Book a session with our AMHIE Coaching Team.
In every setting, challenges can arise within normal operation, whether this is with students/pupils, certain departments or even individuals, overcoming these challenges helps the whole team move forward. Coaching for your team can help them identify these challenges and the desired outcomes, and create evidence-based solutions.
What are the benefits of coaching?
- Supports the psychological well-being and confidence of school teams.
- Enhances reflection and thinking skills and allows you to become more self-aware and better at self-management.
- Deepens knowledge, skills and practice and develops problem solving and creativity.
- Helps build communication and relationship management skills.
- Build the emotional resilience of school teams by enabling them to reflect on challenges they are facing and how to overcome them.
Our Professional Coaching service moves away from “general” leadership advice and focuses on the strategic implementation of mental health.
While many providers offer coaching for Headteachers to “survive the job,” AMHIE coaching is designed to help you master the mandate.
The core focus: strategy and action
Unlike life coaching (which focuses on the individual) or instructional coaching (which focuses on teaching techniques), AMHIE’s coaching is Outcome-Driven for the Whole School Approach:
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Reflection on Practice: A dedicated space to step back from the “firefighting” of daily school life and look at the bigger picture.
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Skill Development: Specifically targeting the competencies needed to be a Senior Mental Health Lead (SMHL), such as data analysis, culture-shifting, and staff engagement.
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Implementation Support: The coach acts as a strategic partner to help you take the theoretical requirements of the DfE and turn them into a working reality for your specific setting.
AMHIE vs. other coaching models
| Feature | AMHIE Professional Coaching | Executive Coaching (Generic) | Instructional Coaching |
| Primary Goal | Embedding a mental health strategy. | Improving general leadership skills. | Improving classroom pedagogy. |
| Specialist Knowledge | High (Coaches are experts in DfE/Ofsted MH guidance). | Moderate (General business/leadership expertise). | High (Teaching and learning experts). |
| Key Benefit | Ensures your mental health policy actually works. | Helps with personal resilience and CEO-level tasks. | Improves student grades through better teaching. |
| Target Audience | Mental Health Leads & SLT. | Headteachers & MAT CEOs. | Classroom Teachers. |
Why it’s different: The “strategic partner” approach
What truly separates AMHIE’s coaching from a standard “listening ear” is how we align with statutory compliance.
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The “Accountability Partner”: Most school coaches are there to support your feelings. While AMHIE does that, we also act as a technical advisor. If you are struggling to evidence “Pupil Voice” for an upcoming inspection, our coach will help you design the framework to do it.
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Bespoke to Your Setting: We don’t use a “one-size-fits-all” model. Our coaches understand the specific differences between coaching a Lead in a small rural Primary versus a large urban FE College.
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Bridging the Training Gap: Many Leads finish their DfE-funded training and think, “Now what?” Our coaching is the bridge between learning the role and executing it. It’s designed to prevent the “shelf-ware” problem where a great strategy stays hidden in a folder.
What are the direct benefits of coaching for your school?
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Sustainability: It prevents the Mental Health Lead from becoming overwhelmed and quitting, saving significant recruitment and re-training costs.
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ROI on Training: It ensures the £1,200+ spent on SMHL training actually results in measurable changes in student attendance and staff morale.
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Confidentiality: It provides a safe “external” space. Sometimes a Lead cannot speak to their own Headteacher about the challenges of the role; AMHIE provides that neutral, expert sounding board.
