Mentoring links updated 21/04/09    

means that the resource has been added within the last month

Key and Recent additions

Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School's Mentoring Project

Have a look at the RHS Project.

Also check Raising Achievement for related material.

Many links updated 21/04/09)

To read the .pdf reports you will need Acrobat Reader.

Other links

Dyslexia

Learning Support

General Education

National Initiatives

Mentoring

Raising Achievement

Post 16

Revision

Software sources

Neat Ideas

Stress-busting

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Scottish Mentoring Network  

This website says that it " contains the most comprehensive on-line library of mentoring information in Scotland. The idea is that we save you time by gathering all the information, resources and contacts you need in one place."

And it does.

Mentoring: From data to people

The starting point for this research was to consider the development of mentoring within schools and its interface with assessment for learning.

The research finds that mentoring means different things to different people and schools. It focuses on several key findings:

• ‘Academic’ mentoring can be distinguished from ‘holistic’ mentoring and there may be some tension between the two. The study schools focus on academic (subject achievement and attainment-based) rather than holistic (the whole child) mentoring, although the need to support the whole child is recognised in order to facilitate learning.

• Creating the right atmosphere and culture for mentoring to occur is an important role of leadership of schools.

• Pupils want to experience a consistent, high-quality approach to mentoring.

• It is necessary to provide staff training (CPD) to develop and support the establishment mentoring systems.

EXCELLENCE IN CITIES: LEARNING MENTOR STRAND STUDY: Executive Summary  

This summary notes that, "Learning Mentors were introduced into schools through the Government’s Excellence in Cities (EiC) policy. The policy, which was launched in 1999, aimed to improve educational achievement and address underachievement in schools in urban areas. The Learning Mentor Strand of this policy aimed to provide schools with an additional resource which could assist them in reducing the barriers to learning which were faced by some of their students by working intensively with students to identify, and seek to address, the issues which may influence their underachievement."

One key finding is worth emphasizing: "Successful implementation of the Learning Mentor role requires that it is clearly defined and explained to other staff in the school."

The YELLIS Underaspirers Project  

YELLIS (Year Eleven Information System) is a value-added monitoring system that provides a wide range of performance indicators for students aged 14-16. A list of pupils who appear to be 'under-aspiring' is currently included within the usual YELLIS feedback. 

The YELLIS Underaspirers Experiment was an investigation conducted by Durham University to find out what sort of actions were being initiated by schools as a direct consequence of a pupil’s name appearing on the ‘underaspirers’ list and how effective these actions were.

The research concluded that the average GCSE grades of underaspirers who received some form of additional action were typically lower by 0.6 of a grade than for underaspirers who did not receive additional action.

However, the research notes that "the results are to a certain extent inconclusive."

Perhaps of most value from the research is the point that additional action for some students in some circumstances may be harmful rather than helpful. 

Learning Mentors  

Comprehensive DfES Standards site support for mentoring in the UK.

The site provides a broad range of information and support materials relating to Learning Mentor provision for schools and colleges.

Elements of Effective Practice (link 21/04/09)

This is a really useful document on the U.S. Mentor site, which is very worth grabbing some time to read when you're setting up your mentoring programme, but also when your program is running.

Recommended reading.

National Mentoring and Befriending Network   

The UK's National Mentoring Network was replaced by the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation in June 2005.

Mentoring for young people leaving care  

On the Joseph Rowntree Foundation site. This research builds on earlier mentoring research by the team from York University and was carried out in 14 mentoring projects supported by the Prince's Trust. The researchers looked at the impact of mentoring from the viewpoints of young people and their mentors, as well as outcomes for these young people.

100 Black Men of Birmingham  

100 Black Men of Birmingham believe in the promise of youth and have been working in various schools in the city with their unique mentoring programme for several years 

They try to encourage and guide their youth to realise their potential in positive ways. What they see is what they can be. The African Caribbean community in Birmingham faces many challenges, by mentoring they hope to play a part in moving the community forward, and developing future leaders.

