Sydney Russell
Programme
Over the 2022/23 academic year, Oppidan Mentors provided training sessions to a group of 35 Y12 pupils. The training took place over a series of workshops spread across two days. Each sixth-form mentor was paired with two KS3 mentees, with two-to-one peer mentoring sessions beginning in the Autumn term and taking place throughout the Spring and Summer terms.
Outcomes
Personal growth and development
Mentors experienced a 41% increase in their ability to support others, while mentees showed a 55% increase in confidence speaking to unfamiliar individuals.
Building stronger communities
Mentors reported a 27% increase in feeling valued by others, and mentees felt a 35% increase in a sense of belonging at school.
Cultivating leaders
Y12 mentors demonstrated a 41% increase in their ability to support others and manage disagreements, highlighting their leadership growth.
Building resilience and empathy
Mentoring enhanced resilience, with mentors showing a 19% increase in maintaining interest, and mentees displaying a significant 39% increase in empathy.
Self-reflection
Mentees gained a 42% increase in certainty of understanding ideas, while mentors experienced a remarkable 33% increase in self-reflection and understanding their behaviour.