Pupil & Group Mentors |
One-to-one MentorsPart of the watching role for Mentors is actually within the classroom where they can see where trouble happens and who are the instigators. This little known role has improved the efficiency of the service. The way disruption occurs follows a pattern, which the Mentors learn to recognise quickly. They get to recognise, too, the regular troublemakers.The presence in classrooms of Mentors as a second pair of eyes for teachers has proved to be a great aid to learning. There is much less trouble, and teachers can concentrate on teaching. This work is expected to significantly improve the pupils' academic levels. Teachers View A teacher explained, "Schools Support Service' Mentors and volunteers are making a big difference. Pupils can be quickly removed from the classroom, and quietly enough to avoid any chance for heroics. |
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| Fun-to-one … Mentors know the pupils they are counselling, winning confidence with friendliness and informality. This brings success which is the proven way of Schools Support Service. | ||
Helping the Troublesome Pupils, tooSchools Support Service aim to give the troublesome pupils a chance to make something of their school years. The combined watchfulness of Mentors, Marshals and volunteers does mean greater learning at even the worst affected schools. Now more than just the good pupils can study easily, the troublesome pupils will begin learning too, once deprived of the chance to act as bullies and nuisances. Not only will the academic level of all pupils improve, but better marks will mean a better standing for the school too.Mentoring support that will improve the conduct of the pupils in the schoolThis will be achieved by having 2 safety leaders per school and 3 volunteers working on a one to one, and group basis, to address and advise students on their conduct around school and in the community. The overall aim is to prevent exclusions. |
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| Going public … By Mentoring in a group, pupils learn that common ground can be hard to find, and they discover that it isn't always easy to find a compromise. The overall lesson learned is about getting along with fellow humans peaceably. |
Improve Performance AcademicallyWith Mentors and volunteers being present in schools, and working closely with pupils who are constantly being removed from class, the chances of the pupils learning more will increase substantially. This, in turn, will improve their academic record. Also, pupils who are constantly distracted by misbehaving pupils will be given the opportunity of working in a classroom environment free of distraction.Reduce the levels of aggressive and challenging behaviourThis will be carried out by Mentoring, as mentioned above, and also by having a physical presence in the playgrounds, corridors and school perimeters to prevent incidences."This makes the Troublesome pupils behave better, and their own records improve as they begin to take learning more seriously. Academic records are getting better all round. Sometimes the best will in the world can't stop all distractions, and a few students are very susceptible to distraction. Schools Support Service are providing classrooms that have reduced distraction levels for the pupils who are at school to learn and develop as young adults." Schools Support Service is working on a Mentoring support scheme to greatly improve the conduct of pupils in school. The idea is to provide group-individual Mentors for each school. One of the organisers said, "To get to the root of anti-social behaviour, we know we have to advise students on their conduct around school and in the community. We plan to have volunteers in each school. In many cases it can only work if they advise individuals on their own, so we are concentrating on a one-to-one approach. But there will be a group approach too. We really want to avoid exclusions and we have had some real success here." This approach is reinforced by the visible presence of Mentors and Marshals in school playgrounds, corridors assembly-areas and school perimeters. |
