Why not being a school leader myself makes me a better coach for school leaders
Here’s a confession that might ruffle some feathers: I’ve never been a school leader. Not a headteacher, not a deputy, not even an assistant head. And that’s exactly why I might be just the coach you need.
Most leadership coaches love to lead with their credentials—twenty years as a headteacher of international schools, turned around three failing schools, survived Ofsted inspections that would make grown teachers weep. But here’s what I’ve discovered over the past year of coaching school leaders: sometimes the best person to help you find your way isn’t someone who’s walked your exact path.
Here’s why my ”outsider” status actually gives you an advantage:
1. I’m here to unlock your answers, not share my war stories
Leadership coaching works because you already have the expertise—about your school, your staff, your community. My job isn’t to tell you what worked at Hypothetical Primary back in 2018. It’s to help you tap into what you already know and haven’t yet accessed.
Because I’ve never sat in your chair, I’m not tempted to jump in with ”When I was a head, I always…” Instead, I’m genuinely curious about your situation and skilled at helping you think it through. As one deputy head told me: ”Thanks to our conversations, I actually looked forward to the parent meeting I had previously dreaded.” I had met him where he was and supported him in preparing for the meeting in a way that suited him and his school.
2. I know education without the baggage
I bring 10+ years in education—as a teacher, instructional coach, curriculum developer, and leadership coach. I understand your world: the impossible parent emails, the budget constraints, the constant juggling of competing demands. But I don’t have my own headship trauma clouding my judgment. That makes it easy for me to see opportunities, rather than getting stuck in problems.
You won’t waste time explaining why Ofsted prep is stressful or why staff wellbeing matters—I already get it. We can dive straight into solutions.
3. I show up with singular focus: you and your goals
When we meet, I’m not mentally comparing your challenges to mine or itching to share how I ”solved” something similar. My entire focus is on helping you create clarity about what you want and supporting you to get there.
”When I know we have a session coming up, I jump into action and do the things I promised myself,” one client reflected. That accountability comes from having someone wholly invested in your success, not distracted by their own professional nostalgia.
The bottom line? My coaching isn’t muddled with my own experience as a school leader because I don’t have any. Instead, my vision is crystal clear: focus on you, what you want, and how to get there.
