Over recent years, Peer Mentor Schemes have increased in popularity and are now being introduced in more schools.

The scheme has been proven to offer a valuable contribution to the overall ethos of the school and the pastoral support system

Many schools have received positive feedback from Parents, Primary Schools and OFSTED

Physical Health – involvement in sport

Stay Safe – pupils act upon advice offered by peers

Enjoy and Achieve – all participants enjoy and achieve in their area

Make a positive contribution – both peers & mentors become involved in school life

Achieve economic well being – peers acquire skills of decision making, organising and presenting needed in later life

How does the Peer Mentor scheme promote/support SEAL?

The pupils begin to build their skill around empathy; especially when dealing with issues of bullying. The Mentors will be trained on basic counselling skills using empathic responses and good listening skills.

Motivation-by using the above. The Peer Mentors will be able to guide their younger peers on how to manage their own feelings and also help to develop their own coping strategies

We have Year 10 Peer Mentors working in various roles with our Year 8 pupils.

They were selected through voluntary application forms and interview

So far we have 25 Year 10 pupils who were successful applicants

Other Year 10 pupils are now coming forward and asking if they can apply

Form Peer Mentors

Each Year 8 form has a Year 10 Peer Mentor attached to it

They attend the form Monday’s and Thursday’s

Mondays-responsibility is to check uniform, planner, equipment and collect merits

Thursdays-Peer Mentors launch inter-form competitions such as Young Writers, My Maths and weekly quizzes

Nicky liaised with Mrs Wilkins for pupils that would benefit from addition reading support.

These pupils will also be working towards a reading scheme where they gain awards

This will take place Monday’s and Thursday’s in the library

We have 3 sports mentors who will be working with our PE staff to assist in Year 8 extra curriculum events.

The Sports Mentors have begun speaking to Year 8 to discuss their requests

The Sport Mentors will begin to co-ordinate inter-form competitions. They are also looking into charity events

ECM-Be healthy, Enjoy and Achieve, Make a positive contribution

These mentors are working to raise awareness of Anti-Bullying

They are currently working towards Anti-Bullying week 16-20th November 2009

They already have plenty of idea’s such as Anti-Bullying poster competition and liaising with the Radio Station again.

These Mentors are also working with the School Council and the Year 11 Anti Bullying ambassadors

These Mentors will be attached to the Gateway.

Here they will be working with the vulnerable pupils, by organising games club and Art Projects

ECM Stay Safe, Enjoy and Achieve, Be Emotionally Healthy and making a Positive Contribution

These Mentors have been put in place for the other Mentors to refer to if they are aware of any friendship issue’s

These Mentors can offer advice about organisation skills, homework etc

This supports SEAL using empathy, motivation and supporting younger peer to manage their feeling

ECM-Stay Safe, Emotional Health, Positive Contribution, Economic Well Being and Enjoy and Achieve.

Peer Mentors are building links with the School Council to support Anti Bullying

We have applied to Youth Bank for funding for a Team Building Weekend. This will enable all the Peer Mentors and School council to get to know each other better with Team Building activities and basic counselling skills-active listening

We are currently looking at Kingswood for the Team Building Weekend

Here they can also share idea’s and evaluate how the Peer Mentor scheme can improve .

The Peer Mentors are keen to promote their roles

We want to share our good practice to parents, Primary Schools and the public.

We will be updating our school website, school newsletters and our display board

Next Year, we would like to train peer mentors in Year 9. That way they can begin visiting our Feeder Primaries discuss the role during Open Evening.

The possibilities are endless with idea’s such as Peer Mentors developing reading buddies within our feeder primaries.

Helping to train Playground leaders etc