Students in schools
The University of Bristol provides current university students to support the learning of young people in local schools which have low progression rates to further and higher education.
The overall aims of mentoring and tutoring are:
- to offer positive role models for learning;
- to raise participants' aspirations and attainment;
- to help young people overcome personal barriers to learning;
- to make links between learning in school and the outside world;
- to encourage and support young people.
All tutors undergo a rigorous recruitment and selection procedure, including an Enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check.
Mentoring
Student mentors are current university students who work on a one-to-one basis with young people (mentees) in local secondary schools over a sustained period to encourage and support young people.
A mentor is a 'professional friend' who can talk with a young person in confidence about a wide range of things. A mentor is not a counsellor, a careers expert or a teacher, although the role may touch on any of these. Each student mentor usually works with three young people from a school's widening participation cohort, meeting each for around an hour a week at school for an informal chat and to help with things such as school work, revision and plans for the future.
Mentoring is intended for young people from the widening participation cohort who have the potential to progress to higher education. It will be of particular benefit to learners who have aspirations that are not in line with their abilities, or need additional encouragement in order to fulfill their potential.
In particular mentoring is targeted at learners who:
- Have previously been a member of the Aimhigher cohort; or
- Live in a neighbourhood with low HE participation; or
- Have no family history of progression to Higher Education; or
- Are in the care of the Local Authority; or
- Are disabled or have a specific learning difficulty; or
- Are entitled to free school meals.
For more information, please contact the Widening Participation Officer, Felicity Crentsil, email felicity.crentsil@bristol.ac.uk or telephone (0117) 331 6762.
Tutoring
The Aimhigher tutoring scheme recruits and trains University students to work alongside qualified teachers in local secondary schools. Student tutors help out in the classroom in much the same way as a learning support assistant, dedicating between three hours and a full day a week to their work in school.
Student Tutors are in a unique role where their experience and independence helps them to earn the respect of younger students and to break down barriers to learning. Learners benefit from having another person who can answer their questions and encourage them to look at their subject in a new way. Teachers benefit from having an extra person in the classroom who can answer students' questions, help explain concepts and work with individuals and small groups.
Other tasks that student tutors may undertake include helping individuals and groups with study skills and exam preparation; developing wall displays; helping out with lunchtime or after-school clubs; creating materials to be used in the classroom (eg worksheets/games); running competitions (eg design competition in Art, Design and Technology or Information Communication Technology); helping groups of pupils with a specific piece of coursework; and setting up mock practicals (eg Modern Foreign Languages/Science).
For more information, please contact the Outreach and Summer Schools Officer, Alex O’Driscoll, email alex.odriscoll@bristol.ac.uk or telephone (0117) 331 8334.