Trust-Wide Teaching and Coaching Pilot Launched

Laidlaw Schools Trust is pleased to welcome Alex Fairlamb, who joined the Trust in January 2026 as Teaching and Learning Coach.

Alex’s appointment supports the launch of a new coaching pilot that will inform the development of a Trust-wide approach to strengthening teaching and learning across all LST Academies. The pilot will begin at Academy 360 before being refined and extended more widely, reflecting a proactive commitment from Trust and school leaders to continuous improvement for staff and pupils alike.

This work is underpinned by a shared belief in professional growth and improvement, aligned with renowned Educator Dylan Wiliam's view "every teacher can improve and if teachers can get better, there's no limits to what students can achieve"

The initial phase of the pilot will focus on supporting teachers working with complex and vulnerable learners, a key strategic priority across the Trust. This phase will allow the coaching model to be tested and strengthened before being rolled out more broadly, with the long-term ambition that coaching becomes a normal and valued part of professional life for all teachers within Laidlaw Schools Trust.

Alex will work using the Steplab coaching approach, a flexible and personalised model designed to respond to individual teacher needs. Coaching begins with a professional conversation to agree a clear and achievable goal focused on improving outcomes for pupils. This is followed by joint planning, rehearsal and review, alongside classroom visits to see strategies in action. Reflection is central to the process, enabling coaches and teachers to recognise progress, understand what is working well and identify next steps. The approach is collaborative, supportive and rooted in everyday classroom practice.

“In sport, medicine and the performing arts, experts continually practise, rehearse, refine and receive coaching. We believe teaching should be no different.”

- Alex Fairlamb, Teaching and Learning Coach

The pilot will run from January to May 2026, with learning from this period shaping future implementation across the Trust. Laidlaw Schools Trust is delighted to welcome Alex and looks forward to the positive impact of her work as the coaching pilot develops and expands across all Academies.

Click below to hear more from Alex: