ILM coaching qualifications
The best qualification for both skills and credibility
ILM coaching qualifications are the route of choice for most professionals in the UK, and are extremely effective for education professionals
The Institute of Leadership and Management is the largest body in the UK offering workplace qualifications to professionals. Their focus and specialism in coaching and leadership makes them ideal for education professionals.
- High quality courses, focussed on the specific needs of education professionals
- Learn the coaching skills most relevant to your context and your level of coaching experience
- Highly practical programmes, focussing on both coaching skills and coaching structures
- ILM L3 in effective coaching – suitable for heads of department and middle leaders
- ILM L5 in effective coaching (equivalent to a degree) – suitable for middle or senior leaders who are new to coaching
- ILM L7 in coaching for experienced senior leaders who have some coaching experience
The levels (3,5,7) are independently set by Ofqual, which gives a guarantee of both quality and consistency.
Course structure essentials and support essentials
We know how time poor many teachers and leaders are, and how important it is that training they receive is of high quality. What we do to help this for our coaching qualifications includes:
- Small groups – maximum of 10 people
- Online programmes for maximum impact and efficiency
- Highly practical sessions, with plenty of opportunities to practice – but with no role play!
- Structured training, but with an informal approach. Plenty of opportunities for reflection and discussion
- Full support whilst undertaking your coaching practice and completing your assignments


Although each ILM programme differs in length and in specific content, they all share these elements:
- Training sessions
- Practice sessions with your own coaching clients
- Assessment of your coaching skills
- Written assignments
- Final accreditation, and professional membership of the ILM
Although this may sound formal, it often is a comfortable process, rich in learning opportunities and suitable for engaged education professionals.
We have been delivering ILM coaching qualifications to school leaders since 2015. We understand how important it is to learn the relevant skills that can be applied straight away in your school setting. And we will be delighted to help you advance your coaching skills to a high level.
ILM level 3 certificate in effective workplace coaching
ILM level 5 certificate in effective coaching
ILM level 7 certificate in coaching for leaders and senior executives
Which course is right for me?
The brief descriptions above, plus the information on our flyers may help you to decide which may be the right programme for you. We are always happy to talk through options, so feel free to give us a call.
We find that the ILM L3 is suitable for:
- People who are new to coaching or have limited coaching experience
- People who are either early in their careers, or in the first stages of their management or leadership roles
- People who have the opportunity to use coaching as part of their regular conversations with colleagues and team members
To see if the ILM L5 or the ILM L7 may be suitable for you, take the quiz below.

Many of our coaches in training have made video testimonials after they have finished the programme. Have a look at some of their comments.
Coaching is quite common in the education sector and there are some pockets of outstanding practice. This is especially true when teachers and leaders have committed to learning coaching skills well.
If you want to excel, stand out from others and use coaching well to support colleagues and students alike, then taking on an ILM coaching qualification is a great thing to do.
And as well as being able to coach well, you may find that your coaching skills will impact on other areas. Often teachers and leaders who are skilled coaches report that they listen better, ask better questions and hold back from talking too much.
All this has a great impact on their teaching, their leadership and other relationships. The hidden benefits of coaching become visible.