Mentoring Case Studies

Woodkirk PGCE Student Mentoring

Background

Leeds Mentoring, part of Education Leeds' Excellence Challenge Aim Higher initiative, offers one of the largest mentor support services in the country. It targets 14 - 19 year old students in Leeds High Schools and FE Colleges. These students may lack the motivation to fully realise their full potential but they have the ability to gain at least 5 GCSE's at grades A-C and progress to Post 16/18 education. Leeds Mentoring recruits, trains, and inducts mentors who are offered to the 43 High Schools and 8 Colleges in Leeds.

During the past year (2001/02) Woodkirk, a co-educational, 11 - 19 maintained comprehensive school in Morley on the outskirts of Leeds, has provided opportunities for their students to have mentors. Many of the Year 10 students at the school have reaped the benefit. Woodkirk offers Peer Mentoring and Student Tutor Mentoring. During the past year, 30 Year 12 students were trained as Peer Mentors to support Year 9 students and 10 ITT/PGCE trainee teachers from Leeds University who were at Woodkirk on their final school teaching practice (March - June 2002) volunteered to mentor Year 10 students.

Year 10 students, Jessica Farr and Lauren Marsh volunteered and were mentored by an ITT/PGCE student. Prior to mentoring they were borderline GCSE grade C/D students, had low aspiration and were at risk of achieving little. They were matched with Claire Stovin a geography ITT/PGCE student. At first both girls "didn't see any point in doing it" especially when it was in their own time after school. Claire slowly gained their trust, targets and goals were set and Laura and Jessica began to appreciate the benefits of mentoring.

Claire negotiated similar goals and targets for both girls e.g. time management and planning of GCSE coursework. Both girls began to trust Claire and appreciated the quality time she provided. They were encouraged to discuss late assignments with subject tutors and this helped relieve pressure. Planning lists were drawn up and tasks prioritised. Work began to improve and they began to achieve better grades. Claire soon became their "friend" and supporter and provided links to their subject tutors. Claire motivated them and Jessica and Laura began to understand the importance of exams and revision. A change of attitude was very evident and Claire helped them develop a comprehensive Year 10 study leave revision timetable. This was used to good effect. Both girls freely admit that without Claire's support they would not have bothered or revised, would have gone out and not achieved excellent year 10 results.

Students' Stories:

Jessica Farr spoke of her need to "get organised" and of her new desire to achieve. In Year 10 she said she was in grave danger of falling so far behind in her work but mentoring provided the focus to bring her back on track. She now cares about school and her future and understands the benefits good results can bring. She has set her sights on entering the 6th form and hopefully university. She said "I never knew what I wanted to do before I started getting mentored. Now I can't wait to go to University".

Lauren Marsh spoke of "getting on top" of her GCSE coursework. Her gains were in personal organisation, time management, planning of work and handing work in on time. Her attitude also changed. She is much more positive and confident when discussing her work with other members of staff. She said "I didn't think people like me would go to University. Now I realise that I have a good chance"

Jessica and Laura are now in Year 11 and have an academic monitor. They are now much more receptive to learning.

Comments from the Excellence Challenge Coordinator:

Paul Cooper, the Woodkirk School Excellence Challenge Coordinator, reiterated the power of mentoring. She said "both girls really have had a change of attitude. They were both becoming disaffected but have had their eyes opened in time. They are now much more focussed and are regularly attending GCSE revision classes. Their coursework is up to date and both are currently predicted to achieve between 7-9 A - C GCSE grades - quite a transformation".

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