Coaching in Education Podcast Series

"Sustainability isn't just about the environment — it's also about people, programs, and practice. And when it comes to Instructional Coaching Done Well, sustainability can often be the difference between a coaching culture that thrives… and one that quietly fades away." This is the final episode of our special Instructional Coaching Done Well mini-series, where we're diving deep into what makes Instructional Coaching truly work in schools. In this conversation we're talking about something that doesn't always get the attention it deserves — sustainability. Inspired by Jim Knight's book Evaluating Instructional Coaching, this episode is all about what it takes to build coaching programs that last — coaching that's not a passing trend, but part of the fabric of school life. To help us unpack all of this, in this episode I'm joined by two brilliant guests: Mileva Tubbs — founder of the Instructional Coaching Collective, who's been at the heart of supporting coaches in a network of schools in Perth Australia and Av Swami — Senior Consultant with Growth Coaching International, who brings a wealth of experience in helping schools embed a coaching culture. Together, we'll explore why sustainability often gets overlooked, the key role leadership plays, how to set coaches up for success and how schools can create the conditions for instructional coaching to flourish long-term.

In this episode we are shifting our focus to Coaches as Leaders because Instructional Coaching Done Well isn't just about supporting others, it's also about how we lead ourselves and those around us. To help us unpack this, I'm delighted to be joined once again by Dr Jim Knight, Chris Munro and we extend a warm welcome to GCI Director Dan Steele. In this episode we will be diving into how we navigate the challenges of leadership, particularly when we get stuck and ego gets in the way, why self-care is an essential leadership skill and how great coaches balance ambition with humility. We will also explore how coaches create alignment, make great decisions and clarify their purpose.

Welcome to another of our Instructional Coaching Done Well Roadshow mini-series episodes. In this episode, I'm delighted to be in conversation once again with Dr Jim Knight - author, researcher, and co-founder of the Instructional Coaching Group. For many people around the world, Jim's work has shaped how we think about coaching in schools and at the heart of that work sits today's topic of discussion - the Partnership Principles. These seven principles — equality, choice, voice, dialogue, praxis, reflection, and reciprocity — offer not just a framework for coaching, but a way of being in relationship with others. They help us think deeply about what it means to honour the humanity, autonomy, and potential of the people we work with every day. In this conversation, we explore where the Partnership Principles come from, what they look like in action, and how they can shape not only our coaching conversations — but also the culture of our schools and organisations. This is a must listen. Richard Reid – Podcast host.

In this first of a series of episodes in our mini-series Instructional Coaching Done Well Roadshow we are going to kick off with the question – Instructional Coaching Done Well – What does that look like? Knowing that every school is different, how do you create a sustainable, impactful instructional coaching program that really works in both the short and the long term? To make a start at answering this question I'm joined by none other than Dr Jim Knight himself alongside our own Executive Director Chris Munro. Join us as we take a deeper look at the Seven Success Factors.

In this episode I'm joined by Dr. Chris Baker. Chris leads professional development for a large group of schools in the South West of England, supporting over 3000 staff. He is the author of Leadership Launchpads, a visually engaging book packed with 100 powerful leadership concepts, covering everything from public narratives to ‘sludge audits.' But what really stands out about Chris is his journey from what he describes as a 'dire' early education to an obsession with professional learning and coaching. In this episode, we explore his story, his coaching philosophy and why he believes that not everyone needs to be a coach - yet coaching as a way of leading is essential. In addition to that we unpack the ‘why' of coaching in schools and the importance of partnership, enabling conditions, and a coaching stance in leadership. So, whether you're a school leader, coach, or educator looking to enhance your conversations and leadership approach, you won't want to miss this episode.

Join us in this special episode as we dive into the transformative power of listening with the authors of the brand new book - Radical Listening. In this episode of Coaching in Education, I will be in conversation with Christian Van Nieuwerburgh and Robert Biswas-Diener exploring how deep, intentional listening can reshape school culture, strengthen leadership, and elevate coaching conversations. With lots of practical insights and real-world examples, this episode is a must-listen for anyone looking to build more inclusive and connected educational communities. Listen In Now.

