NEIL MASON | COACH | MENTOR | TRAINER
PCC, MIoL
EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP COACHING & MENTORING
DEVELOPING LEADERS IN EDUCATION

INTRODUCTION
MENTORING & COACHING SKILLS
Mentoring & Coaching are key skills of effective leaders. There is much discussion about the differences and similarities between these two skill sets — for our purpose we separate them as two distinct approaches to support those you work with.
MENTORING
The choice of approaches (whether mentoring or coaching) will depend on the profile and experience of the individual being mentored or coached — as well as the skills of the leader who is giving the support.
Mentoring is a support approach where a more experienced person uses their knowledge and wisdom to give advice, support and guidance to help develop that of another. In this case, the leader who is using mentoring skills to develop their school staff and teachers. You will learn the power of this approach to leadership as a tool for development of all you work with.
COACHING
A coaching approach to support, unlike mentoring, is less directive. The leader refrains from giving advice and direct guidance, and instead uses questions to help the "coaches" to think more deeper, become more self-aware and grow to become more autonomous.You will learn the key techniques to a powerful coaching conversation as you practice and develop the ability to listen deeply, ask powerful questions that raise awareness and facilitate growth of those you coach.We will focus on the GROW model and how it can be used in short interactions for quick-wins, as well as learning how to effectively partner with a coachee in their development throughout the school year.

LEADERSHIP TRAINING
SKILLS DEVELOPMENT FOR LEADERS
Our Leadership Development Course is designed to empower school leaders with practical coaching and mentoring skills. Grounded in evidence-based practices, this course equips leaders with essential tools to enhance their leadership effectiveness through mentoring and coaching.Upon completing the course, you will be fully prepared to adopt a robust coaching and mentoring approach in your leadership style.You’ll gain the skills to structure impactful individual and group conversations that inspire, motivate, and guide your team. Additionally, you’ll learn strategies to navigate challenging conversations productively, whether with team members, students, parents, or other stakeholders.Through this journey, your leadership presence will strengthen as you grow more confident in fostering team development. You’ll also discover how to cultivate emotional intelligence in yourself and those around you, using coaching and mentoring strategies that drive meaningful growth and collaboration.
© Emotional Intelligence, Daniel Goleman [click on image above]
HOW DEVELOPING THESE SKILLS CAN ENHANCE YOUR SUCCESS
Educators seek leadership programs to advance their careers, gain new skills, and adapt to changing educational landscapes. Continuous professional development ensures that leaders are equipped to meet contemporary educational demands.
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Enhanced Staff Performance
Leaders equipped with coaching skills enable teachers to solve problems autonomously, improving classroom performance and outcomes. Higher student achievement and teacher effectiveness lead to improved school reputation, reduction in complaints, potentially attracting more students and funding.
Improved Staff Retention
A mentoring culture increases teacher satisfaction and reduces turnover by fostering professional growth and a sense of belonging. Saves costs associated with recruiting, onboarding, and training new staff, estimated at 20-30% of a teacher's annual salary per replacement.
Development of Future Leaders
Mentoring nurtures teachers for leadership roles, ensuring a steady pipeline of capable leaders within the school. Reduces dependency on external recruitment for leadership positions, saving time and financial resources as you know that the person is aligned with the organisation's culture, vision and purpose.
Increased Productivity
Leaders proficient in coaching motivate teachers to be more innovative and engaged, enhancing overall school productivity. Higher teacher efficiency translates to better curriculum delivery and enriched student experiences.
Boosted Student Enrollment and Retention
Schools with a reputation for strong leadership and teacher development attract families seeking quality education for their children. Increased enrollment drives higher revenue, while improved retention secures long-term financial stability.
Strengthened School Culture
A supportive, mentoring-oriented culture fosters collaboration and innovation among staff. Leads to a positive work environment, reducing conflicts and creating a more cohesive team.
Time Savings for Leaders
Coaching empowers teachers to solve their challenges, reducing the time leaders spend on micromanagement. Frees up leadership capacity to focus on strategic initiatives and long-term planning also allowing you to focus on scaling your business by creating new products, embracing collaborations, which bring in different income streams.
Longevity
Leaders gain tools to manage their workload effectively and sustain their roles with greater confidence and competence. Reduces burnout and ensures long-term leadership stability, avoiding costly disruptions in school management.


