Why Building a Coaching Culture is Vital for School Success
A ‘coaching culture’ has the ability to turn a school around — quickly empowering and reinvigorating teachers, saving time, and improving outcomes ‘system-wide’ in a SUSTAINABLE way. As a result, staff and pupils thrive.
This is particularly important in today’s educational landscape given the recruitment challenges, rising mental health issues, and funding challenges that schools face. These pressures make it incredibly difficult for School Leaders to balance day-to-day operations with the critical task of ‘being strategic’ to drive up standards.
So why don’t more schools adopt a coaching culture?
Some schools think they have, but they don’t have the right expertise or strategic tools
To make maximum impact, coaching needs to be done correctly, using the latest up-to-date methods which are specifically designed for busy educators. This means drawing on external coaching expertise, and coaching systems which are specifically designed for schools. It also means avoiding old/basic models (like GROW) — or using strategies labelled as ‘coaching’ that are in fact mentoring (like ‘instructional coaching’ strategies) — because the truth is, those methods will get you so far, but they’re not sustainable, and they won’t create leaders.
When schools have the right tools and expertise, coaching is approached strategically, so it drives all aspects of school improvement. This means equipping all staff in taking a ‘coach approach’, and training leaders as advanced coaches so they can use these skills in all day-to-day interactions with staff, children and parents and unlock their full potential.
The Value of Coaching in Schools
While many school leaders say they see the value in coaching, it’s not always implemented effectively. It can be something done to ‘less effective’ or ‘inexperienced’ colleagues, which means it’s not perceived as valuable by staff.
However, those schools that embrace genuine coaching see tangible benefits like better leadership, better teaching & learning, higher levels of motivation and confidence, and improved wellbeing.
You’ll find more examples of the impact others have made by using the unique Coachinginschools System here.
Coaching Culture in Action
A coaching culture isn’t just about the idea; it’s about putting it into action. Living and breathing it on a daily basis!
Take, for example, Kate’s school – Kate wanted to avoid the culture of problems being brought to the doors of senior leaders. She found that the Coachinginschools method allowed staff to work more efficiently and break down tasks, which meant less panic and better wellbeing. She also uses the approach with midday supervisors, parents and children and says:
“It’s a total game–changer! I don’t understand why more schools aren’t doing it.”
Steps to Building a Coaching Culture in Your School
1. Book in a free chat with a genuine Coachinginschools Expert:
>> Grab your diary & book your appointment here now!
We’ll listen to your school improvement challenges and help you create a strategic plan for developing a coaching culture which aligns with your school improvement goals and is both practical and realistic.
2. Read this book (No.1 Bestseller):
It will help shape your vision for creating a coaching culture, show you what the best coaching culture looks and sounds like, and give you our BEST I.M.P.A.C.T. Blueprint for creating a truly transformative ‘coaching culture’ in your school.
3. Train your key staff in phases:
Start with the Senior leadership team and ensure the Head is driving this initiative. Do not train everyone at once!
4. Stay Informed on Coaching Trends:
Follow us on LinkedIn and Subscribe to our YouTube Channel to stay up-to-date with best practice and coaching culture tips! We’ve led the development of coaching in the education sector worldwide for the past 25+ years, and we constantly stay up-to-date to ensure our schools have the best/most impactful methods, so we can share what works (and what doesn’t!)
Headteacher, Kate – (who’s previously completed coaching training) – sums up the Coachinginschools system nicely:
“15 minutes a week! That’s all it took to see significant changes in our school’s effectiveness and staff empowerment. It’s just been really, really useful, on so many levels that I wasn’t actually expecting. I thought it would just be very limited to the one person I’m coaching…I didn’t expect it to have like a ‘system-wide’ shift, or impact on more people.
“A lot of Headteachers go, “Yeah, I’ve done coaching…” – But you HAVEN’T!”
…I’d feel really confident in saying that to other Heads – even the most experienced ones will definitely get something out of it. And it will lead to a shift in their behaviour or their thinking. Definitely.”
Conclusion
For schools, building a coaching culture is not just a trendy initiative — it’s a powerful strategy to empower staff, improve retention, and support the broader mission of providing exceptional education. When school leaders, teachers, and support staff embrace coaching, they not only enhance their own professional journey but also contribute to a vibrant, supportive community that benefits every student.
#NotAllCoachingTrainingIsTheSame