In this special episode, we're thrilled to welcome Jasmine Miller, author of A Teacher's Guide to Coaching. Jasmine will share insights from her new book, exploring how coaching can transform teaching practices, build stronger relationships and empower both teachers and students. Whether you're new to coaching or looking to deepen your skills, you won't want to miss this conversation packed with practical strategies and real-life examples. Listen in now.

To mark this year's International Women's Day we have recorded a powerful conversation on sustainable leadership and wellbeing with special guest Nicole O'Brien, a visionary Principal and advocate for strengths-based leadership. As a Gratitude Warrior Nicole shares how she's using coaching as a core approach to support leaders and teachers in her school. Listen in for practical insights on using strengths and gratitude to enhance wellbeing, prevent burnout and lead with authenticity. Get ready for an inspiring listen!

In this latest episode of ‘Stories from the Coaches' I'm genuinely thrilled to be joined by Claudia Owad, an expert in the transformative power of coaching and positive psychology. Currently a Director at GCI and more recently a director with the Instructional Coaching Group, Claudia brings over 25 years of experience working across education, corporate settings, and not-for-profits. Her passion? Helping leaders, teachers, students, and parents create flourishing learning environments. Drawing on her expertise in developmental frameworks and mental toughness, Claudia combines practical strategies with an inspiring focus on strengths and growth. Whether you're an educator, a coach, or a leader, this conversation will offer valuable insights into harnessing coaching and positive psychology to create meaningful change. Resources: https://www.growthcoaching.com.au/resource/the-wonderful-ripple-effect-of-coaching-5-tips-to-help-this-happen/ https://psywb.springeropen.com/articles/10.1186/2211-1522-3-2  

In this episode we're exploring an inspiring leadership journey in education with special guests, Louise Rose and Di Henning. Louise, an award-winning educator and current principal at Brooks High School in Tasmania, shares her transformative journey from a highly successful early teaching career focused on personal achievement, to a deep commitment to leadership grounded in coaching, emotional intelligence, and trust. Alongside her is Di Henning, an experienced educational leader and longstanding team member with GCI, whose mentorship played a pivotal role in Louise's professional growth. Join me as we hear all about Louise's evolution as a leader, explore how she and Di have strengthened the leadership team at Brooks High, and discuss their 'Leadership Way of Being' document, an approach they've developed to foster trust, self-awareness, and a coaching culture within the school community. This episode offers valuable insights for anyone passionate about the impact of coaching as a way of leading.

In this episode of Coaching in Education, join me in conversation with Russell Bennett and Stephen Fantom, two dynamic educators from St Joseph's Institution International School in Singapore. Over the last decade, Russell and Steve have led the way in creating a vibrant coaching culture at SJI, transforming professional learning and fostering personal growth among staff. Listen in as they share their journey, the challenges they've faced, and the impact coaching has had across their school community. Whether you're just beginning your coaching journey or looking to deepen your practice, this conversation is packed with insights and practical takeaways. Genuinely, this is a must listen! Richard Reid – Podcast Host.

In this week's episode of Coaching in Education, we dive into the topic of "Coaching through Transitions" with Rachel Thornton, Deputy Head of Whangarei Boys High School in New Zealand. Rachel shares the innovative approach her school has taken to train senior boys in coaching skills, enabling them to coach and support primary school students who are feeling anxious about the transition to secondary school. Listen in to discover how this peer coaching initiative is fostering confidence, connection, and leadership during a critical time of change for young learners.

In this latest episode of our ‘Stories from the Coaches' mini-series I want to start by referring to our strapline – where theory and good intentions meet reality because the topic of discussion in this episode - Reflective Practice, fits so well with this phrase. Let me explain: In theory, we as educators and coaches appreciate the benefits of a reflective approach to our practice and we definitely have good intentions to make this a regular habit, however the reality quite often is that we let disciplines such as reflective practice drop off the list as the busyness of working in education takes over. In this episode we aim to help you address this issue so join me in conversation with one of GCI's longest serving members – Di Henning and we will take a deeper dive into reflective practice.

