Coaching and Improving Behaviour, Concentration and Learning

In this blog I focus on the issues surrounding behaviour and the need to look at the importance of the pastoral team in finding solutions to why this is still a persistent problem and how coaching and a change of culture can make a difference. Don't forget to book your place on our course in Manchester on 28th June, Coaching and the Pastoral Role read on to find out more.

The pathway to realising the school vision for continuous improvement and deep learning, it would appear, is hampered by a continued problem with behaviour, absenteeism and a general lack of concentration from pupils. This is not specific to any sector from primary, secondary or in tertiary settings. It seems to be a general response when I ask the question, 'What are the barriers that you perceive as impeding achievement of the goals set by senior and subject leaders and implemented by teaching staff and others across the school?'

Delving further into the reasons behind what seems to be a national situation it is generally blamed on the aftermath of the pandemic, the difficulty of pupils to return to the status quo demanded by the strategies, systems and procedures schools have always maintained in their quest to try to create harmony and a culture of learning across a school. They are clearly not working as well as they were prior to 2020 before schools closed and many pupils were subject to an imposed exile in their own homes with the imperative to learn independently and on-line.

It is often the responsibility of the pastoral team to manage pupils who have caused problems either in lessons or outside the classroom in corridors, the outside space and generally with their peers, staff and parents. Wherever they are along their education journey pupils have very little experience of how to be and nearly two years of that short time was hugely disrupted, very frightening and for some life changing if they lost a family member or close friend or acquaintance. Those with pastoral responsibility need to have the skills and the empathy to see beyond the behaviours and find out what is at the root of their inability to conform and their reluctance to learn.

We have designed a training course 'Coaching and the Pastoral Role'. It is for all those with pastoral responsibility in both primary and secondary settings to look at how using coaching techniques that have a powerful impact on how pupils can be much more in tune with how their behaviour impacts on their own self-belief, self-awareness and the way they can feel a sense of belonging and self-respect that will enhance their ability to concentrate on learning and growing as part of their school and wider community. Join us in Manchester on 28th June for a truly inspiring focus on how to develop as coaches and build a culture of change and challenge that is all about accountability, a focus on solutions not problems and building a culture of positivity and high expectations.

We have drawn on the latest research from the Education Endowment Foundation, the Anna Freud Centre for Mental Health and the Raising Achievement and Well-being programm e   as well as several other research papers and our own expert knowledge of coaching in our quest to be as up to date as possible in supporting schools to find really effective solutions to this seemingly perennial problem. The EEF have a six-point focus on change which hinge on the need to know and understand your pupils and their influences which marry with other research and provide the basis for a focus on how school pastoral teams can work together to build a process of change that embraces pupil voice, deep convictions about consistency and cohesion and working together to find solutions.

1. Know and understand your pupils and their influences
2. Teach learning behaviours alongside managing misbehaviour
3. Use classroom management strategies to support good classroom behaviour
4. Use simple approaches as part of your regular routine
5. Use targeted approaches to meet the needs of individuals in your school
6. Consistency is key: consistency and coherence at a whole-school level are paramount

Where those with a pastoral role learn how to coach, they can support their own teams to share the strategies that work and strengthen the approach to tackling issues that disrupt learning, create problems for classroom harmony and ensure that the perpetrator is aware of the impact of their behaviour on themselves and others. Coaching is a non-judgemental and non-directive approach to attitudinal and behavioural issues that will dilute confrontation and disarm those who are creating the issues.

Learning how to coach in this context is all about motivational dialogue and a real focus on seeing behind the behaviour and into the real reasons why it is happening. It is also about teaching pupils how to be resilient find their own more effective ways to interact, deepen understanding and return to being a positive part of the school and classroom experience.

Coaching provides the knowledge to teach learning behaviours, define and use highly effective approaches to classroom management that will make a difference. Coaching also provides a medium for pastoral teams to work together to reinforce the key messages about behaviour and attitudes to learning that will lead to consistency and will create the culture that completely minimises those issues that disrupt and interrupt the learning process.

Coaching is not a quick fix, it requires practice, reflection and ongoing dialogue. Our course is practical and well-structured and will provide all the resources, materials and strategies that those who attend can take back to school to share with their pastoral colleagues drive whole school change where pupils and staff know the part they play in creating and maintaining a learning culture. Book place on this highly interactive course and take away a powerful future for all your pastoral staff and pupils they nurture. 07974754241 glynis@learningcultures.org

Book now: Coaching and the Pastoral Role 28th June in Manchester