Coaching and Mentoring Practice

In addition to familiarising you with fundamental principles, skills and theories, this module provides you with vital experience of acting as a mentor/coach and of being professionally supervised by a professional coach supervisor. You therefore draw on the expertise of internationally recognised coaching and mentoring experts, your own experience and a wide literature. Over a period of five months, you apply coaching and mentoring methods and techniques. With feedback from supervisors and volunteer clients and systematic reflection you can identify areas for personal and organisational growth.

You examine a number of transformational and adult learning theories and concepts and how they apply to coaching and mentoring. You are encouraged to think critically and increase your awareness of issues in adult learning and development.

You will focus on how important approaches in psychotherapy and counselling can impact coaching and mentoring. These include: psychodynamic, humanistic and cognitive behavioural. We explore the philosophy and theory of the different schools within these orientations and their different techniques and models. You consider boundaries and ethical issues and draw your own opinion on how these ideas have been applied. This will help enable you identify and build your own approach.

This module will build upon Levels 4 and 5 modules by developing both theoretical knowledge of and applied practical skills in sports coaching. Throughout the module, you will be involved in theoretical and practical sessions to improve your knowledge (s) and experience across a variety of practical scenarios, in order to develop the critical and evaluative skills of the coach. Delivery will be in the form of 24 weekly sessions (2/3 hours), combining theoretical and practical work. We'll combine group discussions, individual presentations, both practical and theoretical sessions, and observation skills. You will also be expected to undertake individual and group practice, study and observation of experienced coaches in action as well as engaging with innovative coaching methods. A crucial component of the module if the opportunity for you to experience coach education through the lived experience of applied sports coaching.

This module promotes an advanced understanding of coaching and mentoring based on the research and theories developed in branches of psychology. You'll explore insights and ideas from evolutionary psychology, psychobiology, neuroscience, social and discursive psychology with implications for individual change and development. These ideas are discussed with explicit links to coaching and mentoring practice focusing on your needs/intentions during the coaching and mentoring process. You'll develop an understanding of a range of perspectives which contribute to your style of coaching, and promote reflexivity on your sense of self and own personal and professional development. This module encourages critical enquiry and reflection, professional knowledge and expertise. There is an emphasis on critical and independent thought, participatory learning, engagement with peer reviewed literature and participation in contemporary debates in coaching and mentoring.

In this module you explore the processes and issues involved in setting up a formal coaching and mentoring scheme within an organisational setting. In particular, you examine a range of organisational dynamics and crucial factors for implementing a successful scheme. You will need to arrange access to stakeholders of a scheme in an organisation well in advance as your assignment will normally be based around a real case-study. The assignment will be to evaluate an existing scheme, or assess the organisation’s readiness for the new scheme.

This module will help you develop your knowledge of a range of research approaches, methods and techniques appropriate to the study of coaching and mentoring. You will develop skills in evaluating research carried out and reported by others, looking at the ‘evidence-base’ for coaching and mentoring professional practice.

You’ll carry out a sustained piece of educational research. You’ll analyse and report your findings at a high critical level, justifying and supporting them with detailed reference to relevant theories and concepts. This will comprise one third of the work for your degree.

If you have the relevant professional experience and your completed assignments reflect the relevant specific professional knowledge you can choose one of the following named dissertations where you focus on a research problem of particular interest. This will be reflected in your transcript:

• Leadership and Management
• SENDi
• SEMH
• Childhood and Youth
• Children’s Literature in Education
• Education in a Digital World
• Creative Pedagogies
• International Education.

If you’re working on a project, you’ll undertake a shorter piece of independent investigative or literature-based research. You’ll also produce a creative piece or artefact.

It is possible to select a relevant topic for an independent study. This is carried out under the supervision of a tutor and may constitute a review of a particular topic, empirical or conceptual research. This module may be followed in place of one of the PG Diploma stage optional modules.