In 2007 the SDSA designed a city-wide scheme of Academic Coaching to support Year 6 pupils in Leicester. Over 1,000 pupils from every school are receiving coaching each year to specifically promote progress into National Curriculum Level 4. The progress gains made by these pupils in 2007/08 and 2008/09 were very positive.
The resources section on the right includes some background information, but the main purpose of this page is to provide resources to support coaches.
The essence of Academic Coaching is a regular, frequent one-to-one (or small group) session between the coach and the pupil to have a well-focussed conversation that blends confidence, self esteem and support for the learning journey through curriculum objectives in Reading, Writing and Mathematics.
The general practice developed in Leicester schools is loosely modelled on 15-20 minutes per pupil every week. The session does not provide additional teaching of content (these pupils are generally being intensively taught and extensively supported already) but rather a time to review progress, motivation and awareness of the things that the pupil can do to bolster their success.