Coaching helps people fulfill their potential and get where they want to be more quickly than if they tried by themselves. 

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Unlike counselling or therapy, coaching is not advice, but a series of questions, which will raise a person’s awareness, and challenge their perceptions, beliefs and habits so that they find their own answers for moving forward, take responsibility for them, and in turn grow stronger as an individual. It operates at the stage when someone is ready to DO something about their situation as well as TALK about it.

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Coaching is already proven as a powerful tool for existing teachers, senior management and NQTs to help them take action and cope successfully with their demanding careers, especially during the pandemic. I work with these individuals to help them be at their best for more of the time in their supportive roles (see Coaching for Teachers)

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But coaching pupils and students is a less utilised tool. How can it help schools, colleges and universities?

 

Coaching has the ability to:

 

1) Help individuals make a change and “unstick” themselves if they are aware of something that is holding them back (from perfectionism to lack of motivation, lack of confidence, time management skills, wellbeing worries). 

 

It enables schools and universities to reach those students who are not outwardly showing signs of a need for assistance, but who inwardly would like to address something about themselves if they knew how. If these issues can be nipped in the bud, they can prevent escalation later.

 

2) Coaching also creates a proactive desire for change, self-improvement and ownership amongst students at an early stage. It can help them work out what they want, identify what they are good at, where they are - or might get - stuck, and how they can take action to make more of the good things and avoid the unhelpful things going forward.

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Coaching takes the wellbeing messages being delivered within education one step further,  asking students to stop and think very specifically about themselves, for example raising their awareness of:

 

• Their values and priorities

• Their strengths

• Their thoughts, habits and attitudes  - and how these impact on themselves and on others.

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The result is students who:

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• Can set goals and prioritise

• Have a positive outlook

• Are confident in their abilities and self worth

• Take a resourceful approach to their problems

• Know what matters to them and how to stick to it

• Are considerate of others and work on their relationships with family and friends

• Improve their academic commitment, approach and performance

• Achieve balance in their lives

 

This delivers a ripple effect throughout an educational environment in terms of attendance, achievement, sickness, staff morale and behaviour.

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What can coaching address?

 

Coaching can address any element of a student’s life that might be impacting on how they move forwards towards getting what they want, from exam stress, time management, motivation and anxiety, to wellbeing issues, confidence, friendships and worries about the future. 

 

Among others, I have worked with young people to address issues such as:

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• Times of transition - the onset of external exams in Year 10; moving from Year 11 to Sixth Form or work; moving from Sixth Form to University or work; and life after University

• Making choices - on GCSE/A'levels subjects; on courses; on institutions, on the future

• Study/life balance

• Perfectionism

• General study skills and approach

• Motivation

• Exam preparation

• Friendships and relationships

• Other areas of stress/anxiety, lack of confidence/assertiveness

• Career coaching

• Fitting in - worries about being different from peers; including moving countries and missing home and friends

• Coaching through difficult times – eg bullying and recovery