Mentor Period
The central purpose of Mentor Period is to contribute to each student's personal development across their time at Highworth, in line with the school’s REACH ethos. As part of the vertical tutoring system this will include developing each student's identity as part of their Learning Community.
Mentor Period is conducted on a daily basis for 25 minutes. Each Mentor Group is led in an activity by their Mentor, which follows a planned termly overview, to ensure consistency of student experience across each Learning Community. Students are expected to participate in these sessions as they would in any lesson.
Aims of Mentor Period
| Core Aims of Mentor Period | |
| Reflective, creative and innovative | To explore issues in the wider world in order to become more informed of relevant community, national and global events |
| Eager for life-long learning | To develop character traits that enable students to be resilient in the face of obstacles such as leadership, initiative, responsibility and problem solving |
| Aiming to achieve their full potential | To establish and re-evaluate ambitious goals of both an academic and personal nature in order to encourage self-reflection and self-discipline |
| Considerate, confident, independent individuals | To develop positive relationships with peers across different ages, growing the necessary skills to collaborate with and learn from others |
| Happy in a caring, respectful community | To participate in Learning Community and whole-school activities, contributing positively to the wider life of the school, and encouraging others to do so |
Content of Each Session
Each term has a key theme, decided by the Directors of Learning. Students may also contribute to Mentor Period through their roles as Prefects, Community Coaches or as part of the Student Equality Team.
Themes will link to broader PSHE themes of Living in the Wider World, Relationships and Health and Wellbeing. As indicative examples, themes may be based on: Global Awareness Days e.g. European Day of Languages; school events e.g. Children's Mental Health Week; supporting mental and physical wellbeing; our school’s SIRIUS Careers programme; promoting cultural diversity e.g. Black History Month or school culture days.
Mentor Themes for 2023-24
| Term 1 | Mentor tasks | Personal Development | Rationale | Assembly themes |
| Week 1 (4th Sept) | Noticeboards/ LC day follow on | Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- working as a team, learning about the local community, leadership skills PSHE- Wider World, Relationships SMSC - social | Building relationships with peers and mentor Establishing mentor identity |
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| 2 (11th Sept) | Noticeboards/ LC day follow on | |||
| 3 (18th Sept) | Wellbeing fortnight:
| Considerate confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- taking responsibility for personal mental health and wellbeing PSHE- Health and Wellbeing SMSC - spiritual | Wellbeing theme for this term- ‘Snack, Sleep, Chill’ Re-focus day allows revisiting of previous PSHE content (interleaving) | |
| 4 (25th Sept) | Wellbeing fortnight:
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| 5 (2nd Oct) | Black History Month Project (Literature) | Happy in a caring, respectful community Reflective, creative and innovative Eager for life-long learning Character development- awareness of others, societal/ historical knowledge and awareness Literacy skills PSHE- Wider World, Relationships (equality and diversity) SMSC - moral. social, spiritual & cultural British Values - respect & tolerance | Coincides with National Black History Month (October) Celebration of diversity Encourages engagement with a range of literature | |
| 6 (9th Oct) | Black History Month Project (Literature) | |||
| 7 (16th Oct) | Black History Month Project (Literature) Plant Growing Competition |
| Term 2 | Mentor tasks | Personal Development | Rationale | Assembly themes |
| 1 (6th Nov) | Kindness Project Friday 10th November- Asian Society running Culture Day (Diwali) | Considerate confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- awareness of others, relationships, positive moral attributes, positive impact on society PSHE- Relationships, Health and Wellbeing, Wider World SMSC - social, moral, cultural, spiritual British Values - democracy, respect & tolerance | Wellbeing theme this term- ‘Kindness, Connection and Relationships’ Forming positive relationships with the community |
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| 2 (13th Nov) | Kindness Project | |||
| 3 (20th Nov) | Kindness Project | |||
| 4 (27th Nov) | Wellbeing fortnight:
| Considerate confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community. Character development- taking responsibility for personal mental health and wellbeing PSHE- Health and Wellbeing SMSC - spiritual | Wellbeing theme this term- ‘Kindness, Connection and Relationships’ Re-focus day allows revisiting of previous PSHE content (interleaving) | |
| 5 (4th Dec) | (Panto) Wellbeing fortnight:
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| 6 (11th Dec) | Quiz of the Year Community Christmas Party Design Christmas Card/ Decoration | Considerate confident, independent individuals. Reflective, creative and innovative Eager for life-long learning Character development- developing curiosity and seeking improvement, creative solutions to problems. PSHE- links to Wider World, Relationships SMSC - spiritual, social. | Building community spirit and developing community relationships |
| Term 3 | Mentor tasks | Personal Development | Rationale | Assembly themes |
| 1 (1st Jan) | How Things Are Made Project | Reflective, creative and innovative Eager for life-long learning Aiming to achieve their full potential Character development- challenging beliefs, building confidence in presentation skills, developing teamwork and leadership. PSHE- links to Wider World SMSC - social | Wellbeing theme this term- ‘Think, Watch, Doubt’ Opportunity to develop essential skills Opportunity to develop mentor relationships |
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| 2 (8th Jan) | How Things Are Made Project | |||
| 3 (15th Jan) | How Things Are Made Project | |||
| 4 (22nd Jan) | Wellbeing fortnight:
