The College of Teachers

Helping Teachers to Become Great! One conversation at a time.

The College of Teachers (CoT) was created in 2015 by the Head of Barker College, Phillip Heath AM. Its purpose was to develop a coaching culture to support the professional learning vision for the teaching staff. The long-term goals were firstly for staff to become members of the CoT and secondly, for those members to develop coaching skills to enable better professional conversations.

The focus of coaching at Barker aims to improve teaching practice leading to improved student learning outcomes through the development of professional partnerships and personal goal setting. Where coaching is a guided conversation underpinned by firstly trust, together with fairness, reciprocity, and equity.

The vision of the CoT is to play an integral role in the professional learning framework at Barker College. There are two ways in which the vision is achieved.

1. Coaching Training for Barker Teachers

In excess of one hundred teachers have completed varying levels of coaching training since 2015. Over the last two years a Barker-developed training program has been operating. The Coaching Champions program has invited targeted teachers to complete a training course based upon the foundations of the Solution Focused model of coaching. Through a combination of theoretical sessions and practical conversation exercises, The Champions develop their skills and upon competition are offered entry to the CoT Active Coaches Register.

2. CoT Active Coaches

In 2022 there were forty-two Active Coaches who have developed coaching partnerships with teaching colleagues across the school. The Active Coaches provided additional support for teachers new-toBarker through regular meetings and coaching conversations. In addition, the two Lead Teacher Coaches support new graduate teachers with a program of classroom observations, reflections and coaching conversations.

The College of Teachers has an important role to play in the professional learning framework at Barker College. The CoT is focused on helping teachers become great teachers, one coaching conversation at a time!

Jacqui McLachlan Lead Teacher Coach - CoT