Coaching and mentoring is all about unlocking a person's potential to maximize their performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them. Hugh will address the relevance and purpose of coaching and mentoring in Scottish Education in the context of facilitating curricular change against the background of A Curriculum for Excellence and the introduction of Glow. The issues surrounding coaching/mentoring debate raises key issues relating to professional collaboration, collegiality and the effective management of change. There are many perspectives on coaching/mentoring which relate to culture, organisation and the importance of building capacity in Scottish schools; the capacity to embrace change, challenge and diversity. What contribution can coaching and mentoring make to this change agenda? Hugh will explore definitions, challenges and strategies which characterise the ongoing discussions on coaching and mentoring, and ask the questions which attempt to make sense of what it really means for those who matter: the pupils and students we teach, and the teachers who make the difference to learning and teaching. Hugh believes there is a role for mentors and coaches in Scottish education if the roles are understood, their purpose clearly expressed and the programmes well delivered. | 