Experiences of aspiring school principals receiving coaching as part of a leadership development programme
International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education
ISSN: 2046-6854
Article publication date: 27 May 2020
Issue publication date: 22 July 2020
Abstract
Purpose
This paper adds depth to our understanding of how coaching works by exploring the experiences of 14 aspiring school principals who received one-to-one leadership coaching as part of a leadership development programme.
Design/methodology/approach
This study adopts a phenomenological approach. Individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with the participants. Thematic analysis was used to code the data and identify themes.
Findings
This paper reports on four themes based on the experiences of the participants: having time to reflect, feeling safe to explore, focussing on what's important for me and experiencing positive emotions.
Research limitations/implications
The findings are unique to the participants who volunteered to take part in this study and therefore not representative of a general population of aspiring educational leaders. Further research is needed into the possible benefits of coaching to support educators undergoing leadership training.
Practical implications
The findings raise a potential dilemma within the teaching profession about the use of educators' time; while they need to give time and attention to multiple stakeholders, they also need to protect time for their own development and self-reflection. Based on the reported experiences of the participants in this study, it is recommended that coaching be considered a component of professional development for educational leaders.
Originality/value
This paper adds to the growing research base for coaching in education, providing a unique insight into the experiences of aspiring school principals who received one-to-one leadership coaching as part of a leadership development programme.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful for the generous support of the Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership who provided funding for this research project.
Citation
van Nieuwerburgh, C., Barr, M., Munro, C., Noon, H. and Arifin, D. (2020), "Experiences of aspiring school principals receiving coaching as part of a leadership development programme", International Journal of Mentoring and Coaching in Education, Vol. 9 No. 3, pp. 291-306. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJMCE-11-2019-0107
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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