From already having some coaching experience at her previous schools and as the assistant head teacher at her current secondary school, Lauren began the Coaching in Education Level 5 Apprenticeship as she wanted to improve her skills and knowledge and develop coaching within her school. In this case study, Lauren discusses how the apprenticeship has sparked a passion for coaching that she didn’t realise she had and how she is already supporting colleagues and making an impact within her setting.

Can you tell us about your background and what led you to the Coaching in Education Apprenticeship? 

I am an assistant head teacher at a secondary school, and my areas of responsibility are CPD, trainee teachers and ECTs. We’ve moved away from an appraisal system here and as part of the professional growth system, a core element is colleagues coaching each other. I thought to be able to support high quality levels of coaching, I needed to upskill myself as well which is why I decided to apply for the Coaching in Education Apprenticeship.

How did you come across Best Practice Network?  

It was through an email promotion that came from Best Practice Network, so I spoke to our head of trust to see if we could tap into the Apprenticeship Levy and it came about that way.

What aspects of the apprenticeship are you enjoying? 

I’ve really enjoyed working with my tutor Dawn Saxena. In each module we’ve done, we’ve opted for a professional discussion, where I can answer questions linked to the module. I’ve found it so valuable to have a conversation with someone about what I’m doing and the value and impact of coaching. I’ve found it really encouraging having that level of guidance with someone who is at the other end of my emails that I know is fully supportive and invested in my progress. I’ve really enjoyed that aspect so much. What I’ve also found great is through the supplementary reading and things I’ve done on the programme so far, is that it’s unearthed this unreal passion that I have for coaching that I’d never expected before.

How have you applied your knowledge/skills in your school? 

One of my colleagues came to me saying they were coaching someone, but they found that the GROW coaching model they were using wasn’t really working, so I gave him a couple of different models to look at and different ways to unearth motivation from the person he was coaching. He came back to me and reported that the advice I had given him had been helpful, so that felt like a click moment as I’m now able to make a link between theory and practice. I would have never been able to give that advice before, which means I’m already seeing that the programme is having a wider impact in the school, even in just the advice I’m giving.

What challenges led you to explore coaching? 

In my first year of teaching, I started on a coaching programme which formed a part of my whole journey in teaching, and I was able to see the value it brought to my practice then. In my current setting I wanted to upskill myself. I had always been enthusiastic about coaching, but my practical impact was limited because I only knew one or two coaching models and I hadn’t looked at them for a while, so I wanted to expand my expertise enough to be more nuanced and more tailored to those I was coaching.

What positive outcomes have you seen? 

I’ve become a better coach and have been able to refine my skills in terms of asking deep, open-end questions. Before the course, I hadn’t realised how much of my questioning was trying to get my coachee to where I thought they should be. So, I’ve noticed that a greater level of skill when it comes to me asking questions, that the answers don’t lie with me, they lie with my coaching. I’m also learning to create space both before and after coaching sessions, to allow me to arrive in a way where I’m not heightened. In a school, you’re busy all the time, you rush from one thing to another and you’re governed by bells. So, allowing myself to do this, I’m not in fight or flight mode and I can lean into what the coachee is saying and allow myself some reflection time afterwards before running to the next thing. It’s allowed me to calm down a bit.

How would you say coaching is impacting the people that you work with? 

I think it’s giving them a reflective space and has allowed them to see the power from within. It’s helping to shift away from a hierarchical environment and creating an openness where colleagues are asking each other for advice which I don’t think there was as much of before coaching.

What has been your proudest moment so far? 

I’m in the process of launching a coaching programme for working mothers, which I feel passionately about as I am a working mother. I didn’t even have that idea before starting the course, so it’s nice that I feel like I am upskilling, but it’s also enabled me to get excited and think long term about what coaching looks like at my school.

What would you say to someone considering doing the Coaching in Education Apprenticeship? 

It’s an absolute labour of love and will take up time, but that time is so worth it. It’s going to impact you while you’re on it rather than at the end of it. There will be growth and development in yourself and your skills throughout, not just at the very end.

Would you recommend the apprenticeship to others? 

I would 100% recommend it, my experience with Best Practice Network has been great. There hasn’t been anything that I haven’t known the answer to or not known who to go to get the answer. I like Bud and the fact that I’ve got a platform where everything is in one place. I would say get to know your tutor early and know that you are able to ask questions. But the programme is well worth doing and Best Practice Network have been great.

Start your coaching journey today 

It’s so positive to see the impact the Coaching in Education Apprenticeship is having on Lauren and her colleagues even before she has completed her programme, we can’t wait to see how she progresses. If you would like to develop your skills and explore the benefits of Coaching in Education for you and your colleagues, you can find out more here.