Differing Minds
Differing Minds
Differing Minds improve the school lives, education and wellbeing of neurodivergent children by teaching both children and education staff about neurodiversity.
We provide neurodiversity talks and training workshops that are fun and engaging, yet safe and balanced, and are rooted in lived experience. We empower children and adults by providing practical strategies and tools to accelerate neuroinclusion regardless of your starting position.
We created a groundbreaking, video-based neurodiversity lesson for children that transforms how neurodivergent children embrace their identities and how their peers understand and support them. You can find it here.
Music Mark
Music Mark
We are a membership organisation, Subject Association, and an Arts Council England Investment Principles Support Organisation (IPSO) advocating for excellent musical learning in and out of school.
We support our members through training and resources, connect them with the wider Music Education network across the UK, and influence on their behalf at a national level. In doing so, we champion a diverse, accessible, and government-supported music education provision to inspire and enrich the lives of all children and young people in the UK.
5 Senses of Inclusion
5 Senses of Inclusion
5 Senses of Inclusion is a business that specialises in helping organisations create inclusive and engaging workspaces and experiences that foster a sense of belonging for all. We do this by tapping into the five senses – sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell – to design workspaces and experiences that cater to a variety of sensory preferences and needs. At 5 Senses of Inclusion, we believe that creating a culture of inclusion is not only the right thing to do, it is also good for business. Studies have shown that diverse and inclusive workforces are more engaged, productive, and innovative, and that they are better able to attract and retain top talent. By, creating inclusive experiences for customers we can drive customer loyalty and word-of-mouth referrals, leading to increased revenue and profits.
We want to offer a supportive way of delivering inclusion through culture.
Contact 5 Senses of Inclusion
Yamina Bibi Coaching Profile
Yamina Bibi
Yamina Bibi
Coaching Bio
Yamina is Resilient Leaders Element Consultant and a school leader with experience coaching and mentoring teachers and leaders across the country. Yamina’s coaching focuses on empowering others to see the brilliance within themselves.
Coaching Experience
Yamina is a certified coach and consultant with years of experience empowering teachers, middle, senior leaders and support staff to lean into their greatness and brilliance. Yamina has experience of coaching diverse range of clients and has coached as part of the DFE’s Women Leading in Education Coaching Programme.
Using her experience, Yamina has helped create and embed non directive and instructional coaching programmes across a number of schools within and beyond her own organisation.
Career Experience
Yamina is an experienced senior leader and English teacher with previous experience as an Acting Deputy Headteacher, Assistant Headteacher, Head of English and accredited Lead Practitioner.
Yamina’s leadership experience including Personal Development and Behaviour, Teaching, Learning and Assessment, Curriculum, Early Career Teachers, Data and Outcomes, Whole School Literacy and Executive Coaching and Instructional Coaching.
Yamina is also author of ‘Thriving in Your First Years of Teaching’, a WomenEd Network Leader, Fellow of the Chartered College of Teaching and co-host of DiverseEd Series 1 podcast.
Coaching Accreditations
Certified Coach with Vision Vendor Coaching and Consultancy
BASIC Coaching
Resilient Leaders Elements (RLE)
Coaching Tools
Certified Coach with Vision Vendor Coaching and Consultancy
BASIC Coaching
Resilient Leaders Elements (RLE)
Yamina has a very personal approach to coaching which is built on high levels of trust and mutual respect. Through her coaching, it is clear that she wants nothing but the absolute best for the person she is coaching. The impact Yamina’s coaching has had on me both personally and professionally, has been huge. I feel more confident, in control and in a better place than I was before the coaching.
Georgia France, Assistant Headteacher
Yamina has been a fantastic coach. She is not only competent, versatile, supportive and available, she provides opportunities for networking with equally brilliant people. Being coached by Yamina has given me a clearer view of my goals and how to strategically align them with my values for Resilient, Successful and Effective leadership. Through my coaching and RLE journey, Yamina has elicited the brilliance in me and I have become more strategic and decisive in my practice as well as my personal life. She has helped to unlocked the potential in me and I am more confident knowing my hidden strengths. Yamina is a phenomenal coach!
Kofo Ajayi, Head of Geography
Our Bookshelf
Our Bookshelf
Our Bookshelf
Our fantastic team of #DiverseEd Associates have written, edited and contributed to a number of brilliant educational books to help you and your team in making your school, college or trust more inclusive.
