General Coaching Questions
What is coaching and how does it work?
Coaching is a collaborative partnership where I help you gain clarity, set meaningful goals, and take action towards the life and career you want. Unlike therapy (which often focuses on healing past issues) or mentoring (where someone tells you what to do), coaching helps you discover your own answers through powerful questions, structured reflection, and accountability. Sessions are typically 60 minutes via video call.
How long does coaching take?
Most clients work with me for 3-6 months with sessions every 2-4 weeks. Some people need just a few sessions for a specific challenge, whilst others prefer longer-term support through major transitions. We’ll discuss what makes sense for your situation during our discovery call.
Is coaching confidential?
Absolutely. Everything discussed in our sessions remains completely confidential. This creates a safe space where you can be honest about your challenges, fears, and aspirations.
What qualifications do you have?
I’m a certified health & wellbeing coach recognised by the Personal Care Institute, and a registered LLSE and Ambition Institute, EHCO, NPQH and NPQEL executive coach. I have a L7 diploma in Life Coaching and an MBA as well as over 30 years of experience in education including as a Chair of Governors and headteacher, plus extensive experience helping people from all sectors navigate career transitions.
How much does coaching cost?
Coaching costs vary depending on the type of coaching, length of support, and your individual goals. My approach is to keep pricing transparent and flexible, so you can choose a package that fits your needs and budget. I offer two main types of coaching: Career Change & Life Coaching, and Headteacher & School Leadership Coaching. Please expand the sections below to see the full package options and prices.
Designed for individuals exploring new directions, building confidence, or seeking greater balance and fulfilment in work and life.
A Single Session: 60-minute one-off coaching session is normally £100
3-Session Package: Three 60-minute sessions (usually over 6–8 weeks) is normally £270 (£90/session)
6-Session Package: Six 60-minute sessions (usually over 3–6 months) is normally £480 (£80/session)
All sessions are delivered online via secure video call, with optional reflection activities and between-session actions.
Tailored support for headteachers and senior leaders who want clarity, balance and effective leadership strategies.
A Single 60–90 minutes session for focused support or introduction to coaching £125 – £185
3-Session Package: One session per term (across the academic year) £330 (£110/session)
6-Session Package: One session per half-term (or spaced as needed) £600 (£100/session)
All sessions are delivered online to ensure flexibility and accessibility.
Occasionally, I may visit a school to understand its context, depending on distance and availability. Where travel is required, a day rate applies (quoted individually).
Many schools fund coaching through professional development or wellbeing budgets. I can provide a proposal or invoice directly to your school or trust.
Do you work online or in person?
All coaching is delivered online for flexibility and confidentiality. Occasionally, I may visit a school to understand its context, depending on location and availability, these visits are optional and quoted individually.
Additional FAQs for headteacher coaching and career change coaching
In addition to the general coaching questions above, you can find more detailed answers about my Headteacher Coaching and Career Change Coaching services. These sections explain how each type of coaching supports professional growth, confidence, wellbeing, and positive career transitions. Whether you are leading a school or planning your next professional chapter, these FAQs will help you understand how coaching can meet your specific goals.
What is headteacher coaching?
Headteacher coaching is specialised 1-2-1 support for school leaders. As a former headteacher myself, I provide confidential coaching that addresses the unique challenges of school leadership; from managing governors and navigating Ofsted to preventing burnout and strategic planning. I understand the pressures because I’ve lived them.
What challenges do school leaders typically bring to coaching?
Common themes include:
- Managing burnout and overwhelm
- Difficult relationships with governors, trustees, or senior teams
- Strategic planning and vision-setting
- Work-life balance whilst maintaining school standards
- Considering whether to stay in education leadership
- Preparing for Ofsted or other inspections
- Leading through change and uncertainty
- Dealing with difficult staff or parent situations
- Imposter syndrome or loss of confidence
Do you work with leaders considering leaving education?
Yes, this is one of my specialities. Many education leaders feel guilty about considering leaving, but it’s a valid choice. I help you explore whether a change is right for you, identify your transferable skills (you have more than you think!), and plan transitions thoughtfully without burning bridges.
Can my school pay for coaching?
Yes, many schools fund coaching for their leaders as part of professional development or wellbeing support. Some leaders use their professional development budget, arrange split funding, or invest personally in their own development.
I feel stuck in my career but don’t know what I want. Can you help?
This is exactly where most of my career change clients start. You don’t need to have it all figured out before we begin, that’s what coaching is for. Through structured exploration, we’ll uncover what’s not working, identify your values and strengths, explore possibilities you may not have considered, and create a realistic action plan.
I’m in a completely different field than education.
Will coaching still work for me? Absolutely. Whilst I have deep expertise in education, my career change coaching works across all sectors. I’ve helped people transition from corporate roles, healthcare, retail, trades, finance, and many other fields. The principles of career transition are universal, clarity, strategy, and confident action.
What if I don’t know what else I could do?
Most career changers feel this way at the start. We’ll work together to: Identify your transferable skills (most people underestimate what they have to offer)
- Explore your interests, values, and strengths
- Research realistic options that align with your life circumstances
- Test ideas before making major commitments
- Build confidence in your ability to change direction
Do I need to quit my job before starting coaching?
No! In fact, most of my career change clients start coaching whilst still employed. We work together to explore options, build new skills, and plan your transition strategically, so you can make a change when the time is right, not out of desperation.
What kinds of career changes have your clients made?
Career change clients have successfully transitioned into and out of many fields including:
- Education to corporate training, HR, or project management
- Corporate roles to education or non-profit work
- Complete industry changes (e.g., finance to healthcare, retail to consulting)
- Employment to self-employment or business ownership
- Career pivots within the same industry but different roles
Every change is unique to the person’s skills, interests, and life circumstances.
How do I know if it’s the right time for a career change?
Common signs it might be time include:
- Dreading Monday mornings regularly
- Feeling unfulfilled despite success
- Your values no longer align with your work
- Physical or mental health suffering due to work
- Knowing you’re capable of more
- Life circumstances have changed your priorities
In coaching, we’ll explore whether change is right for you and what kind of change makes sense.
What if I’m worried about money/age/experience/starting over?
These are valid concerns that almost everyone has. We’ll address them directly and practically:
- Money: We’ll plan transitions that consider your financial needs
- Age: Career changes happen at all ages – your experience is an asset
- Starting over: You’re not starting over, you’re pivoting with all your experience
- Experience: Transferable skills count more than you think
Getting Started
How do I know if coaching is right for me?
Coaching works best when you’re:
- Ready to take action (not just think about change)
- Open to honest self-reflection
- Willing to be challenged on limiting beliefs
- Committed to your own growth
What’s the first step?
Book a free 20-minute discovery call. We’ll discuss your situation, explore whether coaching is right for you, and see if we’re a good fit to work together. There’s no pressure, it’s a conversation to help you make an informed decision.
What happens in a discovery call?
We’ll discuss:
- What’s bringing you to consider coaching now
- What you’d like to achieve
- How coaching works and what to expect
- Whether we’re a good fit to work together
- Practical details like timing, format, and investment
