The Coaching Mastery Diploma (Level 5) is a comprehensive professional development programme designed to ensure that all coaches working for Kent Business College deliver high-quality, compliant, learner-centred coaching in line with apprenticeship standards, Ofsted expectations, and the College’s Quality Management System.
This course equips coaches with the knowledge, skills, and behaviours required to support learners effectively throughout their entire learner journey, from onboarding to End-Point Assessment (EPA), while maintaining the highest standards of safeguarding, inclusivity, and wellbeing.
A core element of the course is a detailed understanding of the Kent Business College learner journey. Coaches will learn how learners progress through key stages including induction, active learning, review points, gateway, and EPA readiness.
Coaches are trained to:
Understand the learner’s contractual, academic, and pastoral journey
Track learner progress against learning plans and milestones
Identify early signs of disengagement or risk
Provide structured, timely interventions to support retention and achievement
This ensures that coaching is proactive, consistent, and aligned with both learner needs and funding compliance requirements.
The course places strong emphasis on the Monthly Coaching Meeting (MCM) as a critical mechanism for learner support and quality assurance.
Coaches will be trained to:
Plan and conduct effective one-to-one monthly coaching meetings
Review off-the-job learning, progress, and evidence
Support reflective learning linked to Knowledge, Skills, and Behaviours (KSBs)
Record accurate, evidence-based coaching notes and actions
Monthly coaching meetings are positioned as high-impact interventions, not administrative tasks, and form a key source of Ofsted evidence.
A significant part of the programme focuses on Ofsted expectations, recognising that coaches play a central role in inspection outcomes.
Coaches will develop a clear understanding of:
The Education Inspection Framework (EIF)
What inspectors expect to see from coaches
How coaching practice contributes to judgements on:
Quality of Education
Behaviour and Attitudes
Personal Development
Leadership and Management
The course ensures that coaches can confidently articulate their role, decisions, and impact during an Ofsted inspection.
Coaches are trained to operate within an evidence-based coaching system, ensuring that all learner support is demonstrable, auditable, and defensible.
This includes:
Using evidence to justify coaching decisions
Maintaining accurate learner records
Linking coaching activity to progress, outcomes, and impact
Understanding what constitutes strong vs weak evidence
The course reinforces that “if it is not evidenced, it did not happen”, a key principle for Ofsted readiness.
Coaches are introduced in detail to the Kent Business College Quality Management System, ensuring consistent practice across all programmes.
This includes:
Quality expectations for coaching delivery
Documentation and record-keeping standards
Internal quality assurance processes
Roles and responsibilities within the quality framework
Coaches learn how their role directly contributes to continuous improvement, learner outcomes, and institutional performance.
The programme provides coaches with structured guidance on End-Point Assessment (EPA) preparation.
Coaches will learn how to:
Prepare learners for gateway requirements
Support evidence readiness without over-coaching
Manage timelines, readiness checks, and expectations
Work collaboratively with programme leads and EPAOs
EPA preparation is framed as a planned, progressive process, not a last-minute activity.
Safeguarding and Prevent are embedded throughout the course as non-negotiable professional responsibilities.
Coaches will be trained to:
Recognise safeguarding concerns and indicators
Understand Prevent duties and reporting routes
Maintain professional boundaries
Escalate concerns appropriately and promptly
The course reinforces a culture of safety, vigilance, and responsibility, ensuring learner welfare is always prioritised.
The programme addresses learner withdrawal management and student wellbeing in depth.
Coaches learn how to:
Identify early signs of disengagement or wellbeing concerns
Apply supportive interventions before withdrawal occurs
Manage withdrawals professionally, ethically, and compliantly
Ensure learner dignity, support, and accurate documentation
Wellbeing is treated as integral to learner success, not an optional add-on.
Coaches are trained to work effectively with employers and workplace stakeholders, recognising their critical role in apprenticeship success.
This includes:
Communicating professionally with employers
Aligning learner development with workplace objectives
Managing expectations and resolving concerns
Supporting tripartite relationships between learner, employer, and College
Strong employer engagement is positioned as a shared responsibility, with coaches playing a key facilitative role.
Inclusivity underpins all aspects of the course.
Coaches will develop the competence to:
Support learners from diverse backgrounds
Respond appropriately to additional learning needs
Promote equality, diversity, and respect
Create a safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environment
The course reinforces Kent Business College’s commitment to fair access, reasonable adjustments, and inclusive practice.
On completion of the Coaching Mastery Diploma (Level 5), coaches will be:
Fully prepared to operate as professional coaches at Kent Business College
Confident in Ofsted-facing conversations and evidence
Skilled in learner support, wellbeing, and progression
Aligned with the College’s quality, safeguarding, and compliance standards
This course ensures that coaching at Kent Business College is consistent, professional, compliant, and impactful, directly supporting learner success and institutional excellence.
This internal guide provides a step-by-step walkthrough of the apprenticeship learner journey at Kent Business College (KBC), tailored for new Coaches. It outlines each stage of the process, the Coach’s responsibilities, and how Coaches collaborate with other key roles (Compliance Team, Enrolment Team, Employers, Teachers, etc.). Clear checklists, timelines, and tips are included to ensure you understand the end-to-end process. Use this manual to confidently guide your apprentices from initial enrolment through to End-Point Assessment (EPA), while maintaining compliance and a high-quality learner experience.
Learners must be employed by Kent Business College or formally engaged by Kent Business College as a:
Coach
Associate Coach
Tutor-Coach
Approved coaching associate
This course is not open to the general public and is designed exclusively for individuals delivering or preparing to deliver coaching services on behalf of Kent Business College.
Learners must be:
Actively coaching Kent Business College learners, or
Preparing to undertake coaching duties as part of their role
Learners must be willing to:
Participate in observed coaching practice
Receive professional feedback and supervision
Apply coaching approaches directly within Kent Business College programmes
Learners must demonstrate:
Commitment to Kent Business College values and professional standards
Ethical conduct, professionalism, and learner-centred practice
Willingness to engage in reflective practice and continuous improvement
Failure to meet professional standards may result in withdrawal from the course.
As this qualification leads to a learner-facing role, learners must:
Complete Safeguarding and Prevent training as required by Kent Business College
Agree to comply with all safeguarding, Prevent, and wellbeing policies
Undertake a DBS check, where required, prior to or during the programme
Learners must:
Attend all required training sessions, workshops, and supervision meetings
Complete all assignments, reflective logs, and assessments
Actively engage in Monthly Coaching Meetings (MCMs) and quality processes
Consistent engagement is required to remain on the programme.
Learners must:
Maintain accurate, timely, and evidence-based coaching records
Use Kent Business College systems (e.g. LMS, e-portfolio tools) as required
Contribute to Ofsted-ready, auditable learner evidence
Kent Business College reserves the right to:
Withdraw a learner from the course if:
Employment or engagement with the College ends
Professional or safeguarding standards are not met
Engagement or attendance requirements are not fulfilled
Completion of the course is conditional upon continued compliance with all requirements.
