Academic Coaching

This term has seen the return of our Academic Coaching programme as part of the OX14 Learning Partnership. The programme sees Sixth Form students trained in coaching skills who then work with younger students, supporting them with their academic goals. Training sessions covered the coaching conversation, leadership skills and safeguarding and gave the Sixth Form coaches a chance to meet and practice with each other.

The second phase sees younger students paired up with their coaches for weekly sessions where they use coaching tools, the coaching conversation and a coaching log to set and work on academic goals. The purpose of these coaching sessions is to help unlock an individual’s potential to maximise their performance, it is helping them to achieve their goals rather than teaching or telling them how. Students work on a variety of goals on topics such as; completing homework, focus in class, being motivated to revise, taking tests or exams. Through a series of questions, as part of coaching conversation, to develop strategies, personal to the student, which are effective and can be repeated in similar future situations. The diversity of schools within the partnership brings together students with different learning experiences, strengthening the coaching process, as there is not one perceived approach to learning.

The benefits are obvious; the Sixth Form student (the coach) gains the skills needed to ask questions which help the younger pupil (the coachee) identify the nature of their challenge, set realistic goals, and create manageable and targeted steps that help the coachee to reach their desired outcome. In each case the skills acquired are long-term and transferable. The relationships built are supportive and valued and we are always so impressed with the quality of conversations and progress made across the programme.