All about academic coaching
Do you know what academic coaching is? Everyone knows what a private tutor is, with 25% of GCSE students having one according to a 2019 BBC article. However, academic coaching is much less well known in the UK.
On this page you find a series of resources that explain what academic coaching is, how it compares to private tutoring and introduces you to the academic coaches in who work in my business.
What is an academic coach?
In this article, podcast episode and video I answer these questions:
- What is an academic coach?
- What does an academic coach do?
- What makes a good academic coach?
- Why would you need an academic coach?
- How do you find an academic coach?
- What results can you expect from working with an academic coach?
Click here to read, listen or watch.
Tutor vs academic coach: which does your child need?
In this article, podcast episode and video I lay out the differences between a private tutor and an academic coach to help you make the right choice for your child. When you read, listen or watch you'll find out the answers to these questions:
- What's the difference between a tutor and an academic coach?
- Which does your child need: tutor or academic coach?
- Does your child need an academic coach and a tutor?
Click here to read, listen or watch.
How to get the most out of academic coaching
Are you thinking about signing up for 1:1 Academic Coaching with Life More Extraordinary? It's important to us that you get the most out of this experience – and making sure this happens starts before you even sign up for a preliminary call to discuss how we can help you.
In this blog you'll find some helpful pointers about how to get the most out of Academic Coaching. This will also help you to decide if you're really ready to make contact with us to discuss coaching. And, if you are ready it will ensure that you get the most from the coaching relationship from the very beginning.
Introducing academic coach, Helen Chaplain
In this podcast interview, you will get to meet Helen Chaplain our lead academic coach.
Helen Chaplain is both a fully qualified teacher and a solicitor (non-practising). She holds an MA in English Literature & English Language from Magdalen College, University of Oxford and has ten years' teaching experience in independent schools rated as "excellent".
Helen left her role as Head of More Able and Talented and Oxbridge Co-ordinator at a leading North West school in July 2020 to join the Extraordinaries’ Club. She brings her significant experience in coaching students to work effectively, to develop their self-awareness and study skills and to increase their motivation. She has been heavily involved with helping students prepare their UCAS applications across the curriculum since 2010 as well as mentoring students on their EPQ.
In her interview, Helen shares:
1. Her history and what brought her to academic coaching.
2. The biggest struggle in her own education and how she overcame it
3. The experience she has as a teacher and how this informs her work as an academic coach
4. What she loves about academic coaching including examples of how she's helped young people she's worked with make break-throughs
5. Some quirky facts about what she likes to do when she's not working
Click here to listen to or read the interview with Helen Chaplain.
Meet academic coach David Rendle
David Rendle has twenty five years' experience of teaching in secondary schools where he was both Head of House in a boys' boarding school and Head of Geography. David is also a trained life coach. Much of his coaching is working with neurodiverse people helping them with strategies to address the challenges they face, but also supporting them to make the best of their strengths.
David is married with two grown-up children and his interests are:
- The environment
- Following sport
- Reading
- Travel
- Art
David is a life-long learner with a passion for conveying the love of learning to others.
Qualifcations
- BSc (Hons) General Science, Durham University
- PGCE in teaching secondary geography and physical education, Durham University
- ILM Level 7 Diploma Executive Coaching and Mentoring
Click here to listen to or read the interview with David Rendle
Get to know academic coach Carolyn Johannesen
Carolyn Johannesen has been working with students as an academic coach for 2 years. An experienced teacher, Carolyn discovered academic coaching when she joined The Extraordinaries Club with her son to support him with his GCSEs and loved the approach so much that she wanted to become an academic coach herself. Bringing the relationship building and organisational expertise she's gained through her teaching experience and being mum to two teenage sons, Carolyn works very successfully with students who need long-term organisational and problem solving support as well as empathy in implementing study skills strategies that work for them.
Carolyn has seen both her sons through their GCSEs and A-Levels, and her older son through university and a masters' degree so has a deep appreciation of the academic journey young people can find themselves on, and the challenges they face today.
