{"id":243719,"date":"2026-03-24T11:52:38","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T11:52:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/?p=243719"},"modified":"2026-03-24T11:52:40","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T11:52:40","slug":"how-mentoring-can-avoid-post-gcse-drift-and-support-secondary-starters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/schoolsweek.co.uk\/how-mentoring-can-avoid-post-gcse-drift-and-support-secondary-starters\/","title":{"rendered":"How mentoring can avoid post-GCSE drift and support secondary starters"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
A peer mentoring scheme for children about to start secondary school was a fantastic advert for teenagers\u2019 commitment, says Ben Sperring<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In the busyness that is the world of education, we are grateful when an opportunity comes along to tackle a few things simultaneously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our year 11 learning mentor programme helped prepare younger pupils for a significant transition while providing meaningful development for our older students post-GCSEs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The long, often unproductive summer after GCSEs can be a period of drift for year 11 students, while year 6 pupils begin to feel the natural anxieties of moving to secondary school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our three-week, post-GCSE volunteer programme turned this downtime into a meaningful personal and career development opportunity while supporting pupils in year 6 to prepare for year 7.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To ensure the programme’s impact, we deliberately structured it to mirror a workplace qualification, pitched at roughly a level 3\/4 standard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This professional approach began right from recruitment. We advertised across our four London secondary partners Oaklands School in Bethnal Green, George Green\u2019s School on the Isle of Dogs, Langdon Park School in Poplar and Bow School in Bow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Professional skills<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Students had to submit a formal application form and attend an interview before being offered a place. Twenty-one year 11 students were selected to participate across four primary schools.<\/p>\n\n\n\n