Primary School Leaders' Perspectives on Coaching Practices: A Preliminary Investigation
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55640/ijsshd-v02i08-01Keywords:
Primary Education, Instructional Coaching, School LeadershipAbstract
Coaching has increasingly been adopted in primary schools as a means to strengthen instructional practice, enhance professional learning, and improve student outcomes. This preliminary investigation examines primary school leaders’ perspectives on the role, benefits, and challenges of coaching practices within their institutions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of headteachers and senior leadership team members from diverse school contexts. Thematic analysis revealed that leaders perceive coaching as a valuable strategy for fostering teacher reflection, building confidence, and supporting collaborative cultures. At the same time, participants highlighted barriers to effective implementation, including time constraints, inconsistent coaching quality, and limited training resources. The study underscores the importance of clear role expectations, ongoing professional development, and leadership commitment to embed coaching sustainably. These findings provide an initial evidence base to inform policy and practice in the design of coaching programs in primary education settings.
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Copyright (c) 2025 Dr. Lucas H. Oliveira, Dr. Mariana Souza (Author)
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