Coaching, Mentoring, and Leadership Training

  • All training sessions and ILM qualifications are designed and delivered to enable delegates to have a large body of ideas, approaches and strategies that can be implemented straight away.
  • The ‘indicative content’ in the CPD sessions below will always be adjusted to meet the needs and expectations of your college.
  • Ideas and approaches are based on current research into coaching, mentoring and leadership, and draw on BCLDs ‘intelligence’ and insights gained from working with over 100 FE and SFC.

Examples of CPD sessions

Click to download for more info.

Coaching skills, knowledge and behaviours for managers.

Aspiring managers programme (2 days).

Coaching skills, knowledge and behaviours for senior leaders (2 days).

Accredited Coaching Qualifications for managers, teachers and tutors: ILM Level 5 ‘Certificate in Coaching and Mentoring’ for managers and teachers.

Accredited Coaching Qualifications for Directors and above: ILM L7 ‘Cert in Executive Coaching and Mentoring’ for Directors and above.

The coaching CPD sessions outlined for C&L01 to C&L03 are designed to be delivered over a minimum of two days. Training can be delivered in shorter timeframes (e.g., ½ day), but to allow for coaching practice followed by plenaries, group reflection and individual reflection and action planning, two days is recommended.


The ILM courses, above, are delivered over five days. Ideally, all sessions will be face to face, but programmes can be delivered 100% online, or a hybrid: e.g., two days f2f, then online.


Typically, clients ask BCLD to deliver two days coaching CPD to a larger cohort, then advocates undertake a further three days to work towards the qualifications.


Often, clients commission discrete five-day ILM cohorts from day 1.


Mostly, clients have mixed cohorts (with teachers, managers and senior leaders together). Sometimes for issues of sensitivity, clients commission BCLD for separate Level 7 cohorts (Director level and above) and Level 5 cohorts (for managers, teachers, advanced practitioners, pastoral tutors etc.).

For both the L5 and L7 courses there are three assignments. Specific details will be given on request and candidates are given lots of assignment advice as a group, 1:2:1 tutorials, reference lists, support with academic writing etc.



As a top-level overview, the three assignments for both L5 and L7 are as follows:


  1. Understand coaching and mentoring: A 4,000 to 6,000 word assignment focusing on things like what is coaching, what is the business case for coaching in organisations, what are the skills, knowledge and behaviours of an effective coach, how do you measure impact
  2. Undertake coaching: Coach three different people (around 6 hrs each) for 20hrs in total. Complete a reflective diary (what went well, even better, key learning)
  3. Reflect on own abilities as a coach or mentor: complete an evidence-based self-assessment of own coaching skills; write an action plan for ongoing development