Welcome!
Hi, I’m Rachael. I support school leaders and their teams to untangle the challenges of leadership and build the confidence, resilience and focus needed to thrive.
I know that life as a school leader can feel overwhelming, with constant pressures and competing priorities.
That’s why I’ve put together a collection of short articles and case studies to offer insights, strategies, and support tailored to your needs.
If you’re looking for something specific or need more personalised advice, feel free to get in touch. I’m here to help!
Why less is more: Focusing on what truly matters this term
The new year often brings a surge of energy and a desire to make big changes, but for busy school leaders, this “new year new you” mindset can quickly lead to overwhelm. Instead of energising you, it can leave you feeling stretched thin, with too much on your plate.
How coaching and supervision both empower school leaders
At the heart of both coaching and supervision is the creation of a safe, reflective space which is essential for genuine growth, as it allows leaders to look at their practice from a fresh perspective, enabling clearer, more confident decision-making.
Working together; coaching support for resilient school leaders
Every academic year has its own rhythm and familiar patterns, and always comes with new wins, unexpected pressures and unpredictable twists. Navigating these demands mental strength, resilience and adaptability, which is where a year-round coaching partnership can make all the difference for a school leader.
How’s your year going so far? Reflect and take control
As the first half-term break rolls around and you have a moment to catch your breath, what better time to pause and reflect on how the year has gone so far and, more importantly, how you want the rest of it to unfold.
Building Resilience: Strategies for school leaders to recover quickly from setbacks
As a school leader, your team looks to you not only for guidance through challenges but also as a model for how to manage setbacks. They pay attention to not just the speed of your recovery but also how you handle yourself during the process.
Keeping expectations in check: A balanced approach to the new academic year
The problem with expectations is that they’re often a moving target. What starts as a reasonable goal can quickly spiral into something unmanageable. Those high expectations you hold for your own performance quickly have a way of backfiring and becoming unhelpful and even detrimental.
The Power of Reflection: Wrapping Up the Academic Year
As the school year draws to a close, it’s tempting to just simply get to the finish line and collapse, but if you can take a moment to reflect on the past year, you may find it’s a powerful tool that can lead to big improvements.
How workshops and team coaching was used to support a whole staff team in a UK state school.
A case study outlining how a combination of workshops and team coaching was used to support a whole staff team in a UK state school.
How group coaching was used to increase leadership capacity across a large group of international and private schools in China.
A case study outlining how group coaching was used to increase leadership capacity across a large group of international schools in China.
Slowing down for success; a deliberate approach to the final term
As the final term of the academic year approaches, it’s natural to feel a panicked sense of urgency – something I remember all too well! With the many events and tasks already filling up your diary, the temptation to rush and squeeze everything in can be overwhelming and difficult not to give in to.