I help young people feel more confident in themselves, to take ownership of their personal and academic development and flourish as young people. In essence, I help young people find their own key to unlock their potential.
As a career teacher and school leader I first questioned Coaching, then professionally benefitted from professional Coaching myself, before investing eighteen months training to qualify as a Coach (Level 5), going onto to Coach school leaders and headteachers internationally. The move to offer Coaching to young people was incidental. It arose from a conversation with a trusted parent and led to a Coaching relationship with their son. Their confidence in my Coaching leading to a number of referrals and here we are.
I think you are making a huge difference to his education. We are very grateful.
Parent
Educator and Coach
As a school leader, my professional work focused on school leadership, curriculum, teaching and learning and staff professional development, Coaching clearly supporting my work with adults. I continued to pursue a professional interest in “how learning happens,” and learning sciences (and even published a book on the topic) and more recently become interested in the arena of Special Education Needs – particularly working memory deficits, neural-diversity and dyslexia profiles.
As the academic lead, I would often be called upon to support pupils who were underachieving for whatever reason (it was rarely a straightforward solution). This is where the professional threads intertwined: my Coaching and teaching experience, my interest in effective learning strategies, revision and exam readiness and my determination to overcome barriers to learning. All the while, my own children were moving through the education system and I found myself on a steep parental learning curve, developing a more experiential and empathic viewpoint.
What is Coaching and Mentoring?
Coaching and mentoring are activities within the area of professional and personal development… thus, a professional coach/mentor can be described as an expert in establishing a relationship with people in a series of conversations with the purpose of serving the clients to improve their performance or enhance their personal development or both, choosing their own goals and ways of doing it.
Eesc.europa.eu, 2019
How is Coaching different?
One-to-one conversations that focus on the enhancement of learning and development through increasing self-awareness and a sense of personal responsibility, through questioning, active listening, and appropriate challenge in a supportive and encouraging climate.
van Nieuwerburgh, (2012)
The key difference here is that the client, in this instance, a young person, leads the conversation.
How can I help?
I offer tailored Coaching, academic mentoring, exam and revision effectiveness sessions based on 25 years teaching experience and a deep understanding of cognitive and learning sciences.
Lastly, I support the family through sharing the appropriate insights, agreed with the young person, that supports the young persons academic and personal growth and strengthens the parent-child relationship.
If you would like to hold an exploratory conversation, please do get in touch.