Mentoring three year 11 students through a challenging year

Background

I very much enjoy mentoring Year 11 students at several schools.

Recently I worked with three 15 and 16 year-old students over a very challenging year, as the school they attended was winding down prior to closure.

How I helped

Along with effective encouragement and confidence building, mentoring sometimes involves finding practical solutions.

We worked out revision strategies together that took individual circumstances into account. For example, one student shared a bedroom with an older sibling who played games online at night, depriving him of sleep and affecting his behaviour. We worked together to resolve this situation, so that he could get the sleep he needed.

I sometimes showed them how to solve GCSE science problems, and ensured they had confidence in their own ability to do so themselves.

Occasionally, they needed to talk about relationships with family or peers, or about break-ups or bullying.

Often, I just needed to hold space for them to talk, and know that I was properly listening and that I cared.

The result

The students attended every session, despite them being voluntary. They reported that having someone to listen and support them through GCSE preparation, and multiple other situations they were experiencing, really helped.

Please note that some personal and other details may have been omitted or changed in this case study for reasons of confidentiality.