We have added Amazon affiliate links for quick reference so you can read reviews, but we encourage you to order/ purchase from your local independent bookstore. Bookshop.org is an excellent resource to purchase from independent bookstores.
Yamina Bibi
A Little Guide for Teachers: Thriving in Your First Years of Teaching
Pre-order. Out August 2024.
Emma Sheppard Coaching Profile
Emma Sheppard
Emma Sheppard
Coaching Bio
Emma is a coach, charity founder and former English teacher with eight years coaching and mentoring experience. She specialises in supporting clients to navigate periods of change calmly, and with a sense of control. Her clients range from recently qualified teachers to senior leaders in education, new parents to expatriates, all of whom love the stillness she offers, the opportunity to really think and be heard, and the magic and revolutionary thinking that comes out of coaching sessions together.
Coaching Experience
Emma completed her Level 1 Life Coaching Diploma with The Coaching Academy in 2022 and secured her ICF ACC in 2024. As well as her work with The MTPT Project, she acts as an associate coaching and facilitator for multi-academy trusts, EDI consultants and coaching apprenticeship providers.
Career Experience
Emma is the Founder of The MTPT Project, the UK’s charity for parent-teachers. A former English Teacher and Lead Practitioner, she spent twelve years teaching and leading ITT provision in schools in Hertfordshire, South London and Vietnam. Emma has held various positions of responsibility, including pastoral and curriculum roles. She has acted as line manager for the school librarian and EAL department, delivered teaching and learning training on foci including memory, homework and curriculum updates, and has seven year’s experience as professional co-ordinating mentor for Schools Direct, Teach First and PGCE trainee pathways.
Coaching Qualifications
ICF ACC
Coaching Tools
Level 1 Life Coaching Diploma
The Coaching Academy
Emma I absolutely love your approach – you listen, you reflect, you manage to ask the right questions and you guide us well towards figuring out solutions. You have a really calm nature about you which works for coaching. Thank you for your guidance.
Natalie, School Middle Leader
Emma has a very calm and self-assured manner which helps to create an atmosphere in our coaching sessions where reflection is encouraged. Her questioning is targeted and she is able to keep attention where it is needed for long enough to make good progress on an issue, but also has the emotional awareness to recognise when a different approach may be preferable. In one session I particularly welcomed the way she encouraged me to envision what my professional self and world would look like if I felt fulfilled and happy, as this helped me recognise the kind of working environment I should be seeking.
Caroline, Director (Charity Sector)
The coaching that Emma provided through MTPT was invaluable for my return to work. It dramatically reduced the anxiety I felt before returning and supported and guided me through the ups and downs of the first sixth months back working as Deputy Head. Through coaching Emma helped me to find a new identity as a mother and school leader, and helped me readdress my work-life balance. She allowed me to negotiate challenging times and gave me new-found confidence at work. My experience of returning to work was greatly improved by the coaching offered through MTPT and I am extremely grateful for the support, I would highly recommend it to all new parents.
Lucy, School Senior Leader
DEIB for Coaching and Mentoring Toolkit
DEIB for Coaching and Mentoring Toolkit
DEIB for Coaching and Mentoring Toolkit
Toolkit collated by Hannah Wilson
Why do we need to consider Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging as coaches and mentors?
As coaches and mentors we strive to create a safe and inclusive space in which every client (coachee/ mentee) feels respected and valued. Coaching is a relationship that builds trust, explores identity and builds a sense of belonging so that the client can be their best self and do their best work for the benefit of their organisation and society.
How can all coaches/ mentors contribute to an organisation’s DEIB strategy?
As coaches and mentors we have a crucial role in shaping individuals on their journey. As such, we have the unique opportunity to educate and facilitate productive conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging and justice.
How do we coach in a more conscious and culturally-competent way?
- We are sensitive to clients’ identity, environment, experiences, values and beliefs.
- We demonstrate respect for the client’s identity, perceptions, style and language and we adapt our coaching for the client.
- We are aware of and open to the influence of context and culture on self and others.
- We use language appropriate and respectful to clients, sponsors and relevant stakeholders.
- We seek to understand the client within their context which may include their identity, environment, experiences, values and beliefs.
- We consider the client’s context, identity, environment, experiences, values and beliefs to enhance understanding of what the client is communicating.