Throughout many of our episodes one of the most common themes where coaching has had a significant impact is ‘change'. Planning for it and responding to it. For many of us, change is not something we welcome with open arms. A few episodes ago we heard how Jo Cammozzato was preparing her team for change as she got ready to open a brand new school, in another recent episode we heard how Justine Smyth brought together three separate schools into one and successfully used coaching to help manage that significant change. In this episode we get to find out how coaching continues to impact a school team just two and half years into its new journey. In 2022 my guest Mark Natoli opened the doors to a brand new school – Greenvale Secondary College in Melbourne Australia. With a motto – Dream | Believe | Achieve, join me in this episode to hear how coaching has impacted the early years of this brand new establishment. Richard Reid – podcast host

Over the last six months I have had the privilege of chatting with a number of the GCI team with a view to gaining their insights and thoughts on developing coaching in our schools. In this particular episode I'm excited to be joined by Lucy Carroll. Lucy joined Growth Coaching International in 2019 and brings with her, over 30 years of experience in education, in diverse settings across Australia and internationally.  Most recently Lucy has worked at the Institute of Positive Education at Geelong Grammar School, promoting student, staff and family wellbeing through innovative education programs in the field of positive psychology. This role has taken Lucy into schools across all sectors in Australia and has stretched as far afield as Singapore, Hong Kong, Dubai and Germany. Join me in this episode as Lucy shares some fabulous insights into how she sees coaching fit into the world of education and the immense benefits for those who position it front and centre in their approach to professional conversations. This is a must listen.

“Coming together is the beginning, keeping together is progress and working together is success.” Henry Ford. The Curtin Education Community (CEC) network in the South Metropolitan region of Perth is a conglomerate of twelve government primary schools, two secondary schools, and one senior campus. The CEC's Strategic Plan 2023- 2025 includes two targets, one of them being to “support a focus on impactful teaching across all CEC schools” and the other to “increase opportunities to build leadership capacity of current and future leaders” So, what happens when you bring together 26 coaches from across this network of schools, provide them with training and offer them participation in a year long coaching programme. Well, you get the establishment of The Instructional Coaching Collective and in this episode, I'm so pleased to be joined by Mileva Tubbs – leader of the ICC and program co-ordinator at Como Secondary School in Perth, Australia. Listen in as we dive in to the challenges as well as the significant benefits of developing a coaching collective.

In this episode we are moving outside of Australia to neighbouring New Zealand where I'm absolutely delighted to be joined by Dr Nicky Knight. Nicky is an education consultant and founding Director of The Education Group, which is an independent consulting company based in Auckland. Nicky is also the Director of Growth Coaching International in New Zealand and coordinates the implementation of a wide range of coaching workshops across the country for GCI. Nicky is a senior practitioner with the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and has presented at a number of local and international conferences in coaching. Join me in this episode as Nicky shares some interesting insights from her coaching and training work with GCI.

Back in December 2021 I had the privilege of interviewing Alison Spence, Principal of Kohia Terrace School in Auckland New Zealand. In that episode we were joined by some of Alison's primary students to hear of the fantastic impact of their ‘students coaching students' programme. In this episode I am excited to re-visit the whole concept of students coaching students but this time at secondary school level. To talk us through a fascinating coaching journey, I'm delighted to be joined by Natasha Mercer. Natasha is Head Teacher of Teaching and Learning at St Ives High School in Sydney Australia and in this episode she takes us through both the challenges and the significant benefits of developing a programme in school where students coach other students. If you are considering what students coaching students might look like in your school then this is a must listen. Enjoy.

I'm delighted to share with you the second episode in our podcast mini-series called ‘Stories from the Coaches'. In our first episode we turned the spotlight on our very own Dan Steele who shared some fascinating insights into coach training from the other side of the slide deck. In this second episode I'm joined by another member of the GCI team – Gray Ryan. Gray is highly regarded for his integrity, professionalism and outcomes focus. His motivational and engaging style and highly attuned listening skills enable him to develop positive, meaningful and trusting relationships with GCI clients. Gray is an experienced coach and facilitator with an extensive background in educational leadership. Join me as Gray shares some great insights from his many years of experience in both coaching and facilitating. This is another ‘must listen'. - Richard Reid, Podcast Host.