Mentoring and Befriending Foundation  

In June 2005, this organisation replaced the UK's National Mentoring Network. They say that they are, " the national strategic body for mentoring and befriending, offering support to practitioners and organisations throughout the sector. As the national body, the Mentoring and Befriending Foundation oversees the work of four regional bodies: London, the North West and the West and East Midlands and has a number of staff in each of the regions."

Mentoring disaffected young people: an evaluation of 'Mentoring Plus  

From the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website, this research tries to evaluate the role of mentoring by looking at the experiences of 10 'Mentoring Plus' programmes run by Crime Concern and Breaking Barriers. Evidence of impact was most marked in relation to engagement in education, training and work. There was no clear evidence of the programme having an impact in relation to offending, family relationships, substance use and self-esteem. Most young people were generally positive about mentoring.

Sharing a laugh? A qualitative study of mentoring interventions with young people 

On the Joseph Rowntree Foundation website, this 2004 University of Aberdeen research, by Kate Philip, Janet Shucksmith and Caroline King, looked at the impact of different forms of mentoring on young people in three settings.

It found (amongst other insightful conclusions) that most young people and their mentors believed that the experience was a positive one; a finding that the Rhyddings Business and Enterprise School's SRB Mentoring Project would confirm.

Leeds Mentoring 

Leeds Mentoring aims to:-

• Raise educational achievement

• Help young people develop socially and educationally

• Enhance career prospects

• Encourage progression to post 16 and higher education

The scheme is run by Education Leeds, the wholly owned Leeds City Council company responsible for a range of education services in the city. Leeds Mentoring supports mentoring in schools, colleges, companies, local authorities and voluntary and community organisations.

Mentoring and Young People : a literature review  

An interesting (March 2003) review of U.S. and U.K. research on mentoring from the University of Glasgow.

The review notes that, "Mentoring remains an ill-defined concept. There are many things which are known as ‘mentoring’ and they differ greatly amongst themselves to the extent that it is difficult to see what the essential core of ‘mentoring’ could be." 

There is evidence of some positive benefits - but mentoring is almost by definition difficult to measure. Formal education is relatively easy to measure but the informal nature of the best mentoring relationships makes measurement difficult.

Scottish Enterprise e-mentoring programme  (link )

The Scottish Enterprise e-mentoring programme connects secondary school pupils with adult mentors. Pupils are linked electronically to individual mentors and correspondence is restricted to a weekly email in supervised class time. 

Topics covered by the project have included: using ICT skills; understanding current events; managing time; attendance and punctuality; getting along with others; teamwork; positive attitude and motivation; selling skills; problem solving; being creative, learning to do new things and coping with failure.

The evaluation indicated that the project largely achieved its objectives:

• 92 per cent of pupils said the project had helped with ICT skills.
• 94 per cent said it had helped them understand more about skills for success in the workplace.
• 85 per cent said they had learned more about working in a specific sector.

Foundations of Successful Youth Mentoring  (link )

Intended for both new and established programs, the guidebook, from the U.S.-based National mentoring Centre,  outlines the program components that mentoring programs of all shapes and sizes should have in place to build strong mentoring relationships and ensure program sustainability. Comprehensive.

Hackney Schools Mentoring Programme  

 The Hackney Schools’ Mentoring Programme (HSMP) is a registered charity committed to working with the local education authority, businesses and similar agencies to help raise aspirations and achievement among young people through mentoring.

Chance UK 

Chance UK say they seek to provide an early and transforming intervention in the lives of vulnerable children, so that together with their families they may begin to build a brighter future.

Chance UK provides specific and targeted solution focused mentoring for children aged 5-11 years, based on individual needs. Their programmes are delivered by carefully screened and trained volunteers, who are closely supervised and supported.

See also this report.

 Learning Mentors Phase 3 Strand Study

2003 NFER report.

Using Mentors to change problem behaviour in primary school children  

This 1999 (.pdf format) report looks at the CHANCE community-based development project based in Islington, London. 