- We notice, acknowledge and explore the client’s emotions, energy shifts, non-verbal cues or other behaviours.
- We adjust the coaching approach in response to the client’s needs.
What is the impact of centering DEIB in a coaching relationship?
- We help clients to better understand the rationale for creating and maintaining inclusive communities.
- We help clients to see why managing inclusion, confronting discrimination, promoting equal opportunity, facilitating access and valuing diversity are key to maintaining inclusive communities and why that matters.
- We help clients better understand their role in increasing DEIB awareness by coaching/ mentoring/ supervising clients as they reflect on their behaviour, think about their thinking, review their goals or explore what actions they could take.
What does a DEI coach do?
DEI coaching is one way to foster a more inclusive workplace culture. DEI coaches can help employees become more comfortable with conversations and situations surrounding identities and different lived experiences.
DEI Leadership coaching is when a framework is designed to help leaders of companies, organisations, and agencies better understand, embrace, and lead Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within their organisations.
The Diverse Educators’ DEIB for Coaching and Mentoring Toolkit
- Have you reflected on your own identity and lived experience and how this shapes you as a coach/ mentor?
- Are you aware of some of your own biases and how they might be triggered/ manifest in a coaching/ mentoring session?
- Have you reflected on any privileges you may have and this gives you advantage/ power?
- What is your own relationship with belonging in the workplace and how might this differ to how others feel?
- How psychologically safe do you feel in your workplace and would this be the same for everyone?
- How do you show up as an ally and an advocate in your coaching/ mentoring?
- Have you engaged in any specific training to bring consciousness to your coaching and mentoring e.g. anti-racist approaches?
- Have you considered what a neurodivergent coachee/ mentee may need you to be aware of to support them as a client?
Articles
Blogs
Books
Podcasts
Resources
TED Talks
Videos
Patrick Ottley-O'Connor Coaching Profile
Patrick Ottley-O'Connor
Patrick Ottley-O'Connor
Coaching Bio
Patrick is a leadership development coach for many aspiring, new and experienced headteachers/SLT and CEOs, particularly those facing significant challenges both in the UK and internationally. He adopts a responsive Mentoring, Advice & Coaching (MAC) approach that is adaptive & bespoke to meet the needs of his clients.
Coaching Experience
Patrick initially coached elite sports people in the 1990s/2000s, before moving into education leadership development coaching in 2005. Since 2010, he has been involved in a variety of coaching programmes, including Future Leaders & Teaching Leaders programmes and since 2015 has been involved in coaching cohorts of NPQH & NPQEL participants.
His main coaching is now with headteachers and their teams, as well as with CEOs, their leadership teams and principals. He works both in the UK and internationally, including Vietnam, Canada, USA & India.
Career Experience
Patrick recently retired as a teacher after 36 years, including 30 years as a senior leader & 19 years as a Principal/Executive Principal in secondary, primary and special schools. He now provides bespoke coaching & leadership development packages for MATs and schools
He uses his allyship and advocacy to champion diversity, equity and inclusion within education e.g. Patrick has recently coached his 65th woman into a headship, executive headship &/or CEO role. His allyship work in coaching is cited in a variety of education leadership books, keynotes etc and he recently contributed as #HeForShe to the Diverse Educators: A Manifesto.
Coaching Qualifications
Group Coaching
Coaching Accreditations
The majority of my coaching accreditation was via the programmes I have delivered eg Future Leaders and Teaching Leaders.
Patrick has been a reliable and high quality facilitator for senior leadership, middle leadership and headship programmes at Ambition Institute (and our previous organisations The Future Leaders Trust and Teaching Leaders) for many years.
When facilitating for our organisation he typically receives strong participant feedback scores and is always able draw on his own extensive experience while conveying high quality content in an engaging way. Indeed, Patrick is one of our higher scoring facilitators across our Senior & Middle Leadership programmes, and is well respected by participants and his facilitator colleagues, as our evaluation feedback always shows.
Patrick also served as a coach and mentor for participants moving into headship and played a key role in the journey of some of our current headteachers. He has supported the Future Leaders Programme and Ambition Institute over the years in his capacity as:
- A coach and mentor for aspiring and newly appointed heads
- Designing and developing programme content
- Delivering content
- Leading International study tour groups
- Assessing candidates for the programme
- Serving as an integral part of our Middle Leadership programme facilitator team of external coaching consultants, covering Secondary and Primary phase seminars across the North of England.