WHO CAN APPLY
IS THIS FOR YOU?
This course is tailored for educational professionals in leadership roles, such as school owners, directors of studies, senior teachers, and teacher trainers.With a maximum of 6 participants per course, we ensure an optimal balance between interactive pair-work and personalized coaching. Each participant receives dedicated support to foster growth and development. Admission is based on a pre-course interview to ensure a strong fit within the cohort.At present, we are prioritizing applicants from Portugal and Spain, with all sessions conducted in English.
TIME COMMITTMENT
COURSE CONTENT
The course includes 25 hours of synchronous learning, featuring interactive online seminars, discussions, and observed practice sessions. These activities are designed to help you build confidence and proficiency in structured conversations through guided practice and direct feedback.You will also complete a minimum of 25 hours of asynchronous learning, which involves engaging with reading materials, completing short assignments, reflective practice worksheets, preparing a presentation, and submitting a recorded coaching or mentoring session (20–30 minutes) for final evaluation.Throughout the course, you’ll benefit from personalized coaching and mentoring from the course tutor. Additionally, you’ll have access to monthly one-on-one sessions for six months following graduation to support your continued development.


PACK OPTIONS 1, 2, 3 …
PRICING
OPTION 1
– FULL COURSE
Leadership development course in mentoring & coaching €1499 (+iva if applicable).Learn to confidently use skills in your team / school leadership. Includes monthly individual coaching sessions after graduation. Direct personal access via WhatsApp / Zoom for mentoring coaching / consulting for 1 year after graduation.Exclusive access to events and webinars for graduates.
OPTION 2
– COACHING / CONSULTING
€180 (+iva if applicable)
3 individual leadership coaching / mentoring / consulting sessions.
OPTION 3
– FULL COURSE FOR ONE SCHOOL
Exclusive full leadership development course in mentoring & coaching for your school leadership team €7999 (+iva if applicable) for up to 6 members of one school.Learn to confidently use skills in your team / school leadership. Includes monthly individual coaching sessions for each participant. Team coaching whole group leadership team coaching for 1 year after completion of mentoring & coaching course.
GET IN TOUCH
CONTACT ME
We respect your privacy and promise not to spam you or add you to any mailing lists. Our communication will be limited to arranging an initial conversation to explore your interests and answer any questions you may have. After that, the decision to reach out to us again is entirely yours, whenever you’re ready.
ABOUT ME

COACHING & MENTORING
· 2015 – Coaching and Mentoring in Education post-grad at the University of Gloucestershire.· 2017–2018 – International Leadership Coaching Academy ILCA certificate in Leadership Coaching.
2021 joined faculty as coach trainer & evaluator.· International Coaching Federation [ICF] PCC credential in coaching.· European Mentoring & Coaching Council [EMCC] Senior Practitioner Coach/Mentor.· Institute of Leadership and Management [ILM] — Level 7 Executive and Senior Leadership Coaching & Mentoring
EFL & SCHOOLS
· Assistant director of a large language school for 15 years and then pedagogical director at another another school for almost 5 years.· Co-authored 8 EFL text books for Porto Editora between 2004–2016.· Cambridge English language examiner for over 10 years.
COACH & MENTOR TRAINING
· MENTORART & SEMED-E – Projetos de voluntariado em mentoria na escola· COMPANHIA DO ESTUDO – MOTIVATE+· APPIforma – Mentoring in Education 25 hours accredited (CCPFC)· CIIE-FPCEUP – Apoio e Consultoria em Mentoria nas escolas
OTHER
· Intercultural trainer & consultant @ BBi Communication (Spain)· Intercultural Consultant – U.Porto (FEUP, REITORIA)· Intercultural Intelligence Course @ FLUP (ended 2016)· Executive & Leadership coach — non-profit / corporate (International)· School Governor – Blackwood Comprehensive School, (Caerphilly Borough, UK)