Maths and English Mentoring with COLASP

In 2021/21 12 CLSG pupils mentored Year 9 pupils at CoLA Shoreditch Park focusing on supporting younger pupils with their English and Maths. Pupils developed strong relationships with their mentees and were able to provide meaningful academic support, as well as being prompted to think carefully about their communication, questioning and skills of explanation. In response to Covid-19 restrictions, we have developed the programme of academic mentoring alongside teachers at Shoreditch Park to create a virtual mentoring model. Every week, pupils create academic support short films to consolidate and extend Year 9 pupils’ knowledge and understanding of Maths and English, closely linked to their lessons and homework. Online paired mentoring was set to commence in January 2021 but was halted due to Covid-19. 

Aims

To support students identified by their school as in need of extra Maths or English intervention. 

Background

A continuation of the English Outreach project established by an English teacher at City of London School for Girls

Resources

Travel expenses between schools (pre Covid 19)

Teacher time

Impact

“Teachers reported seeing increased confidence
from those pupils involved in the mentoring scheme,
and this is the first step to building the resilience
needed to succeed in their GCSEs in year 11.
Furthermore, it was noticeable that the mentees
demonstrated a much more mature attitude to
their learning, which demonstrated to themselves,
their peers and to staff their commitment to their
progress.”
Charlotte Pincher
Assistant Headteacher, CoLA Shoreditch Park

“The mentees reported thoroughly enjoying the
opportunity to build a real academic partnership with an older role model, since there is no opportunity to do so at Shoreditch Park for our founding cohort. At the end of the project, pupils on both sides were sad to say goodbye. The biggest impact on the COLASP pupils was undoubtedly their confidence in the classroom, thanks to the homework and class work support given from their mentors.”
Charlotte Pincher
Assistant Principal, Shoreditch Park

“Last year it was great to build personal relationships with the pupils and be able to see them improve in real life. We have tried to adapt to a remote environment by making content that feels more personal and less formal than their teaching to continue to build on this.”
Sixth Form Mentor

“The experience has been valuable in terms of
how to articulate ideas and key skills. Having to
teach has helped us consolidate our knowledge
and writing skills, whilst also forcing us to think
quickly and flexibly. Simultaneously, it has
been especially valuable to see the effect this
has had on the pupils’ progress and confidence.”
Sixth Form Mentor