, Emma was an Assistant Headteacher reflecting on her experience with the Coachinginschools programme. A few years later, she’s now a Headteacher — and it’s clear these coaching tools laid a strong foundation for the leader she’s become. 👏
In this video, Emma shares how the training made her realise that her coaching skills were “a lot narrower” than she’d originally thought.
As a result of learning the Coachinginschools way, she unlocked a more efficient, solution-focused, and reflective leadership style.
From improving her planning to using coaching strategies on herself, she explains how small tweaks had a big impact — not just on her team, but on her own growth.
She also reflects on her time working with Sixth Formers, and how powerful it would’ve been to have these tools back then.
If you lead in Sixth Form or support post-16 learners, this is an essential insight. And it will help you to stop students procrastinating with the “Mañana, mañana” attitude.
👉 Whether you’re a school leader now or aspiring to be one, this is for you, because Emma’s journey shows how coaching can create lasting change — without it taking LOTS of extra time!
'Golden Nuggets' include:
“I used to feel like I had to have all the answers – now I know the right questions are far more powerful.”
“Silence used to feel uncomfortable, but now I see it as one of my greatest leadership tools.”
“By stepping back and resisting the urge to fix everything, I’ve seen my staff grow in confidence and problem-solving skills.”
“This training hasn’t just changed how I lead – it’s made my workload lighter and my conversations more meaningful.”
“Small coaching tweaks have made a massive difference in our school culture – people feel more heard, valued, and empowered.”