In her interview, Carolyn shares:
1. Her history and what brought her to academic coaching.
2. The biggest struggle in her own education and how she overcame it
3. The experience she has as a teacher and parent and how this informs her work as an academic coach
4. What she loves about academic coaching including examples of how she's helped young people she's worked with make break-throughs
5. Some quirky facts about what she likes to do when she's not working
Click here to listen to or read the interview with Carolyn Johannesen
Get to know academic coach Zoe Holland
Zoe Holland is a recent Head of Sixth Form and senior leader with 21 years’ experience in teaching History, Politics and Sociology. Since graduating from the universities of Reading and Hull, she has held a variety of roles including head of curriculum, pastoral leadership and has worked as a self-employed educational consultant. Alongside coaching and tutoring, she currently teaches part-time at a college in the north of England.
As an experienced examiner, Zoe is particularly effective in helping students to achieve the best grades possible at GCSE and A-Level. She particularly enjoys helping students through the sixth form with a focus on study skills and organisation ensuring a smooth transition through to university. Coaching is something that comes second nature to Zoe who is immensely proud of her record in securing fantastic university places for her students. She is also Mum to three children, so is very well placed to fully understand the current challenges facing young people in 2021.
Click here to listen to or read the interview with Zoe Holland .
Get to know academic coach Zoe North
Zoe started tutoring when she was seventeen, helping students affected by the pandemic with their English studies. She specialises in GCSE and A Level History and English.
Currently studying History at Oxford University, Zoe joined our team after reaching out to us about how she had been given a copy of Lucy’s book when she was 15, initially dismissing it, but then managing to improve her grades and get into Oxford after she had read and implemented the study and revision tips in the book.
With her knowledge of study skills, Zoe wants to help more young people to reach their own potential. Her own experiences of struggle and overwhelm at school, and the worry of not being able to achieve her own potential motivated Zoe to become an academic coach.
Her strength in creating study systems that work holistically allows Zoe to support each student to make their studies easier.
Get to know academic coach Sarah Olsen
Sarah has had a long professional career in 1-2-1 coaching and training, including working with and tutoring teens. She has an entrepreneurial and finance background and has worked as a Chartered Accountant and in management roles in the UK and abroad.
As a Chartered Accountant, Sarah worked at the head office and German subsidiary of a FTSE100 company. She worked closely with the German Board on business improvement and business growth. Sarah also worked as an internal consultant on business risk, reporting to the Board and CEO and managing and coaching teams on UK and overseas projects. As UK Head of Coaching at a coaching and consulting company, Sarah has managed the coaching delivery of services to clients, supporting them to achieve their career goals and dreams. As an entrepreneur over the last 19 years, Sarah has coached hundreds of executives, professionals, and students as well as delivering workshops and seminars to business groups, SMEs and large corporations.
With her strong professional background and interest in personal achievement, Sarah’s particular focus is on supporting students to understand themselves better and easily create lasting change and personal success. She is married with an 18-year-old son.
Click here to listen to or read the interview with Sarah Olsen.
Get to know academic coach Yutong Zhou
Yutong is passionate about helping young people achieve their best potential. Her background in psychology and education (BA Education; MSc Psychology and Education) motivates her to take a holistic approach in coaching that prioritises the learner’s wellbeing. Yutong is skilled in tailoring sessions based on individual learning needs. As the first generation in her family to go to university, Yutong developed the study skills to achieve first-class honours. Yutong had experience in mentoring, and upon graduation, she has been working as a SEND Learning Support Assistant. With her empathic nature and counselling skills, Yutong offers a safe space for students to talk and guides them to develop the mindset and autonomy to move toward their goals. Yutong is also a trained mental health first aider.
Outside work, Yutong enjoys exploring nature, playing the ukulele, and having meaningful conversations with friends.
Click here to listen to or read the interview with Yutong Zhou