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Coaching for transformation

Case study

A new executive head used coaching as a way of enabling St Joseph’s Academy to achieve long-lasting and sustainable improvement.

Summary

The executive head of the partnership between Ravens Wood School and St Joseph’s Academy introduced coaching techniques to help leaders at St Joseph’s find solutions from within.

Background

St Joseph’s Academy Catholic Aided Secondary School in Blackheath had a history of being placed in special measures and had been through 10 headteachers in 12 years. In 2005 it was back in special measures and was making little progress. The school was under threat of closure if a lasting intervention was not found.

George Berwick, headteacher of Ravens Wood School in Bromley, became executive head of a partnership between his school and St Joseph’s. He set out to establish a learning-centred philosophy, using coaching and mentoring to build organisational and social capital and build knowledge management capacity amongst teachers and leaders. At Ravens Wood he sees his job as, “to develop the ability of my staff – it’s my fault if they don’t go through the threshold”.

Key challenges and issues

Finding solutions from within

The executive head knew that schools frequently have the solutions they need but have not been able to access them due to poor management systems and insufficient attention to learning and staff development.

Dealing with insecurities

A key challenge was to move school leaders away from being prescriptive and feeling insecure when they do not have the answer themselves, to providing support and challenge for their teams. Doing this required the development of social capital within the leadership team.

Solution or approach

Regular coaching

The executive head began having coaching meetings with individual members of the leadership team once a fortnight.

Professional training

The executive head also arranged professional training in mentoring for all those in a leadership position in the school. Senior leaders began to coach other members of staff towards improvement.

Further information

For further information contact Ravens Wood School