| Considerate confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- taking responsibility for personal mental health and wellbeing PSHE- health and wellbeing SMSC - spiritual | Wellbeing theme this term- ‘Think, Watch, Doubt’ Re-focus day allows revisiting of previous PSHE content (interleaving) | |
| 5 (29th Jan) | Wellbeing fortnight:
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| 6 (5th Feb) | Dilemmas, Quizzes and Debates Chinese Culture Day (Feb 9th) | Eager for life-long learning Considerate confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- resolving conflict, listening to the point of view of others, respecting others, British values, learning about the world around them, developing cultural awareness PSHE- links to Wider World and Relationships SMSC - cultural, social, moral British Values - respect & tolerance | Building community spirit and developing community relationships Exploring new concepts/ topics |
| Term 4 | Mentor tasks | Personal Development | Rationale | Assembly themes |
| 1 (19th Feb) | Childrens’ Book Project | Reflective, creative and innovative Considerate confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- respecting and considering others, working with others in a range of social situations, reflect on and consider solutions to problems, celebrating diversity PSHE- links to Wider World and Relationships SMSC - social, moral, cultural, spiritual British Values - respect & tolerance, democracy | Building links with the local community Opportunity to develop creative problem solving Opportunity to teach others what they have learned |
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| 2 (26th Feb) | Childrens’ Book Project | |||
| 3 (4th Mar) | Childrens’ Book Project Dilemmas, Quizzes and Debates | |||
| 4 (11th Mar) | Wellbeing fortnight:
| Considerate confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- taking responsibility for personal mental health and wellbeing PSHE- Health and Wellbeing SMSC - spiritual | Wellbeing theme this term- ‘Emotions, Lifeline, Music’ Re-focus day allows revisiting of previous PSHE content (interleaving) | |
| 5 (18th Mar) | Wellbeing fortnight:
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| 6 (25th Mar) | Dilemmas, Quizzes and Debates | Eager for life-long learning Considerate confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- resolving conflict, listening to the point of view of others, respecting others, British values, learning about the world around them, developing cultural awareness PSHE- links to Wider World and Relationships SMSC - moral, social, cultural British Values - respect & tolerance | Building community spirit and developing community relationships Exploring new concepts/ topics |
| Term 5 | Mentor tasks | Personal Development | Rationale | Assembly themes |
| 1 (15th April) | Nature Project Nepali Culture Day (Fri 19th April) | Reflective, creative and innovative Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- creativity, positive engagement with the natural world, working together with others, having a positive impact PSHE- Links with Wider World and Relationships SMSC - social, moral, spiritual, cultural | Wellbeing theme this term- ‘Breathe, Flex, Paint’ (links to creativity element of this project) Encouraging students to engage positively with nature Appropriate time of year for outdoor/ outdoor related activities |
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| 2 (22nd April) | Nature Project | |||
| 3 (29th April) | Nature Project | |||
| 4 (6th May) Bank holiday | Wellbeing fortnight:
| Considerate, confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- taking responsibility for personal mental health and wellbeing PSHE- Health and Wellbeing SMSC - spiritual | Wellbeing theme this term- ‘Breathe, Flex, Paint’ Re-focus day allows revisiting of previous PSHE content (interleaving) | |
| 5 (13th May) | Wellbeing fortnight:
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| 6 (20th May) | Dilemmas, Quizzes and Debates (DFR) World Day of Cultural Diversity (Tuesday 21st May) | Eager for life-long learning Considerate confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- resolving conflict, listening to the point of view of others, respecting others, British values, learning about the world around them, developing cultural awareness PSHE- links to Wider World and Relationships SMSC - moral, social, cultural British Values - respect & tolerance | Building community spirit and developing community relationships Exploring new concepts/ topics |
| Term 6 | Mentor tasks | Personal Development | Rationale | Assembly themes |
| 1 (3rd June) SDD on 3rd | Food Project World Environment Day (Wed 5th June) | Considerate confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- building positive moral attributes, having a positive impact on the world, looking after physical wellbeing, consideration of others PSHE- link to Wider World, Wellbeing and Relationships SMSC - spiritual, social, moral, cultural | Wellbeing theme for this term- Gratitude |
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| 2 (10th June) | Food Project | |||
| 3 (17th June) | Food Project | |||
| 4 (24th June) | Wellbeing fortnight:
| Considerate confident, independent individuals. Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- taking responsibility for personal mental health and wellbeing PSHE- Health and Wellbeing SMSC - spiritual | Wellbeing theme for this term- Gratitude Re-focus day allows revisiting of previous PSHE content (interleaving) | |
| 5 (1st July) | Wellbeing fortnight:
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| 6 (8th July) | Dilemmas, Quizzes, Debates | Eager for life-long learning Considerate confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- resolving conflict, listening to the point of view of others, respecting others, British values, learning about the world around them, developing cultural awareness PSHE- links to Wider World and Relationships SMSC - social, moral, cultural | Building community spirit and developing community relationships Exploring new concepts/ topics | |
| 7 (15th July) | Summer Celebrations |
The Role of the Mentor
The role of the Mentor is to facilitate each student's personal development across their time at Highworth, in line with the school’s REACH ethos. Being a Mentor is a key part of our vertical tutoring Learning Community system whereby personal development is encouraged through learning from and collaboration with others.