As this issue of CoachEd Update goes live there is great excitement and anticipation at Bemin Secondary College in Victoria as the doors are opened for the very first time. Join me in this episode where I'm in conversation with Principal Jo Camozzato. Jo shares some of her fascinating journey in education so far and provides some valuable insights into how she has applied a coaching approach to her leadership roles over the years. This is a must listen episode.

In this latest episode of our ‘stories from the field' series, my guest conquers a whole new level of challenge when developing coaching in a school. To date, most of my guests have shared their experiences within one specific setting – a primary school, a post primary school, a state school, or a private school and maybe even an international school amongst others, but no-one has yet to share a story of developing a coaching culture in three separate schools – at the same time. Join me in conversation with Justine Smyth. Justine is currently an executive principal working with the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership based in Melbourne Australia. Just a few years ago Justine was tasked with the formidable challenge of amalgamating no less than three neighbouring primary schools and settling them into a brand new build. Change management guru John Kotter states – “In its most basic sense, leadership is about mobilising a group of people to jump into a better future.” In this episode Justine is going to share with us how she mobilised three separate groups into one better future that paid respect to all three schools.

This episode is the first in a new mini-series called ‘Stories from the Coaches' where we're shifting the spotlight on to those who train the educators to become exceptional coaches. Join me as I sit down with some of our own GCI team to explore their unique perspectives on implementing coaching cultures in schools. Let's learn from their experiences of empowering school leaders and teachers to bring about positive change and transformative coaching practices in schools. To kick things off in this first episode, I'm delighted to welcome Dan Steele. Dan is a seasoned educational leader responsible for GCI's growth in Victoria and Tasmania. With a diverse background in government, catholic, and independent schools, in metropolitan Melbourne and remote Western Australia, he's passionate about fostering learning cultures, developing leaders, and using coaching to drive educational improvement. Join me in this episode as he shares some of his wealth of experience and insights into building coaching cultures in schools.

In this latest episode of the Coaching in Education Podcast, host Richard Reid is joined by three members of the team at Salesian College Sunbury in Victoria, Australia. Listen in as we learn about the early stages of their coaching journey where staff shared a vision of wanting to have ‘better conversations'.  Find out how the team, led by Ammie Franklin (Director of Staff Learning), took courageous steps through a consultative approach to introducing coaching at Salesian College. Listen to pedagogy coach Jade West share the benefits of coaching across a school of 140 teachers. Check out how the team turned the challenges of the pandemic into opportunities for growth, as coaching provided the perfect tool to focus on wellbeing through a difficult time. Hear directly from teacher Melanie Jurcic, from the perspective of a coachee, how coaching at Salesian has benefitted her both personally and professionally. Another episode that's well worth a listen.

In this second episode Melanie Chambers joins Richard Reid once again to discuss further the coaching journey at BSB, gathering some great insights into the details of that journey through the eyes of one of BSB's professional learning partners – Emma Vlaeminck. Emma is a teacher of German, French and Humanities at BSB and co-ordinates the Bilingual Programme. Emma has had a lead role in developing the BSB ‘Vision for Coaching' and gives us a flavour of both the challenges and the benefits coaching has brought to the school.

An international learning community for children aged 1-18 and currently the only school in Belgium independently ranked as one of the best schools in the world. In this first of two episodes I'm joined in conversation by Melanie Chambers – deputy head and whole school lead for professional learning. Listen in as Melanie shares how BSB has experienced a significant shift over recent years in the whole area of professional learning. Hear how they have navigated the barriers and roadblocks along the way and how coaching has played a key part in shaping their journey. Whether you are well down the coaching route or just starting out this episode is well worth a listen.

