Coaching and mentoring for school leaders
School leadership brings decisions that benefit from time to think with someone outside the immediate situation. We offer one-to-one coaching and mentoring to help leaders examine priorities, relationships and the choices involved in their role.
Discuss this serviceComplimentary thirty-minute consultation. Fees scoped privately.
Coaching or mentoring?
The first conversation establishes the support needed. Coaching provides space to explore decisions and leadership development. Mentoring draws on relevant experience of the role. The practitioner and approach are agreed with the leader before work begins.
Support for new Heads
Mentoring through the first year of headship can focus on priorities, relationships with the board, staff leadership and decisions arising during the year. A current or former Head is matched for relevant experience; the mentor and contact arrangements are agreed at the outset.
Confidentiality and school sponsorship
Every engagement is preceded by a mutual non-disclosure agreement. If a school is commissioning the work, the leader and sponsor should agree the objectives and what, if anything, will be reported to the sponsor. Those arrangements belong in the scope before sessions start.
Format, timing and fees
The consultation establishes the proposed session format, frequency, duration and review points. We agree the practitioner and fee privately in the proposal. There is no requirement to buy another Sophyra service alongside the engagement.
Who leads the work?
Mentoring and coaching are led by Natalia Ambridge and Joseph Russell-Bishop. Mentoring for new Heads is led by Sigve Austheim, Sarah Zarzo and Hasan Hasanov.
Meet the Education Options teamCan a school commission support for a leader?
Yes. Discuss the purpose, sponsor involvement and confidentiality arrangements in the initial consultation.
Is there a fixed package?
The work is scoped at consultation. The proposal identifies the support, session arrangements and fees for the engagement.