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Our Mission
To Equip Individuals and teams with simple, practical and effective tools to help them manage their modern personal and professional problems and stresses through developed understanding of peer coaching and self.
Who are we?
James Pope
James is, formerly a Headteacher and executive Headteacher and currently Director of InspirEDucate and Founder of the HeadsUp4HTs network, Executive Leadership Consultant to Whole Education and Advisory Board member of CollectivED at Leeds Beckett University.
James has worked in education for 23 years. Most recently James was Headteacher and executive Headteacher within the Southwest of England, working in schools facing significant educational and financial challenges. With a passion for leadership and education and the transformative power that this can have on the lives of our young people James now works across the education system, collaborating with, trusts, schools, teachers and leaders:
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James’ work with InspirEDucate’s ‘HeadsUp4HTs’ network provides individual coaching support and peer support sessions to School Leaders whilst working with organisations across education to influence the DfE on the future provision of coaching support to all headteachers.
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As the Executive Leader of Whole Education James works with schools and Multi-Academy Trusts within England and beyond collaborating with leaders at all levels to provide a whole education to all young people.
Aaron Eckhoff
Originally from Minnesota in the US, my career in education began during my final training placement in the lovely country of New Zealand. But my first teaching role was in a school in Luton, Bedfordshire. It was by far the most challenging job I’ve ever had, but it provided me with endless opportunities to grow and adapt. Upon reflection, the decision to move to the UK was the best decision I’ve made in my professional life giving me great chances to grow and develop as a teacher and as a school leader but also travel and see the world.
I have been teaching Mathematics for 15 years in the UK from Lower Secondary up to A Level Maths and Further Maths, as well as a two year stint teaching A Level Physics. My passion for Maths and Science was born out of having amazing teachers when I was in High School.
In recent months, I left the mainstream classroom to spend time with my family and build two businesses. The main business that I have co-founded is called CORE Coaching Group International, a training company that embeds the CORE Coaching model as well as peer coaching networks into frontline service organisations. The second business, Eckhoff-Nine Coaching, is also a training company, focusing on the mentoring and training of trainee teachers, as well as offering private tuition in Mathematics to GCSE and A-level students. In addition, I also serve as Chair of Trustees for an educational charity, the Pestalozzi International Foundation, which provides scholarships to students of A-level age from developing in order to access a first class education here in Britain.
I have a lovely wife, Beth (also a teacher), of 8 years and an adorable daughter named Isla who is five years old (nearly six as she says). We spend a lot of time as a family exploring the south downs in East Sussex as well as finding as many ways as possible to have fun, including lots of silly dancing in our front room.
My passion for helping people and enjoying the work that I do is what drives me. I'm curious by nature which has led me to meeting very inspirational people in recent times. I love what I do and I'm excited about the work I will be doing as part of the founding team here at CORE.
Toby Cowern
Toby's fusion of 25+ years instructional background, highly applied risk management qualifications, military and blue light service and extensive (extreme) outdoors experience uniquely place him to offer help and support to a wide and diverse client range through his role as a founding director of CORE Coaching Group International. (CCGI)
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Toby’s main role in CCGI is with regard to Risk management and quality assurance, along with design, development and delivery of courses and services.
Toby brings an intense desire to make preventative and early intervention mental health practices easily accessible and available. Combined with a passion for promoting meaningful connection with the natural environment to help minimise and manage symptoms related to the entire trauma scale.
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This means Toby divides the majority of his working time between exploring the wild and remote region where he lives, in the Far North of Sweden, gaining inspiration to constantly refine and add to our suite of Nature Based Interventions, developing the online training capabilities of CCGI and liaising with and supporting the professional network of companies, charities and individuals that are also seeking to assist those in high stress, underappreciated and overworked roles.
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Toby has enthusiastically travelled extensively for the last 15 years and is honored to also be the lead in growing the ‘International’ side of the CORE Coaching Group.
CORE Partnerships
