Westminster Academy
LONDON, uNITED KINGDOM
The Start
Residing in the fifth most deprived borough of London, Westminster Academy sees its fair share of challenges, as disadvantaged students pass through its gates every day. But the school aims high, too: its academic results put it in the top 20% of schools nationally, and it’s the only non-fee-paying school in London to offer the International Baccalaureate Diploma—a demanding and world-renown qualification.
“We have a deep belief in the ripple of positive impact that is made when middle leaders feel empowered,” shares Jaya Carrier, head of the coaching programme at Westminster Academy. That’s what propelled her to reach out to Graydin and begin a partnership.
Due to budget constraints, Westminster could initially only send two teachers for coaching training. Once word got out, and the impact of coaching was witnessed, the school was able to find funds to enrol several more.
Since 2018, here’s what we’ve achieved in partnership:
28 staff completed The Anatomy, our foundational coaching course.
3 staff completed The Journey, our advanced coaching course.
3 staff completed The Art, our course designed to train coaching facilitators.
2 staff are currently Certified Start With Heart Facilitators, able to deliver our coaching courses to their staff and wider community.
Here’s what participating staff told us:
“Many students live unpeaceful lives and I would like them to be able to find a way out of it. They can achieve what they want to achieve. There is a different world out there, and they can make it there. Coaching can give them that.”
“Engaging, insightful and inspired a level of deep thinking and reflection that I have rarely experienced through training. Brilliant!”
“Coaching is an incredible skill at helping people see things from a different perspective.”
“I just think these courses continue to help me understand coaching better and continue my own journey towards being a better coach and helping to develop others. They continue to make me more aware of myself.”
The Transformation
Westminster Academy is delighted to now be in a position where it can offer Graydin’s coaching courses in-house for all interested middle leaders and colleagues from other settings. They’ve found it to be an incredibly positive initiative and increasingly sees the language and strategies of coaching used regularly, in working with both staff and students.
For example, every Tutor Group and every Staff Focus Group has a Partnership Agreement, and coaching style questions are used for all staff reflections. The school also offers one-to-one coaching for all middle leaders should they want to be coached, which has been hugely helpful in supporting them in bespoke ways.