Instructional Coaching – What does it mean to do it right? Join me in conversation with none other than Dr Jim Knight, senior partner at the Instructional Coaching Group and Growth Coaching International's executive director Chris Munro as they both provide some clarity around the following aspects of Instructional Coaching: The Partnership Principles The place of the expertise and knowledge of the instructional coach Teacher practice goals vs student focused goals The Impact Cycle For further information on Instructional Coaching check out the websites of both organisations: www.growthcoaching.com.au   www.instructionalcoaching.com Link to the video mentioned in the episode: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ahzi4DRkphQ&t=2390s

‘Coaches are human, humble and works in progress'. In this second part of the Westminster coaching story, Richard reid is in conversation once again with Director of Teaching Angela Phillips who introduces us to one of Westminster's HALT teachers and coaches – Ali Barr. Ali gives us a fantastic insight into the detail of what coaching looks like on a day-to-day basis and shares her thoughts on what it means to be ‘human, humble and a work in progress'. An insightful listen for both experienced coaches as well as those just starting out on this exciting journey.

‘The coalition of the willing. Coaching is a precious in demand resource. Don't fret about those who have not opted in yet.' In this episode I am delighted to be joined by Angela Phillips, Director of Teaching at Westminster School in Adelaide, South Australia. Join me in the conversation where Angela walks us through how coaching has developed at the school over recent years. Listen in to Angela sharing highlights from the recent HALT 2023 Conference in Melbourne where she talks about ‘Coaching At West', shares insights into the HALT programme at Westminster and very helpfully gives us some insight into what happens when things don't always go according to plan when developing a coaching culture.

In this episode I'm delighted to be in conversation with Sam Crome, Deputy Head of St Peter's Catholic School in Surrey, England and more recently the Director of Education for a Multi Academy Trust. In this episode Sam shares his interesting journey into education, highlights how his research on staff wellbeing introduced him to the world of coaching and gives us a little insight into how he sees the role of coaching play out in the complexity of the teams within our schools. For further insights into Sam's work check out his excellent blog at pocketwisedom.blog and keep an eye out for his first book ‘The Power of Teams' to be released in the summer of 2023.

In this episode of the Coaching in Education podcast I'm in conversation with Mark Keenan and Jane Ginders from New Zealand who share the findings from a recent case study of the seven schools in Howick Coast Kãhui Ako as they developed individual coaching models over the last number of years. Listen in to hear the benefits and the challenges of a ‘cluster' approach to developing a coaching culture. Find out how individual schools can benefit from the collective experiences of a Kãhui Ako' (learning community) and together, improve the quality of their conversations.

Welcome to part 2 of the coaching journey at St Andrew's Cathedral school in Sydney, Australia. In part one I was in conversation with senior learning coach Elle Smith who shared with us the fascinating story of getting a coaching culture off the ground starting with one coach, way back in 2015. In part two I'm pleased to have Elle join me again and this time she has brought along one of her colleagues - Anthony Sharman. Anthony is a learning coach at St Andrew's and through this episode he and Elle are going to give us some insight into the ups and downs of sustaining and growing a team of coaches in a school setting.

When introducing a new initiative in a school setting it's always an advantage to have ‘buy-in' from a number of colleagues right from the start. You could claim there is safety in numbers, be encouraged that we're all in this together, or rely on the fact that a crowd draws a crowd. However, it's not always the case, so when you're the only advocate for starting a coaching culture in your school what do you do? – You Start With One. Join me in this episode where I'm in conversation with Elle Smyth. Elle is the senior learning coach at St Andrew's Cathedral School in Sydney, Australia and has a fascinating story to share about how coaching has grown and flourished there over the last seven years since ‘starting with one' back in 2015.  

In 2022, school leaders from around the globe can reflect on a two year period which saw the most significant changes and challenges they have ever had to embrace. There were no guidebooks nor case studies to refer to. So, when faced with both significant changes and challenges how do school leaders best support and grow the capacity, motivation and wellbeing of their team? How do they improve relationships and ultimately how do they improve outcomes for students? What is the most effective way of leading schools? Join me in this special episode of the ‘Coaching in Education' podcast series where I'm joined by Chris Munro, Claudia Owad and Roma McKinnon to discuss the concept of ‘A Coaching Way of Leading Schools.'

