My journey from Headship to Coaching
I believe passionately that Coaching Schools are the future of our educational system. Coaching school leaders promote learning, self-evaluation, empowerment and well-being.
I became a headteacher of a challenging inner London school in 2006. Within my first week, I was feeling courageous and confident, feeling like I could take the world by storm.
A week later Ofsted arrived and the school was given the notice to improve.
Through perseverance, clear goals, coaching and promoting the best from the team, we rapidly raised the standard of not just one but two failing schools to outstanding, amalgamated the schools and won the TES School of the Year and Best Primary of the Year Awards in 2013.
Also at that time, the newly amalgamated school was placed in the top 1% of the most highly performing schools in England. In 2014 I was shortlisted for the TES Headteacher of the Year Award.
Understanding challenges
Throughout my headship career, I had ups and downs. At times I was taking on the world, introducing new strategies, smashing targets, feeling excited and joyful, at times, I felt lonely in my headteacher’s chair.
Heads and leaders are always expected to be highly effective, competent and confident, however, sometimes we experience self-doubt and worry. We are humans who chose to lead in a system that is challenging and not always supportive.
When I was a headteacher, I knew from the start that engaging with great coaches was the way to further my and my team’s professional development. It was at that time I realised what a difference in my performance and also well-being came out as an effect of the coaching sessions.
I decided that one day I will become a coach to inspire other leaders, help them overcome challenges that they may face and support them to create environments where well-being, nurturing and harmony were central to the systems they built in their schools.
Years on from that time, I now help to improve schools, coach and mentor colleagues.
My values and experiences made me the coach I am today. It is my role as a coach to lead the client to self-discovery, acceptance and improved performance.
Coaching schools that promote learning, self-evaluation and empowerment are the future of our educational system and I want to be a part of this new era.
“ I want Headteachers, school leaders and staff to feel empowered and joyful, to see their vision into reality and have raised awareness and improved well-being. ”
Let’s start this journey together.
Beatrix Simpson
BEd, PGCE, NPQH
I am an accredited Executive Coach with the AoEC and I am also a Well-Being Coach.