| Passport to Success Mentoring Case Study |
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| Written by Helen Scott-Davies | |
| Tuesday, 20 July 2010 | |
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Local partnership in
For further information:
http://schools.becta.org.uk/index.php?section=tl&rid=17884
About the project
Suffolk EBP has developed an employer mentoring scheme, called ‘Passport to Success’ that incorporates face to face and electronic communication methods. It is aimed at young people who are seeking employment, vocational training or further/higher education within a particular sector. Mentors are recruited from specific sectors and are then matched to young people who have shown an interest in that area. For example, if a young person shows interest in scientific research they would try to match them with a scientist. This offers a more focussed pairing with mentors who have relevant experience and knowledge.
Passport to Success compliments existing mentoring schemes in
Mentors are required to meet with one mentee on a one to one basis for a minimum of 40 minutes, once a week for 12 weeks. Meetings take place during the school day and on school premises. However, meetings can take place around the mentees timetable and availability. Mentors can either opt out of the scheme after 12 weeks or continue with another group of pupils for another 12 weeks.
To compliment these face to face meetings Suffolk EBP has introduced the Brightside Trust e-mentoring system. The e-mentoring system is a web based software programme specifically designed for use in mentoring programmes.
The system, which is accessed via a logon on an online portal, can be used to support and aid meetings between the mentors, mentees and mentoring co-ordinators. The system provides a safe and secure environment in which they can communicate, post and share resources. It also provides links to relevant websites, such as careers guidance, information regarding qualifications and training, and other information deemed relevant to the user.
The Challenges
When considering the use of e-mentoring, safety of the mentors and mentees had to be taken into consideration particularly if meetings have been set up and inappropriate language is being used. Inbuilt security measures of the system include, a block on particular words and an automatic flag to scheme managers if dates and times have been included in any communications.
These safety measures ensure that any communication between mentors and mentees adhere to the mentoring guidelines, and any meetings are arranged by the school. It does, however, allow for communication if either party has to cancel at short notice. Prior to using the Brightside Trust system, any communication regarding meetings would need to go through the school meaning that last minute cancellations could often be problematic.
Another challenge facing Suffolk EBP in the use of the e-mentoring system was encouraging the mentors and mentees to log on.
Benefits
Passport to Success aims to monitor and evaluate the long term impact of sector skills focussed mentoring. The scheme uses SOUL (Soft Outcomes for Universal Learners) evaluation tools. Progression is measured more by a change in perception and attitude, as it is recognised that this is the first step to opening up the opportunities available.
Statistics can be collated on an individual basis and copies are sent to the mentors so they can see the impact that their mentoring has made. School co-ordinators are also sent their mentees results, so they can see the value of mentoring to the school and the impact on individual pupils. This assists mentor retention because they can see they make a difference, and that the schools value the schemes and their contribution.
The benefits of including an e-mentoring element in the scheme are:
It also allows for mentors to post information and resources available to all mentees, not just their own. This widens the knowledge base of the mentoring programme, and means valuable information is available for all those involved in the programme
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