We're delighted to announce that Westminster Academy has won the Graydin Seed Award, which recognises 'those taking their first steps in bringing coaching into their school culture'.

Ms Carrier and Ms Cockar initiated a Coaching in Education programme as part of our staff body’s professional development at WA in 2021. As certified Educational Leadership Coaches, they recognised the potential benefits for both staff and students in a school where professional development and 'viewing learning from the perspective of the individual' are key parts of our vision.

Coaching can be a transformative tool in education, empowering teachers and leaders to foster collaborative relationships, navigate difficult conversations, guide growth in the classroom and lead others to reach their potential. Since the success of the first course in 2021, Ms Cockar and Ms Carrier have worked hard to embed a culture of coaching at WA, and have received incredible feedback from the staff - both from WA and those at external schools - who have participated and benefited from the training.

Ms Cockar says, "Ms Carrier and I are really proud of all the leaders we’ve had the joy of connecting with during the courses we’ve run - training over 50 leaders so far to be empowered, compassionate leaders who always feel like they are capable of finding solutions and taking steps that align deeply with their values. Coaching is a wonderful tool to have in your toolkit of managing different conversations and navigating the challenges that the professional (and personal!) life can throw on your path.”