discover us and us in schools mentoring/file/mentoring... · us in schools – mentoring: models of...

Discover US and US in Schools Mentoring

Outreach programmes for pre-16 pupils

27/06/2012 © The University of Sheffield

Key themes

• Targeting pupils – where and who?

• Learning journey

• More about….

• Discover US

• US in Schools – Mentoring

• Our student ambassadors

Where do we target pupils?

• Local pupils

• South Yorkshire

• West Yorkshire

• Derbyshire

• North Nottinghamshire

• Schools situated in neighbourhoods with low rates of progression to higher education


Who do we target? • „Most able, least likely‟

• Previously identified as part of the „Aimhigher‟ cohort

• Targeted using the following considerations:

lower socio-economic groups (using a basket of indicators)

minority ethnic groups under-represented in HE

from families that have no experience of HE (first generation to enter HE)

young people with a declared disability

looked after children

personal or family circumstances which have affected aspirations, expectations and potential academic achievement


The Learning Journey

Discover US

Kate Smith-Outreach Activities Officer


Discover US • What is it?

• What is it trying to do?

• Who is it for?

• Where does it come from?

• What happens on it?

• What do our students think about it?

What’s the presentation about?


Discover US: What is it? • A partnership between 9 participating schools and US!

• To help students to „Discover US‟ by visiting the University twice a year

• For 3 years between Year 9-11

• Meeting young people from other schools

• Working with student ambassadors



Discover US- What is it?

2011-2012

2012-2013


Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Total

145 158 51 354

Year 9 Year 10 Year 11 Total

240 145 158 543


Barnsley Rotherham Sheffield Wakefield

St Michael‟s Catholic and

Church of England High School*

Clifton Community Arts College

Chaucer Business and Enterprise

College*

Crofton Academy

Firth Park Arts and Community College

Hemsworth Arts and Community

College

Fir Vale School

Minsthorpe Community College

Hinde House School

Parkwood Academy

Stocksbridge High School

*From Autumn 2012 Tapton Secondary School*


Discover US.’: What is it trying to do?

We want all young people on Discover US to… •Believe that university is within their grasp

•Find out what being a student is really like

•Make a considered and informed decision about their future •Develop confidence, problem solving skills and their ability to work with others.


Discover US- Who is it for? Young people in Year 9- Year 11 who…

• Have the academic potential to enter Higher Education (5 A*-C at GCSE)

• Are the first generation in their immediate family to potentially enter Higher Education



Discover US- Where does it come from?

• Research into school staff and young people‟s views on the kind of outreach programme they wanted

• 13 schools took part in face to face surveys

• 6 schools provided focus groups of young people



Question 5 - How enjoyable you think the

Elements of the Programme were for your

pupils?


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

Very Enjoyable Enjoyable Quite

Enjoyable

Not Enjoyable Don't Know

Y11 Conference Y10 Parents Evening Y10 Residential Y9 ACE Days


Discover US.- Where does it come from?

From asking young people in focus groups:

„What are you worried about?‟ ‘Its not for people like me’ ‘I don’t know much about it’ ‘I can’t afford that kind of money-what if I never pay it back?’

‘Is there anyone there for you?’


Discover US.- Where does it come from?

From asking young people in focus groups „What would you like to do?‟

‘…learn how university is different from school’ ‘…find out what its like to stay in student accommodation’ ‘…Find out what Uni is really like. Do a day in the life of a student-sit in a lecture, go to a lesson as long as it’s not too long or boring!’ ‘…talk to Students who are like us, from the same background…who do lots of different subjects and can tell us about them…’ ‘… do a big task where everyone has to work together to make an end product that we can be proud of’


Discover US Activities Programme

Y9-The Foundation Stage

1. Launch of Discover US –November

2. „Introduction to US!‟-November/December

3. „The Choice is Yours‟-March

Study Skills Activities in School-April



Discover US.- Activities Programme Y10-The Consolidation Stage

1. „The Student Apprentice‟-November

Study Skills Activities in School-April

2. The Student Experience‟-July



Discover US.- Activities Programme

Y11-The Transition Stage

1. „Moving on, Moving up‟-October

Ementoring-October-June

2. Celebrate with US-May



Our Student Ambassadors

“Nothing is as exciting as hearing school students talk about their life ambitions. Even if Discover US inspires just one student, I want to be part of it”.