The Project "offers early intervention for young children who are ‘at risk’ of long-term behaviour problems, school failure or exclusion, and criminality. At its core is the provision of trained mentors for vulnerable primary school children (aged 5 – 11)."

"Initial indicators suggest these measures are improving children’s behaviour – their mothers, teachers and mentors all report some positive changes."

The ABCs of School-based mentoring  

This is a "technical assistance packet" written by P/PV and published by the National Mentoring Centre at the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory in the U.S., which "provides practical information for youth-serving organizations that want to implement new school-based mentoring programs or strengthen existing ones."

It includes advice on "forming partnerships with schools: designing the program, recruiting, screening and training mentors, matching mentors with youth, and supporting the match once it is underway. It includes worksheets to help guide planning, sample forms that programs can adapt and use, and a list of additional resources."

Mentor Links  

A very comprehensive list of mentoring links from this Canadian Mentors Peer Resources site.

Birmingham Education Service Learning Mentors site  

Essentially an information site for Birmingham (UK) Learning Mentors. It has a fledgling best practice section which is worth looking at.

Learning Mentors and Informal Education   

This feature describes the work being done by Learning Mentors in UK schools as part of the Excellence in Cities  initiative. It also addresses the issues raised.

The feature is part of the infed.org site, so if the feature has moved click here to visit the Informal Education site homepage.

Youth Mentoring Network  (Link 21/04/09)

The Youth Mentoring Network says it "aims to work with interested youth mentoring organisations and practitioners to foster the growth and development of high quality mentoring programs for young people in Australia by providing a national base of collaboration, support, guidance and expertise."

'Notschool' approach to learning  (Link 21/04/09)

Notschool.net says it is "an international 'Online Learning Community' offering an alternative to traditional education for young people who, for a variety of reasons, are unable to engage with school or other complementary provisions such as home tutoring or specialist units."

How mentors make a difference (BBC News Report 24/1/01)

Examples of the everyday tasks of learning mentors.

Rethinking Learning for Students at Risk  

From "Pathways to School Improvement" part of the U.S. North Central Regional Educational Laboratory, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping schools -- and the students they serve--reach their full potential. They specialize in the educational applications of technology.

Community for Youth

. . . is a Seattle-based one-to-one mentor program for high school students who are at risk of academic and social failure. Mentors support students in reaching their academic and personal goals. 

Brainfood

Brainfood's mission is to use food as a tool to build life skills with youth in a fun and creative setting.  Through culinary-related activities, we strive to expand cognitive skills, encourage creativity, foster self-reliance and empower youth as resources in their own community.

The National Mentoring Partnership  

The National Mentoring Partnership is a U.S.-based advocate for the expansion of mentoring and a resource for mentors and mentoring initiatives which has now morphed into Mentor.

The Mentor: an academic advising journal  

The Mentor is a free U.S. electronic publication about academic advising in higher education. The publication's goal is to provide a mechanism for the rapid dissemination of new ideas about advising and for ongoing discourse about advising issues.

International Year of Older Persons Mentoring Research Project  

This report was written by Judith MacCallum and Susan Beltman at Murdoch University in Australia. It contains much that is good with many examples of mentoring projects in Australia. The Executive Summary provides a useful summing up of the issues involved in running a successful mentoring scheme. The .pdf file download is 449K.

Rhyddings Business and Enterprise Mentoring

Have a look at a school-based mentoring programme in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

Business and Community Mentoring in schools

This is a very useful report (Report 43) from the UK's DfES. It details the kind of practical information which helps a mentoring project to run successfully and smoothly. Clicking on the link above downloads / opens a copy of the brief. (51K)

International Telementor Program

The International Telementor Program says it "provides academic mentoring support from professionals of ITP sponsor companies. All student/mentor communication is project focused and facilitated by a teacher or parent."

Telementoring Web

This is a U.S. site which provides further information on the Pros and Cons of telementoring as well as a useful series of links.