Over the last dozen or more episodes we have heard terrific stories of how teachers, having served for 30 or 40 years, have found renewed enthusiasm for the profession through the impact coaching has had on them. But what if you are just fresh out of teacher training? What if the ink on your teaching certificate is still drying? What happens when you realise you have joined one of the most challenging professions out there? What happens when theory and good intentions meet reality? In this episode I am excited to be joined by two inspiring educators – Tomaz Lasic and Sue Knight. Both work as coaches in a long running, and in many ways trailblazing, In Class Coaching Programme in the Western Australian government school system. Their coaching helps early career teachers build their self-efficacy that is so essential at the start of their career. The strong reflective practices they build with them increase their confidence and resilience in an increasingly complex and difficult environment that is classroom teaching.

From surviving to thriving. A student's guide to feeling and doing well at university. Join me in conversation with our very own Global Director – Professor Christian Van Nieuwerburgh, where in this episode we take a sidestep into the field of positive psychology to discuss Christian's latest book, co-edited by Paige Williams. Listen in as we consider how university students can access strategies, insights and hacks from some of the leading academics in the field of positive psychology as they navigate their way not only through university life but in their life beyond education as well. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Surviving-Thriving-students-feeling-university/dp/1529741130

Join me in this episode where I'm in conversation with Robyn Trzeciak, Amy Parsons and Jordan Warren. A group of young educational leaders who have a proven track record of empowering teachers to improve student outcomes. Through a collective, coaching approach, they have been able to build upon the well-established coaching culture at River Gum Primary School and have pushed the school's learning growth even further, to some of the highest levels in the state of Victoria. This is a great example of how a strong coaching culture can not only survive but actually thrive through a period of leadership change.

Building a high performing team using a coaching approach to leadership. With over 40 years of experience in education, 20 of those as a Principal, Roma McKinnon is no stranger to developing school leadership teams. In this first of two episodes, Roma shares with us the ‘How' of developing the capacity of senior leaders using a coaching approach. Learn about the wins and the challenges of Roma's experience in both her role as Principal of River Gum PS in Melbourne as well as her school improvement work with the Department of Education across Victoria. Some excellent examples of what happens when theory and good intentions meet reality.

‘Educators Flourishing. A term that many school leaders would love to use to describe their team. Join us in conversation with educator flourishing specialist Brittany Rehal from California in the US, as we consider what this concept looks like in schools and how coaching could make a significant contribution to the numbers of flourishing educators in your school. Also in this episode, Brittany talks about the book she is writing on educator flourishing and encourages you, the listener, to contribute your own story to the process via www.educatorflourishing.com

This is GCI's second virtual visit to Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne Australia in a ‘double header' episode of our Coaching in Education podcast series. Join us in conversation with the director of instructional coaching Raelene Plozza as we hear more about their well-established coaching culture but this time with a specific focus on Literacy. Listen in as Raelene shares why she considers Instructional Coaching to be the highest impact role of her career in education. This is an episode you'll not want to miss.

In this first of two episodes based at Brighton Grammar School in Melbourne, GCI is in conversation with Dr Mark Dowley Associate Head of Staff Development and Instruction. Join us as Mark shares the incredible journey of how his school has developed and established a complex and highly effective coaching culture. With a team of fourteen coaches and a healthy mix of coach training from both Growth Coaching International and the Instructional Coaching Group, Brighton Grammar is an excellent example of what can be achieved when theory and good intentions meet reality. Student coaching, peer coaching, training days for parents, coaching in action days for visiting schools. This first of two episodes is a must listen.

Are you an aspiring or emerging school leader? Or are you already in a leadership role and want to expand your reach or maybe consider a move to a leadership role in another school? Maybe you lead an executive team and want assistance in how to best recruit and position your staff? If it's a yes to any of these then join me in conversation with Amanda Samson of Hutton Consulting Australia and learn about the impact coaching can have on your specific situation. In this episode Amanda shares her journey into education, her passion for supporting and developing school leaders and how the effective use of coaching is central to her success. This is another excellent example of what happens when theory and good intentions meet reality.

Enhancing the quality of conversations in educational communities. A key objective in the work of Growth Coaching International. For many of us we think immediately of adult conversations in staff meetings or board rooms, maybe even in the school corridors but what about conversations at student level? How do we enhance the quality of conversations between our students? In this episode of the Coaching in Education podcast series I'm in conversation with Alison Spence, Principal at Kohia Terrace School in Auckland, New Zealand and we are joined by five of her amazing students who each have been trained as student coaches and are keen to share the impact coaching has had on them.  

