Melanie Gentles
Melanie Gentles
Coaching Bio
Melanie Gentles is a Positive Psychology Practitioner, coach and school leader with a Master’s in Applied Positive Psychology. She specialises in supporting staff and pupil wellbeing, helping schools create environments where individuals can flourish. Her work is grounded in the belief that wellbeing underpins sustainable, effective education. Using a strengths-based, evidence-informed approach, Melanie supports educators and leaders to build resilience, clarity and engagement. She is passionate about embedding coaching cultures in schools and enabling both adults and young people to develop the skills needed to thrive personally and professionally.
Coaching Experience
Melanie is an experienced coach who works with school leaders, educators and young people to enhance wellbeing, self-awareness and performance. Her integrative, strengths-based approach combines positive psychology with practical coaching methods, creating a space that is both supportive and challenging. She helps clients clarify goals, build on their strengths and take purposeful action. Melanie also uses Wisdom Coaching with children, supporting emotional literacy, confidence and resilience from an early age. Her work empowers individuals to think clearly, act authentically and navigate challenges with confidence and balance.
Career Experience
Melanie Gentles is a school leader with over 20 years’ experience across UK and international settings. She currently serves as Head of Middle School and leads whole-school wellbeing, mental health and EDI strategy, driving approaches to culture, inclusion and care. Melanie has designed and implemented wellbeing frameworks grounded in applied positive psychology and evidence-based practice, and led staff development focused on psychological safety and wellbeing. Her earlier roles include teaching, SENCO and leadership positions in the UK and Switzerland. She has a strong track record of improving staff engagement, embedding inclusive practice and delivering sustainable whole-school wellbeing and culture transformation.
Coaching Tools
Level 5 Professional Coaching Apprenticeship / Masters in Applied Positive Psychology (Positive Psychology Coaching)
Working with Melanie has been such a game changer for me. As head of a newly formed humanities faculty, I came in with big ideas and a lot of ambition, but also the challenge of managing a large team. Melanie has helped me map out the future with clarity, turn my big visions into practical plans, and challenge my own assumptions along the way. With her support, I feel more confident, more balanced, and able to trailblaze without burning out. She’s helped me grow not just as a leader, but as a professional.
N Thornton, Head of Humanities
Coaching has been a really valuable experience for me, both professionally and personally. It has given me space to reflect more deeply on my personal goals, helping me to identify areas for growth and to celebrate what is working well. One particularly meaningful insight that came through the coaching sessions where I explored the idea of empathy and the concept of attentive vs. active listening, setting the latter as an area for development in my teaching practice. Through active listening and empathy, I have been able to better support my tutees and build strong relationships with them. Beyond teaching, it has provided a safe, constructive space to think through challenges and maintain perspective, helping me grow as a teacher and parent.
J DeFreitas, Head of Classics