“The Student Experience was an extremely worthwhile, relevant and informative event. Our students were lucky to have the opportunity to take part”

Jan Stewart, Minsthorpe Community College

“(Discover US) is a good idea because you get to experience what it is like and I look forward to coming to university now”

Samuel Okerenta, student at Hinde House School

Feedback about Discover US

US in Schools – Mentoring

Katie Monach – Outreach Officer


Background

• Replaced previous government funding from

• Aimhigher

• Training and Development Agency for Schools (TDA)

• Continues

• the delivery of a mentoring scheme targeting mainly 11-16 year old students

• the placement of current students in local schools and colleges to act as positive role models and to provide support to young people

Scheme aims

• To raise the aspirations and attainment of young people in local schools through the support and guidance provided by current University of Sheffield students

• To provide current University of Sheffield students with the opportunity of working in local schools to develop a range of skills required for careers in the educational/youth sector



US in Schools – Mentoring: Models of intervention Face-to-face mentoring

• Student mentors work with 3-5 young people

• Mix of 1:1 and group sessions

In-class support

• Student mentors support learning in class

• Working with individuals identified by school/college

E-mentoring site Brightlinks supports both models of intervention

Mentoring cycle

1. Getting to know you

2. Establishing rapport

3. Diagnosis

4. Action planning

5. Periodic review

6. Exit strategy


Face-to-face mentoring model

School/College Mentors Mentees

City School 9 27

Ecclesfield School 5 29

Fir Vale School 4 27

Handsworth Grange School 4 21

Longley Park Sixth Form College 7 40

Sheffield Springs Academy 5 19

Totals 34 163


In-class support model

School/College Mentors Pupils in classes

(approx.) E-mentees

Danum Academy 4 100 - 120 10

Handsworth Grange School 4 100 - 120 14

King Edward VII School and Language College 4 100 - 120 20

Parkwood Academy 7 100 - 120 11

Totals 19 400-480 55


A year in the life of USiSM Month Activity

September -Cohort identified – pupils informed/invited onto scheme

October -Students trained and matched to schools/colleges -Induction visits to schools/colleges

November -Sessions with mentees and in-class begin -Parent/Carer information session

December -University visit for participating pupils (set up e-mentoring)

January -E-mentoring peak period – vacation & examination period

Feb-Apr -Sessions continue

May -Final sessions -Celebration event



Mentors work with their mentees to….

• develop and improve their self-worth, motivation, confidence, persistence, application and time management

• improve their attitude and application to learning

• explore techniques to improve study and revision skills

• research and understand range of options when they leave school/college

• help them to discover that going on to university is possible, interesting and enjoyable

• provide direct experience of what university is like, through positive role models


Mentee feedback • “I have really enjoyed the scheme because it has really helped

me understand what I want to do in life. I think it should be something that runs next year for students like me. “ (Year 9

student, City School)

• “Helped me get more interested in uni. Clearer ideas of what I want to do in the future. “ (Year 10 student, Handsworth Grange School)

• “Having a mentor helped me get on track with my revision - for my exams.” (Year 12 student, Longley Park 6th Form College)

• “The sessions were fun, and contained relevant information.” (Year 11 student, Sheffield Springs Academy)


Mentee feedback

0

10

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100

Strongly Agree

Agree Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree Strongly Disagree

%

I think I am on target to achieve the best grades that I can

Start

End

Mentee feedback


0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

100

Strongly Agree

Agree Neither agree nor disagree

Disagree Strongly Disagree

%

I have a clear idea of what I would like to do in the future

Start

End

School Coordinator Feedback

“The mentoring scheme has opened their eyes to new horizons and this was evidenced by the University visit which for some was a real bonus.”

“…..aspirations for Uni/achieving qualifications. Some behavioural improvements in school for certain students and increased confidence.”

“Both X and Y were a credit to the University (…) and were a real help in the classroom, not just with the individual students that they mentored but with the other students in the class too.”



Celebration event – May 2012

Handsworth Grange pupils speaking to the audience!

City school pupils with their mentors

Our Students

Ambassadors and Mentors

We recruit students who are…

• Interested in working with young people

• Have experienced some of the same barriers to learning and progression as pupils in partnership schools

• Have strong academic and transferable skills

• Have the ability to relate well to your pupils


The recruitment process

• Detailed online application form

• Group interviews – task/presentation

• Academic references

• CRB check

• Completion of all required training


Success of recruitment process…

“All the mentors had a positive and professional attitude throughout and were flexible in meeting

the needs of the school and students.”

“The mentors were very flexible and independent within the school context.”



Any questions?

To Discover And Understand.

discover us and us in schools mentoring/file/mentoring... · us in schools – mentoring: models of...

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