Meet Claire Mayne
Our connections make us human. I’m a daughter, mother, granny, wife, friend, teacher, leader, reader, music lover and cook - in no particular order. I live in a beautiful village in Essex, close to nature, and recently I’ve started getting fit as an antidote to the challenges of daily life.
Having completed a BEd (Hons) some decades ago, I’ve worked across the education system, leading to my current role as a deputy head teacher with responsibility for teaching and learning. I began my journey to become a professional coach in May 2025 - or perhaps, in reality, it started many years before.
Informed by my SENCO training and a coaching mindset, I’m committed to supporting school leaders as I recognise the unique challenges that can surface in today’s complex world.
My work has deepened my appreciation for the wide range of thinking styles people bring, including those shaped by dyslexia, ADHD and autism.
Wherever someone finds themselves in their journey of self‑understanding, I offer compassion, respect, and a thinking space that supports curiosity and reflection.
"The inspiration you seek is already within you.
Be silent and listen" Rumi
Singer and songwriter Peter Gabriel's music has resonated with me for years. Like his music, I'm drawn to the threads that connect us - to ourselves, to others, and to the meaning we create. Coaching helps reveal those threads. And much like the phoenix, we all move through cycles of challenge and renewal.
Coaching offers the space to find your way back to your own fire.
"I will show another me" Peter Gabriel - Solsbury Hill
My Coaching
A different kind of conversation - a thinking partnership.
Your experiences and ideas lead the way. I notice not just your words, but your emotions and the quiet in between. Coaching offers rare, uninterrupted time to slow down and think deeply.
Coaching isn't about advice-giving. I'm not the expert on your life - you are. Instead, coaching for school leaders creates space to reflect on your challenges, patterns and possibilities. It helps you see your situation differently, uncover new choices, and reconnect with your inner strengths.
Together, we explore what truly matters - creating the space for you to find your way back to yourself.
"The phoenix rises not despite the fire, but because of it." Unknown
Life is messy.
This is where you rise: Phoenix-style.
Your Coaching Journey
For school leaders who would like an initial conversation, I offer a complimentary 30-minute session. Together, we'll focus on one thing that's on your mind and explore how coaching might support you.
Depending on what you need, you can choose a one-time coaching session for focused support, or a series of six sessions designed to build momentum and create meaningful change that lasts.
Coaching is always tailored to you. During our initial conversation, we'll explore the rhythm and approach that best suits your needs. Each coaching session lasts up to an hour and is focused on what's most important to you in the moment.
As I work full-time, I offer coaching on selected weekday evenings, some school holiday days, and most Saturdays, providing flexibility around work and family life.
A space that fits around your life, not the other way around.