Over the last decade, we have accumulated considerable evidence supporting the effectiveness of instructional coaching (read more about this from Sam Sims here) and we are so proud that, across our region, mentors regularly engage in these individualised, classroom-based, observation-feedback-practice cycles with their ECTs.

This year we are re-launching our Coaching for Mentors offer to support the use of Instructional Coaching to support our most novice teachers. Coaching for Mentors is a 1:1, supportive, low-stakes process, designed to support mentors’ development as instructional coaches, specifically in relation to supporting Early Career Teachers.

What does Coaching for Mentors look like in practice?

Mentors will have three Coaching for Mentors (CfM) sessions across the year, one per term with Catherine, our Early Career Training Programme Lead. In preparation for each session, the mentor will video themselves coaching their ECT. The mentor will share the video with Catherine , who will watch the video and select a focus in preparation for the session. Catherine will then run an instructional coaching session with the mentor on a focus area. The mentor will leave the session with an area for development which they will practice during the session and take away to work on through their own practice with their teacher(s).

If you are an ECT mentor and you would like to take part in Coaching for Mentors in 2025-2026, please complete the google form here.

In 2025-2026, we are offering training in CfM for Induction Tutors (ITs). Following the training , ITs will be able to provide coaching for mentors in their schools as part of each school’s quality assurance processes to ensure ECTs are receiving the best possible instructional coaching.

Coaching for Mentors Training will be taking place on Monday 6th October 2025, 3:45pm – 5:15pm online . If you are interested in taking part in Coaching for Mentors training, please complete the google form here.