Patrick’s energy and passion come through in all that he does. He has a great deal to offer as a teacher, facilitator, coach and as a leader. We have also valued his strong personal values and moral purpose, championing improved outcomes for disadvantaged pupils, as well as diversity in educational leadership and staff health and wellbeing.
Brenna Torrance, Director, Programmes, Ambition Institute
I have known Patrick for over 10 years and have always found his coaching to be rewarding. Patrick is an excellent listener and is an intuitive coach, over the years he has helped me to reflect on my leadership skills and career journey, in what has always been a safe yet challenging environment. Patrick has the natural ability to make you recognise your own potential and help to guide you towards it. I have always felt empowered through Patricks coaching skills and he has helped bring clarity to my own areas of development. His flexible and objective approach enabled me to see a clearer path both in solving leadership issues and achieving my personal development goals. I have always found the experience of being coached by Patrick extremely positive.
Melanie Wicks, Executive Principal
I first met Patrick when he was commissioned to lead professional development at an international school I was working at in Vietnam. I was new to a position with leadership responsibility and received coaching from Patrick. Four years later, I still draw on strategies learnt during that early conversation with Patrick, which centered on finding ways to move from surviving to thriving in my new role, while being mindful of maintaining my own wellbeing. I reach out to Patrick whenever I want/need coaching. Knowing colleagues who have received coaching from Patrick, we all collectively agree that Patrick’s approach to coaching is very tailored to your individual needs. Patrick is a wonderful listener who quickly helps you find a solution-focused route forward, and then generously gives of his time to support you in achieving your goals. Patrick’s reassuring and affirming coaching helps me trouble-shoot any challenges, refine my interview technique, and regain an optimistic outlook from a supportive sounding board. I would highly recommend coaching with Patrick.
Jane Barrowcliff, Senior Leader
Matthew Savage Coaching Profile
Matthew Savage
Matthew Savage
Coaching Bio
Matthew is an experienced and highly skilled coach, who adopts an integrative, adaptive, client-centred approach to facilitating personal and professional growth. He has worked with middle and senior leaders in the UK and worldwide, and is especially keen to work with clients inhabiting intersecting, minoritised or marginalised charactertistics. A school leader of 25 years, Matthew is also a physically disabled wheelchair-user, father to two neurodivergent, trans children and proud husband to a wife of mixed heritage. Together with his prolific leadership career, this intersectional soup feeds his work.
Coaching Experience
I have worked with middle and senior leaders internationally and in the UK, each of them struggling with a particular facet of their personal and/or leadership journey. With almost 100 hours of coaching practice, I feel confident working with a variety of coaching clients. My existential commitment to finding and listening to the margins, and helping those on the fringes create more an equitable and just future infuses my work. I listen without judgment, ask lots of questions, mirror my clients’ language, and hold them accountable to their own goals. Feedback on my coaching is universally positive, largely because I meet each client where they are, and walk beside them as they explore alternative futures.
Career Experience
I was an educator, middle and senior leader, headteacher and Principal in the UK and international education sectors for 25 years, most recently as Principal of an award-winning school in the Middle East. During my teaching career, I held most positions, either side of the arbitrary academic/pastoral divide. I moved abroad after 13 years mostly in inner city London schools, and led IB continuum, British curriculum and hybrid day and boarding schools wordwide. I am now a consultant, working with educators and leaders worldwide, helping them ensure that every student, without exception or condition, be seen, be heard, be known or belong. In short, my work explores the intersection between wellbeing and DEIJB, through the prism of kind and ‘warm’, ‘street’ and slow data.
Coaching Qualifications
ILM L7
Coaching Accreditations
Accredited member of EMCC
My experience really helped changed my mindset. It was difficult at times, but I found that the questions that were asked really challenged me and forced me to analyse some of my thoughts and ideas. I was in quite a negative headspace when the sessions began, but the way in which I was questioned and supported really helped me to reflect critically on my situation and put practises in place to help me think and act more positively. Great experience all round.
