New College Pontefract is in its third year of a developed mentoring programme, pairing students to improve their academic performance whilst raising aspirations for the future. Peer Mentoring here is a working relationship between two students who are a similar age, where one student has more experience in a situation and can provide support as well as a transfer of knowledge and skills.
The mentee decides on their area of need based on exams or lesson activities, depending on where they feel the additional support should be targeted. They then meet up with their mentor every other week. As the relationship develops, the mentee may discover they have something to offer the mentor in terms of other experiences, knowledge or skills, which then develops the partnership into a positive two-way relationship, evening out the balance.
Our mentors were trained by Cosmos Engagement. Research shows that mentoring delivers many benefits of commitment, motivation and performance. People who are mentored are likely to be more engaged with their work and perform to a higher level, with mentees often becoming mentors to others.
Here are some of the things that our mentors said about the training:
Jane Rolfe from Pontefract New College said, “We’re continually looking for ways to add value to our student experience while in college compared to their starting point, so the Peer Mentoring programme certainly fits with our overall vision statement ‘Our colleges and schools will make a significant difference to the lives of young people. As a result, together we will make a positive contribution to social mobility’.”
Jane Rolfe, Pontefract New College