Schools FAQ

How does coaching in schools work?

Coaching in schools is about motivating teachers to maximise their potential. 

Coaching is not about fixing someone.  No one is broken and no one needs fixing. 

Coaching works on the belief that everyone's performance can be improved, even the best teacher's, and even the slightest improvement will have an impact on student learning.

For improvements to occur teachers need to be aware of what is happening, both around them and within them, and they need to be willing to take responsibility for their thoughts, actions and professional learning.  Awareness and responsibility are best raised through questioning.

Left to their own devices it is easy for teachers to avoid uncomfortable situations brought about by change or to deal with them using old patterns that are no longer effective. This is where a coach steps in and provides the necessary support at the moment when it is most needed to ensure success.

Coaching assists with breaking down the barriers that prevent change from happening and creates the ideal environment for people to move forward.

Our experienced coaches, all with a background in teaching, can provide individual or team performance coaching for your staff.  We also provide professional development to assist your staff in developing their own coaching skills.

Who benefits most from coaching in schools?

Administration, leading teachers, classroom teachers, office staff, EVERYONE! The performance of every individual staff member adds to the effectiveness of a school as a whole.  

At Inner Potential Coaching, we find that as people experience coaching over a period of time they start asking themselves more powerful questions and are able to continue to create changes.

How is coaching different to other forms of professional learning?

Coaching differs from other forms of professional learning in that it does not have a set agenda. Coaching is based on the belief that people are naturally creative and knowledgeable and the coaching process is flexible to cater for each individual’s varying needs. In coaching, change comes from within and this brings about shifts in thinking and action.

Coaching should compliment and run along side other forms of professional learning and provide the tool through which new skills are transferred into the classroom.

How is coaching different to mentoring?

In mentoring, the mentor tends to be more experienced and to give advice and opinions, whereas coaching is about evoking answers from the individual.

In this way, coaching invents a future based on the individual’s own possibilities and strengths.