Leo Daniels, Class Teacher, British School Muscat
Matthew is a genuinely nice person, and makes you feel very comfortable and relaxed from the beginning. His ability to remind people what they have previously said is beneficial in positively challenging or questioning a thought process, but also helps with the feeling that you are actively listening and interested in what people are saying. His approach supports critical self reflection, allowing you to be more grounded in reality, to be kinder to yourself, and to focus on setting goals and activities that you can work towards to both deal with areas causing issues, as well as achieving future aspirations.
Jack Rillie, CEO, WithYOu, Edinburgh
The coaching sessions with Matthew really helped me to reflect both professionally and personally on my career and the path ahead of me. His kind and friendly nature made him incredibly easy to talk to, which led to very productive sessions that were adapted to suit my needs. Picking up on the words someone says really opened my eyes to the phrase I use and the impression that these words give, particularly when lacking confidence in my own opinions or position. I also found the task or question at the end of each session really useful in focusing my thoughts for the next session. Through his questioning and focus on small details, I have been able to learn about myself as a person and as a leader within education.
Jenny Holton, Head teacher, Huntington Primary Academy
I have found Matthew to be very supportive and approachable as a coach: throughout all of my sessions with him, Matthew has always maintained an interest in my professional and personal development, and his reflections and insights have been instrumental in helping me to reflect on aspects of my school-based practice as a senior leader in illuminating and constructive ways.
Tak Si Li, Assistant Master, Westminster Under School
Although I was extremely positive to have a coach, I had underestimated the literally transformative effect that sessions with Matthew would have on my leadership and management skills. Through discussion, careful questioning and gentle prodding, Matthew helped me to challenge my assumptions, my reasons for doing things and targeted areas over a period of time that I felt were the weaker aspects in my leadership skill set. I feel so much more confident and calm as a leader, no longer trying to put all of the world’s troubles on my back. I truly could not recommend Matthew highly enough.
Michael Woodside, Deputy Master, Westminster Under School
Helen Verroux Coaching Profile
Helen Verroux
Helen Verroux
Coaching Bio
Helen Verroux aka Coach Helen is a John Maxwell Certified Coach, an Educational Consultant, the Founder of the Raising Purposed Teen Leaders Movement (RPTL movement & Academy), The Author of The Success Guide For Teens and The Founder of the Success Guide For Teen Academy, the CEO of the vibrant international company called “The Keys For Success” that helps parents, youth organizations and high schools to raise purposed teen leaders without compromising their moral values. She strongly believes that now is the time to equip young people to navigate effectively in this new economy with programs that not only revolutionize the educational system but that help teens to gain clarity on their purpose and understand the concept of financial freedom. She longs to help high school parents, educators and senior leaders to ignite their community, develop leaders and create meaningful connections. She has a passion for transformational leadership, personal growth, serving others and loves to discover different cultures.
Coaching Experience
She is the founder of The Raising Purposed Teen Leader Academy (R.P.T.L Academy) an online academy that helps parents of preteens and teens set up their children to success, guide them into purpose and away from turbulent teen years. She delivers a virtual workshop to parents of Y6 students transitioning to Y7 in primary schools.
She is also the founder of The Success Guide For Teens Academy (S.G.F.T.A) the #1 online academy that delivers weekly leadership training sessions with interactive videos to Student Council in high school communities. The academy also offers a virtual workshop for parents of Y7 students dedicated to gain new strategies on how they can navigate effectively the teen years and 30 mins workshops delivered by experts to encourage senior leaders to empower, ignite and develop leaders among their staff.
Career Experience
Helen has been an educator for more than 12 years and has worked globally. She has taught French as a foreign language in the Bahamas, the Uk and Qatar. During her teaching career, she has seen the need to equip student leaders. Therefore, she has launched a club called “Success & Leadership Club” (SLC) that encourages public speaking, entrepreneurship, servant leadership and peer-to-peer mentorship.
Coaching Qualifications
CPC
Transformational Coach
Coaching Tools
John Maxwell Certified Coach (Leadership training)
Helen has helped me to get out of my comfort zone. She has helped me to see a different side of me as an introvert mum and to be able to connect better with my preteen. My preteen has also grown into self-leadership and clarity of his career path.
Axelle Volgo, HR
Before working with Helen, I did not have boundaries with my preteen and no clarity on what to focus on for my finances. She helped me to break down my priorities. I am forever grateful as I can model the steps to my child. This is a life changing experience.
Stephanie Henry, Teacher