Mentoring - does it work? - YES!

Volunteer Mentors in Raising Achievement

Last year Leeds Mentoring tracked a cohort of Year 11 students who had had volunteer mentor support through the Fischer Family Trust (FFT) database. The aim was to measure the added value of volunteer mentors in raising achievement.

71% of students mentored by adult volunteers met or overachieved their FFT GCSE points score. The figure of 83% for Black and Minority Ethnic students meeting or overachieving their target was even higher.

National Evaluation (Year 2000) feedback from the National Foundation for Educational Research at the University of Warwick) found that for 75% of students there was a positive impact on GCSE results.

Major factors included:

• 70% improved motivation
• 66% better time management of coursework
• 51% more enthusiastic and interested in lessons