Upskilling Instructional Coaches for 2021-2022

The SBPD Survey Report 2021 presents findings from two system-wide surveys conducted by the Professional Development & School Improvement (PDSI) wing and Research & Development Cell to assess training needs and implementation challenges faced by Instructional Coaches (ICs) and School Heads in the School-Based Professional Development (SBPD) model. Responses were collected from 93 School Heads and 128 ICs across 118 campuses, representing 76% of the Beaconhouse network (excluding TNS, Newlands, and BCP).

Results highlight key structural issues affecting SBPD implementation: 47% of schools reported assigning IC roles to coordinators or senior teachers rather than classroom teachers, especially in the South region. Workload management (68%), limited collaboration among ICs (41%), and technological constraints (33%) emerged as the main challenges to effective PD delivery. Collaboration frequency was low, with only 25% of ICs meeting monthly or more often.

While several HO-developed courses (e.g., AST Orientation, STIC, FLI, SLICK) were well-received—with 60–82% of School Heads rating them effective—uptake remained inconsistent, and over half of ICs had not attended key SBPD-related trainings. Both School Heads and ICs expressed preference for face-to-face training with increased simulations, reflective opportunities, and collaborative components.

Survey comparisons between School Heads and ICs showed misalignment in perceptions of IC practice: although most ICs (85%) reported identifying PD needs and coaching teachers, fewer engaged regularly in lesson modelling (38%), feedback observation (48%), or mentoring CAIE PDQ candidates (51%). Similarly, 76% of School Heads confirmed that co-teaching CAIE PDQs had not yet begun.

The study concludes that effective SBPD implementation requires clearer role definitions, workload rationalization, strengthened collaboration, and systematic capacity-building through targeted training on data analysis, mentoring, assessment design, and leadership. Customized cluster-wise PD support plans have been proposed to align IC, SL, and SLT development needs for the 2021–22 cycle.