Academic Coaching

Academic Coaching offers the opportunity for continuous academic skills development alongside a student’s learning experience. The programme is delivered by specialist learning support teachers and tailored to individual needs, focusing on skills development that helps the student to manage subject content. As the two year period progresses, students are encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning by critically reflecting on the skills they have learned and consider how they can be effectively applied to their studies. 

Though students can independently select this course as one of their subject choices, the decision to join academic coaching is usually made in discussion with the support team and head of grade.  Students with learning needs are encouraged to select this program as it will cater to their individual challenges and help them to manage their learning experiences as a whole. 

The specific skills covered are based on the individual’s needs and can include the following:

• close reading techniques

• methods of note-taking

• planning extended writing tasks

• revision strategies

• time management and organisation 

• assessment management and tracking

During each of the two lessons a week, one-to-one academic coaching will take place for between 20 and 40 mins depending on the student's focus and intensity of need. The remainder of the time will be used for guided independent practice and self study, for students to practise applying the strategies they have learned, and to assess their knowledge and understanding. Coaches consistently check in with the students to see if there are gaps that need to be addressed so that students can optimise their learning experiences. 

Students in this course are assessed for their approaches to learning, but attainment is not formally assessed.