Building the skills and confidence of middle leaders in partnership with Villiers High School
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The need
Anglia Ruskin University wanted to develop the coaching skills of its Personal Development Tutors (members of academic staff) across the university to support the roll out of a new tutoring model. This new tutoring model was designed to strengthen relationships between staff, students and the university and improve student achievement and the overall student experience.
The university wished to ensure a consistent, more proactive and more holistic approach to tutoring that would be seen as an entitlement for all students rather than just a support mechanism for those seeking support.
Our solution
We designed a highly participative one-day coaching skills workshop for groups of up to 25 tutors. To help contextualise the need for the coaching skills we commissioned, as pre-work for participants, an article on the evidence linking personal tutoring to student success and the value of a coaching approach.
22 workshops, attended by 379 personal development tutors were delivered to build practical coaching skills and share helpful tools and frameworks. Participants were able to practise applying key skills in the context of typical student-tutor scenarios.
Our impact
- 4/5 median participant rating confirming that they understand the behaviours and skills needed for effective student coaching
- 4/5 median participant rating confirming that they feel confident using a coaching approach in their PDT role
- 44% of participants indicated that they would like to receive more advanced training
“Absolutely fantastic – enlightening, well structured, interactive and reflective.”
“I enjoyed the training and found it very helpful by allowing me to understand and practise different techniques and identify my own current strengths and weaknesses.”
“I found the day really helpful. I was reassured during the coaching group session of my skills, what I did well and what I can improve on.”
“This was an excellent and useful day which gave me lots of ideas for working with and supporting students.”
How we helped
- 22 workshops
- 379 participants
A long-term partnership
BTS Spark has partnered with the renowned University College London Institute of Education since 2016 to support senior education leaders participating in national leadership programmes. We have provided 1:1 executive coaching for participants on the National Professional Qualification for Executive Leaders (NPQEL), funded by the UK government. This programme equips experienced leaders to progress from leadership of a single school to lead across a group of schools, typically a Multi-Academy Trust.
Several hundred leaders have benefited from a flexible 1:1 coaching programme with common themes including building personal resourcefulness, confidence, presence and authenticity, empowering and inspiring others, building shared purpose, navigating conflict, leading change and growing personal influence.
Our impact
- 2/3 of participants reported significant change as a result of their coaching, with a further 1/3 reporting some change
- 82% of participants reported that their expectations of the programme had been exceeded
- 9.7/10 average rating from participants for the value of their coaching sessions and overall programme value
All data from 2021–24 programme cohorts (83 respondents)
"My coach's insight, listening and intellectual connection and sophistication about the intricacies of systemic leadership against human leadership was something I could not have been successful on the NPQEL without. And indeed in my role. Incredible."
Mark Grady, Headteacher, Rugby High School
"My coaching has allowed me to deeply reflect on my 20-year career thus far like never before. It has been a real support for me 'here and now' as I navigate through somewhat of a challenging leadership challenge linked to my role – and has allowed me to successfully come through this."
Peter Taylor, Principal, Audenshaw Secondary School
The need
Shires Multi-Academy Trust wanted to embed a strong coaching culture across its schools, with everyday coaching conversations helping to empower and develop staff at every level. As a first step, the trust wanted to develop a cadre of lead coaches to model the coaching approach and cascade key tools and skills to the wider staff teams. Following the successful programme for this first group, it was repeated for a second group of lead coaches.
Our solution
We delivered our Leader as Coach programme for two successive cohorts of leaders drawn from across the trust's schools and central staff. Practical workshops, small group coaching sessions and active experimentation between sessions built participants' core skills such as active listening, powerful questioning, flexing their approach and giving feedback. 1:1 coaching sessions provided additional personal support.
Our impact
- 96% of participants agreed that the programme insights and tools were helping them to achieve greater impact in their leadership
- 100% of participants reported feeling confident and well-equipped to coach and develop others
- 100% of participants said Leader as Coach was a relevant and impactful professional development programme
“It has been transformational for my team and my leadership.”
Rebecca Gordon, Headteacher
“Every aspect has been useful as I was totally new to coaching. However my big takeaway is not jumping in with solutions. I now realise I haven't been listening properly or allowing others to come to their own conclusions, leaving ‘solutions’ less powerful when enacted.”
Jeanette Little, Headteacher
“It has enabled me to have more powerful conversations with staff. I have used the tools to ensure I am actively listening and not listening to respond. I now feel confident in helping my team to reflect using the GPS model.”
Rachael McKinney, Head of Humanities
How we helped
- In-person workshop (2½ hours) – Coaching introduction
- Group Coaching Session (2 hours, virtual) – Coaching presence
- Group Coaching Session (2 hours, virtual) – Coaching skills
- Group Coaching Session (2 hours, virtual) – Flexing your style
- Group Coaching Session (2 hours, virtual) – The feedback conversation
- In-person workshop (2½ hours) – Sustaining momentum
- Plus personal support throughout: 3 x 60-minute 1:1 coaching sessions