EMBRACE peer mentoring at Youth Centres and local primary schools

Pupils are trained by Oppidan Education to mentor younger pupils. The mentoring is pastoral (i.e. life hacks, wellbeing, friendships, organisation etc.)

 

Aims

The peer mentoring develops leadership and confidence skills in Bradfield pupils and helps younger pupils to develop their own resilience and confidence. 

Background

The College approached Oppidan Education to set up a programme and resources which could be used to equip Sixth Form pupils to mentor younger pupils. This fits with the College's wider school plan to become more outward looking and community minded.  

Resources

Oppidan Education training costs.

Minibuses to transport pupils once a week.

Mentoring occurs once a week.

The mentors' training manual includes:
- Safeguarding
- Principles of Mentoring
- Case Studies
- Practical Mentoring
- Active Listening
- Building Confidence in Young People

Oppidan’s resource for subsequent sessions with primary children, edited with Bradfield’s thoughts, includes:
- Life Hacks
- “Thunks”
- Poetry
- Reading & Writing Skills
- Growth Mindset
- Confidence Activities

Ongoing communication happens during the year between Sixth Form mentors and Oppidan mentors, both private chat and in their workshop groups, via an app, Remind.

Follow-up feedback sessions occur for mentors.

Impact surveys for Y12s involved before, during and after the programme.

The incentive of Oppidan’s Summer Programme, fast-tracking 3 Bradfield students to spend a week at Oppidan HQ, Hammersmith.

Certification of the programme by Oppidan Education for those Y12s involved.

The training costs £50 per pupil. 

Pupil Involvement

Sixth Form pupils mentor Year 6 pupils 

Frequency

The mentoring occurs once a week. Mentors are given workbooks and guidelines to run sessions and also have thorough Safeguarding training.