Transforming leadership through coaching at Tyne Coast Academy Trust

Introducing Lynsay Carmichael

Lynsay Carmichael is an Assistant Headteacher at an 11-18 secondary school in the north-east of England. She recently completed our Level 5 Coaching Professional Apprenticeship and, here, explains the impact the course has had on her practice and the wider organisation.

Starting a coaching journey

My coaching development has started our academy and Trust on a journey to develop new ways of working that are improving the quality of teaching and leadership. This shift is helping us attract and retain high-quality teachers and leaders while sustaining effective professional development that ultimately enhances outcomes, wellbeing, and attendance across our academy.

Building confidence through 1-2-1 coaching

1-2-1 coaching has been particularly successful in supporting colleagues new to leadership. They report increased confidence in their own voice and a greater willingness to take on new challenges.

When I asked my coachees what their greatest insight was from our sessions, they said:

"I have found the whole experience positive, supportive, and engaging. I really appreciate your active listening and questioning — it has made me more reflective about decisions. I think I have grown in confidence, particularly with my leadership skills, knowledge, and responsibilities."

"I can now totally recognise and embrace my own leadership skills and qualities. I can even identify as a ‘leader’ — something I had not considered before our sessions! This newfound self-awareness has empowered me to value my capabilities, advocate for myself, and approach my current and future career goals with real confidence."

Creating a ‘Thinking Environment’ through group coaching

Group coaching has transformed how we manage leadership meetings. We now create a ‘thinking environment’ where leaders have the time and space to explore challenges by asking more questions before jumping to solutions.

This approach has become a key lever in our professional development design. Leaders now listen without judgement, allowing colleagues to give open and honest feedback. This, in turn, helps shape strategic direction driven by the experiences of our classroom teachers.

Embedding reflection in teaching and learning

Coaching has also influenced how we quality assure teaching and learning. Colleagues now have dedicated time to reflect on feedback and identify their own development areas with their line managers.

This approach has been really well received - teachers have more autonomy in identifying what they need to improve, leading to greater engagement and ownership of their professional growth.

Supporting colleagues through change

In the increasingly challenging times facing education, I have been able to support colleagues across our Trust who are facing redundancy or seeking new directions. Coaching provides a safe and confidential space for honest reflection, even for senior leaders.

One colleague shared:

"Thinking about leaving teaching after 15 years was a really scary thought, but my three sessions with Linsay meant I could think out loud and figure out a way forward. The SWOT analysis helped me see how I could be something other than a teacher. I’ve now secured a role outside education — without this coaching, I think I’d still be stuck, not making the most of my life or giving my best to our students."

Balancing coaching, training, and on-the-job learning

Managing my off-the-job (OJT) hours was really important for our academy. Starting the course in May allowed me to plan my timetable from September to reduce the impact of monthly training on my learners.

The flexibility of remote and online learning meant I could complete some OJT during the academy day and some after hours. At times, I dedicated bespoke professional development time to my coaching apprenticeship — in the early stages through reading, and later through coaching practice and reflection.

Throughout the year, I scheduled dedicated time for portfolio work, supported by my headteacher, whose belief in the process grew as they saw the positive impact of coaching across the academy.

Lasting impact on leadership culture

Personally, coaching has completely changed the way I support colleagues. I no longer ‘rescue’ when people ask for advice. Instead, my colleagues now approach me saying, “Can we do that coaching thing so I can figure this out?”

We’ve opened up the creativity of our teams, giving them more autonomy and conviction — resulting in more confident and capable leaders.

If you are interested in this apprenticeship for yourself or your organisation, please contact us.