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 Head First

Certified Coach

Coaching Practitioner Training 

Empowered staff

Elevated conversations

Enhanced well-being

Certified by the prestigious Association for Coaching

 
Build a thriving coaching culture of empowerment, growth and well-being and a ripple effect that strengthens: 

  • professional growth

  • leadership

  • school improvement

  • well-being and morale

  • recruitment and retention

Level 1, Level 2, Level 3 - Certified Coaching Practitioner Training Options

Three Levels of
Association for Coaching
Certification: 

Our Unique AC Approved Competency Framework

Head First's unique competency framework combines two powerful strands: 
1. Explicit coaching skills: developed from the Association for Coaching (AC) and  International Coaching Federation (ICF) competencies, refined specifically for education. 
2. Enhanced communication strategies: draws on evidence-based research—including communication theory, emotional intelligence, and transactional analysis—as well as our experience in high-stakes, emotionally charged school environments.


Once a school has a Level 3 Advanced Head First Certified Coach, you can choose to use our licensed training materials in-house—creating an affordable self-sustaining coaching culture.

Anyone can become a Head First Certified Coach

We are passionate about inclusion and believe in giving every member of your school community the opportunity to grow. When people are supported to develop they return that energy tenfold, feeling valued, engaged and committed to the school’s success.

Use Head First coaching for...

  • ✔ Stand alone coaching sessions
  • ✔ Line management meetings
  • ✔ Appraisal
  • ✔ Developmental feedback
  • ✔ ECT and other mentoring
  • ✔ Team meetings
  • ✔ Navigating challenges and priorities
  • ✔ Transforming conversations
  • ✔ Strengthening relationships
  • ✔ Empowering colleagues to grow in confidence to problem-solve
  • ✔ Encouraging colleagues to be more self-reliant and take more initiative
  • ✔ Supporting colleagues who are overwhelmed 
  • ✔ Enhancing conversations, interactions and personal relationships outside work

The Head First Empower Coaching Model...

  • Throughout the training, delegates learn about a wide range of proven coaching and communication models and theories, as well as Head First's Empower coaching model, designed BY expert educators, specifically FOR educators. 

  • Establish Trust & Goals

  • Help colleagues set clear, meaningful, and achievable objectives aligned to priorities and challenges.

  • Map Reality

  • Explore the current situation, perceptions and challenges.

    Possible Pathways

    Generate options and identify viable strategies. 

  • Ownership

    Support colleagues to chose actions they feel are right for them.

  • Way Forward

    Agree immediate next steps and if relevant, longer term actions.

  • Encourage action

  • Support colleagues to keep focused on their journey, adjusting plans when necessary to stay on course.

  • Review and Reflect

    Review progress, learning from experiences, and celebrate achievements to foster continuous growth.

Level 1 - 'Essentials' Head First Coaching Practitioner

Duration: 1 term (4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 colleagues per group):

  • ✔ Half day online group training
  • ✔ 1 X individual online coaching session with expert coach
  • ✔ 1 X facilitated online practice session
  • ✔ Module 1: Level 1 ‘Essentials’ Coaching Skills - 3 lessons (self-led learning)
  • ✔ Module 2: Level 1 ‘Essentials’ Communication Skills - 3 lessons (self-led learning)
  • ✔ Practice coaching with coaching buddy (another delegate)
  • ✔ Coach one team-member, in school
  • ✔ Complete the Level 1 'Essentials' Coaching Practitioner Journal
  • ✔ Level 1 'Essentials' coaching practitioner certificate

Level 2 - 'Intermediate' Head First Coaching Practitioner

Duration: 2 terms (4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 colleagues per group):

  • ✔ 2 X half days online group training
  • ✔ 2 X individual online coaching sessions with expert coach
  • ✔ 2 X facilitated online practice sessions
  • ✔ Module 1: Level 1 ‘Essentials’ Coaching Skills - 3 lessons (self-led learning)
  • ✔ Module 2: Level 1 - ‘Essentials’ Communication Skills - 3 lessons (self-led learning)
  • ✔ Module 3: Level 2 ‘Intermediate’ Coaching Skills - 3 lessons (self-led learning)
  • ✔ Module 4: Level 2 ‘Intermediate’ Communication Skills - 3 lessons (self-led learning) 
  • ✔ Practice coaching with coaching buddy (another delegate)
  • ✔ Coach two team-members, in school
  • ✔ Complete the  Level 2 'Intermediate' Coaching Practitioner Journal
  • ✔ Level 2 'Intermediate' coaching practitioner certificate

Level 3 - 'Advanced' Head First Coaching Practitioner

Duration: 3 terms (4, 6, 8, 10 or 12 colleagues per group):

  • ✔ 3 X half days online group training
  • ✔ 3 X individual online coaching sessions with expert coach
  • ✔ 3 X facilitated online practice sessions
  • ✔ Module 1: Level 1 ‘Essentials’ Coaching Skills - 3 lessons (self-led learning)
  • ✔ Module 2: Level 1 ‘Essentials’ Communication Skills - 3 lessons (self-led learning)
  • ✔ Module 3: Level 2 ‘Intermediate’ Coaching Skills - 3 lessons (self-led learning)
  • ✔ Module 4: Level 2 ‘Intermediate’ Communication Skills - 3 lessons (self-led learning) 
  • ✔ Module 5: Level 3 ‘Advanced’ Coaching Skills - 3 lessons (self-led learning)
  • ✔ Module 6: Level 3 ‘Advanced’ Communication Skills - 3 lessons (self-led learning)  
  • ✔ Practice coaching with coaching buddy (another delegate)
  • ✔ Coach three team-members, in school
  • ✔ Complete the Level 3 'Advanced' Coaching Practitioner Journal
  • ✔ Level 3 'Advanced' coaching practitioner certificate
  • ✔ Advanced Head First Certified Coaches are invited to use Head First's materials to train staff internally, creating a self-sustaining coaching model for those schools that wish to. Annual subscription for: use of Head First materials, support for trainers, and certification of staff. Supervision/coaching for trainers also available.
  • This programme is assessed against our internally developed Coaching & Communication Competency Framework, created by expert educators and coaches. Our framework is based on the Association for Coaching and ICF competencies, and tailored to the real-world needs of educators and leaders in schools. Certificates are validated by The Association for Coaching, with CPD hours recognised and counting towards formal coaching accreditation.

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