In this episode I'm joined by Mark Keenan, Principal of Maraetai Beach School in Auckland, New Zealand. Join me in conversation with Mark as he shares the incredible coaching journey he and his staff and students have been on in the last three years. Mark emphasises the importance of a strategic approach to developing a coaching culture in a school and the need to regularly revisit the question of ‘Why?'. Mark gives us an insight into his theory behind starting small, building trust and relationships and over time generating a curiosity in his staff to guarantee ‘buy in'. This is a perfect example of what happens when theory and good intentions meet reality.

In this episode of the coaching in education podcast series we hear how Paul Bennett, Assistant Principal of Howick College in Auckland New Zealand, upscaled coaching in his school to a very impressive level. Paul shares how his initial attempts 'bombed' but with sheer determination and an eye on the research from schools around the world, he managed to turn things around. Howick College now boasts a coaching system where 12 specially trained coaches support an incredible 134 teachers on a fortnightly basis throughout the school year. Listen to Paul explain their 'Tracking Outcomes' programme, developed in collaboration with GCI, to regularly monitor and evaluate the impact of coaching at Howick. This is a truly inspiring example of what can happen when theory and good intentions meet reality.

In this episode I'm in conversation with Ian Dickinson, Principal of Pigeon Mountain Primary School in Auckland, New Zealand. Listen in as Ian shares many of the wins as well as some of the barriers he has experienced over recent years developing a coaching culture. Join me as I learn how video peer coaching has provided a wonderful vehicle for improving the quality of conversations as the school aims to provide an 'Education with a Heart'.

In this episode I have packed up my microphone, left Auckland, New Zealand and headed across to Queensland in Australia to chat with Janice Lenarduzzi, Deputy Principal at MacGregor State School. Janice shares with us the successes and challenges of introducing a coaching culture in a large state school of over 50 staff and 1300 pupils. Starting out with only two coaches Janice invests time and energy in unpacking what coaching is, succeeds in convincing 50% of the staff to take a risk and sign up and then shares with us the impact coaching has on both teaching practice and pupil outcomes. This story is well worth a listen.

In this episode I talk to Alison Spence, Principal of Kohia Terrace School in Auckland, New Zealand. Alison shares the highs (and lows) of establishing a coaching culture in her school. From a challenging first few years Alison has successfully developed coaching to a level where the majority of her staff are now trained coaches, an amazing sixty students have been trained as coaches and she herself spends time coaching leaders from neighbouring schools in the Kohia community. In Alison's own words Coaching is something we live and breathe at Kohia School. Join us for a truly inspirational story.

In this ‘re-launch’ episode of the Coaching in Education podcast, GCI Managing Director Chris Munro introduces our new podcast host Richard Reid and interviews him about his own coaching journey. As you will hear, Richard is a school leader who has experienced and witnessed the benefits of coaching in school settings. Richard continues to work as a Principal in County Down, Northern Ireland and is a podcasting enthusiast in his ‘spare’ time. He brings the warm and humble perspective of teacher, Principal, coach and mentor to his new role hosting our podcast series.

“Effective communication is an essential skill for a fulfilled life, and we can’t teach it to students if we don’t know how to do it ourselves.” In this podcast, Leigh Hatcher interviews Dr Jim Knight about his new book, Better Conversations Coaching Ourselves and Each Other to Be More Credible, Caring, and Connected. He is joined by Gray Ryan, our Senior Consultant based in Victoria. Jim explores the beliefs and habits that are necessary to promote better communication leading to positive change. Gray talks about the benefits of better communication and how our new program, Better Conversations, is based on this book.

In this podcast, Leigh talks to John Campbell, GCI Executive Director, on the topic of schools as conversational communities. John talks about conversational contexts in schools and where the coaching style conversation could make a difference.

Do students have the emotional intelligence to coach their peers? And what would some of the other key considerations be for schools interested in implementing a student peer coaching program.  In this short interview, we talk to Ben Calleja, Co-Director at GCI WA, SA & NT, who explains what others have found in this exciting new area of coaching.