Overwhelming Support from Year 12s for Mentoring Programme 11 April 2025

Last term we launched a six-week mentoring programme here at BMS which has been designed specifically to add an additional layer of support for our Year 11 students in the lead up to their GCSE examinations. What makes it rather unique is that all the mentors are current Year 12 students.

Organised by Mrs Costello, Sixth Form Transition Coordinator and Mr Reynolds, Assistant Head for Years 9-11, the programme is for Year 11 students who have identified some gaps in their knowledge in certain subjects and for whom a little extra support would be beneficial. Mentoring sessions take place twice a week and the mentors have been matched up with their mentees according to which subjects they are currently studying for A Level. During the first week alone 30 individual sessions took place and this level of activity has continued.

Mrs Costello explained how the programme was established: “I advertised the scheme during a Year 12 assembly before half term, and I was overwhelmed by the response as 83 students signed up. As we didn’t need that number, those that weren’t required will, we hope, now help Year 10 students during the course of the summer term, so their expertise will not be wasted.”

One of our Year 11 students talked of the benefits of taking part, saying: “I am finding it really useful to get more 1:1 support through the mentoring programme. It is especially helpful to get that support from a Year 12 student as they completed their GCSEs recently so have a better understanding of the exams themselves.”

Nelly gave her perspective as a Year 12 mentor and added: “They say that the best way to learn is to teach – and I’ve certainly found that the opportunity to mentor Year 11 students has not only been enjoyable, but an invaluable method of consolidating my own academic understanding. It’s been an incredibly rewarding experience and has inspired me to continue considering a future career in education.”

Mentors are also able to talk to the Year 11 students about life in the Sixth Form and advise them as they consider the next stages of their educational journey.

Mrs Costello said: “I am very proud of these incredible young people who are giving their time freely to provide invaluable support to students in their important GCSE year. There is a real buzz in the room during the mentoring sessions and it is clear that everyone is benefiting in some way from the experience.”