Diversifying Coaching in Education – A Funded Opportunity for the #DiverseEd Community to Train to Coach

I wish I’d found coaching earlier in my teaching career. It has made me a better person on so many levels. But it came at a cost. Having invested £8000 of my own money into coaching training, it’s fair to say, although it’s been worth it, it also broke the bank balance. 

It made we wonder whether coaching would ever be a truly diverse and inclusive profession when only those with a higher-than-average income could afford the training. Even hiring a coach can cost around £100 per hour. 

So, how can we, as leaders, democratise coaching in Education?

How can we create a pool of coaches that represent the diverse backgrounds of our Educators?

If only there was a government-funded training programme for aspiring coaches that removed the barrier of cost…

If only there was a coaching training programme that promoted and included a range of diverse educators… 

Look no further!

CVP Group and #DiverseEd are partnering to deliver a funded training programme in October 2024 for aspiring coaches in England.

To apply, you will need to complete this #DiverseEd EOI and they will then send you the CVP ROI with the #DiverseEd Referral Code.

Introducing the Level 5 Coaching Professional Apprenticeship

Our unique approach supporting aspiring and existing diverse leaders will support you to:

• engage with your workforce
• promote active listening skills
• deepen your understanding of what motivates teams
• improve staff retention
• support other aspiring or existing diverse leaders 

The 12 month apprenticeship programme is delivered online including an End Point Assessment.

The Level 5 Coaching Professional Apprenticeship enables learners to work towards a nationally recognised qualification that meets coaching professional body standards (ICF, EMCC and Association of Coaching). The coaching professional standard has been created by leading organisations with existing coaching cultures and expertise in leadership.

Figure 1. Organisations who created the coaching standard

In a group dedicated solely to Diverse Educators, you will cover coaching disciplines such as:

• how to plan and structure coaching sessions;
• cognitive behaviour techniques to reframe limiting beliefs;
• principles of neurolinguistic programming;
• schools of psychology such as Carl Rogers, Gestalt and Freud;
• leadership theory and change management;
• managing and celebrating diversity in your coaching practice;
• ethics and professional codes of conduct for coaches as well as how to demonstrate return on investment to stakeholders.

Over 12 months you will be provided with the tools you need to create a coaching model tailored to organisational needs.

Our #DiverseEd cohort will also have the unique opportunity to attend additional #DiverseEd sessions with Hannah Wilson to explore diversity, equity and inclusion in coaching further. 

Figure 2. The Coaching Learning Journey

The apprenticeship requires the application of coaching skills in the workplace which will be tailored to fit into your day-to-day job role. Coaching apprentices will receive wrap around support throughout the year so they can apply their coaching skills in the workplace. Many of our current apprentices are using their coaching skills to develop different aspects of education such as:

• teaching and learning
• behaviour and attitudes
• well-being and leadership.

Ongoing careers guidance and support for apprentices includes attending a range of webinars delivered by expert coaches which demonstrate how your coaching skills support career advancement. In addition, there will be plenty of opportunities to develop personally through CVP’s well-being events, an online community and learning forum as well as your bespoke personal development plan, including an opportunity to win our Easter fitness hamper with CVP’s annual spring into fitness competition.

The #DiverseEd Coaching Community

We are building a #DiverseEd coaching community which will be the first of its kind.

We know the current coaching landscape in Education is not representative of the leaders it serves so we want to upskill educators as coaches in our community to empower each other.

CVP Coaching apprentices will be the first to pilot a funded coaching programme for the #DiverseEd community, where CVP coaching apprentices will have an opportunity to join the #DiverseEd Coaching directory. 

The inaugural cohort will run October 2024 and we anticipate that places will be in high demand.

What Attendees are Saying About Us

Here’s what our current trainee coaches have to say about the programme:

“This course has been the perfect opportunity to keep learning and development at the heart of what I’m doing. It’s extremely well organised and resourced. Yasmin’s care, expertise and passion ensures we as the participants are motivated and supported every step of the way.” 

Claire, Senior Leader Education.

“Great session, the demonstration where we got to see it in action was really powerful to have that practical example. It is about simple steps being done well. You have to learn the art (which can be complex) and then not let it cloud your basic best practice.” 

Apprentice, Masterclass 2.

“The level 5 professional coaching course was thoroughly enjoyable and purposeful. I refined skills that were instantly transferable to the workplace but also deepened my reflective practice to understand how my own principles surface at work. I felt fully prepared going into to EPA and confident enough to show off my portfolio. Lots of elements in the portfolio I still use in my coaching sessions today. The course complemented full-time employment in education and didn’t seem too laborious as all the tasks seemed purposeful.” 

Rosie, Assistant Headteacher

Join Us in October 2024!

To be eligible for funding you must meet the following criteria:

• Work 16 hours or more per week;
• Have lived in the UK / EU for 3 years or more prior to enrolment;
• Spend over 50% of your working week in England;
• Have a contract of employment.

Are you interested but not in employment? Do you live outside England? We are pleased to open this programme to diverse leaders beyond England on a self-funded basis. If you would like to have a conversation with one of the team at CVP Group to find out more, reach out to sarah@cvpgroup.co.uk

What Next?

Whether you have made your mind up or would just like to find out more about the course content, please complete the Register of Interest Form that #DiverseEd will send you and our coaching engagement team will contact you to set up a meeting.

I will be delivering a large part of the programme. With over 20 years’ experience in schools, I am looking forward to reconnecting with leaders to create powerful coaching cultures in schools.

To find out more about my own journey as a leader in education, visit my website here.