Case Study

Client Overview

With origins dating back to 597AD, King’s School Canterbury is one of the oldest and most prestigious schools in the world, renowned for its excellence in education and holistic development. It has been described by Talk Education as a “school that welcomes everyone and has a fantastically inclusive atmosphere”. With a large team of academic and administrative staff, the Human Resources (HR) department plays a critical role in fostering a supportive and productive work environment.  To further empower their staff and leadership, the school recognised the need to strengthen the coaching skills of their HR professionals.

The Challenge

The HR team at King’s is responsible for supporting leaders across the school in managing people effectively, resolving issues, and driving employee engagement. However, the team identified an opportunity to build their confidence in offering coaching to leaders, moving beyond providing answers and instead fostering a culture of self-reflection and ownership. To meet this need, King’s School sought a tailored course that would equip the HR team with practical coaching skills to deepen their impact.

Our Solution: Coaching Skills for People Professionals Course

King’s School Canterbury enrolled their HR team in our Coaching Skills for People Professionals course, which focuses on building key coaching competencies like active listening, powerful questioning, and fostering independent problem-solving in others. This approach aimed to enhance the HR team’s ability to guide and support leaders more effectively, driving better outcomes for the school as a whole.

Feedback and Outcomes

The course had a significant positive impact on the HR team, as highlighted by Donna Cusack, HR Director at King’s School Canterbury:

In addition to Donna’s feedback, the delegates from the HR team rated it as 4.7/5 and provided insights into their personal development and the benefits they experienced from the course:

• Stepping Outside Comfort Zones: One delegate shared how the course encouraged them to move beyond their comfort zone, learning not to feel obligated to provide answers or solutions. Instead, they realised the power of allowing others to come to their own conclusions, leading to more constructive conversations. This shift enables leaders to take greater ownership of their challenges and solutions.
• Building Confidence and Direction: Another delegate reflected on how the course provided them with greater confidence and clarity, and they enjoyed how the course was brought to life by our transformation consultant, Sarah Watts. They gained practical guidance on how to improve their approach to coaching, making them more effective in their support for the school’s leadership team. They now feel more prepared to facilitate development and success in others.
• Improved Listening and Feedback: A significant growth in listening and communication skills was reported, including learning how to paraphrase, reframe conversations, and adapt coaching models based on the situation. This was aided through role playing the case working and applying the theory to real cases. This has empowered them to offer more effective feedback, helping managers to own and resolve their problems while fostering a collaborative, reflective culture.

Impact on the Organisation

The Coaching Skills for People Professionals course has enabled King’s School Canterbury to enhance the role of its HR team, transforming them into strategic partners who can effectively coach and support school leaders. The team have shared how they actively practice the coaching skills learned with one another and it’s already been making a difference.

With their improved ability to coach school leaders, HR professionals at King’s are better equipped to guide staff through challenges, provide sound feedback, and foster stronger professional relationships. It was a fantastic foundation for their further conflict resolution training later in the year. By empowering leaders to develop their own solutions, the HR team is contributing to a more resilient and capable leadership across the school. The impact is far-reaching, helping to create a culture of growth, reflection, and leadership ownership within the organisation.

This case is a clear demonstration of how investing in coaching skills can unlock new levels of confidence, effectiveness, and empowerment within people professional teams, driving successful outcomes for both staff and students at King’s School Canterbury.

	Inspired? Get started on your own coaching journey today View the brochure for more details Contact us to book the Coaching Skills for People Professionals course now or for any enquiries. We are also offer tailored and group packages. Explore other coaching training