Motivating Mentors - Raising Aspirations through our workforce

Each member of the team shares their educational background, skills and employment routes with the students. The workshop is set around fun and informative challenges and runs as follows.

Session one - Ice Breaker

The workshop starts with an ice breaker game in order to get the mentors and pupils talking to each another.

Session two - Whose line is it anyway?

Students then split into four equal teams and are tasked with guessing each of the mentor's occupations.  The mentors can only answer yes or no to student questions.  The team who correctly identify  the majority of mentor's occupations wins the challenge.

Session three - A typical day in the life of ...

Students split into smaller groups of two. Each pair works with a mentor in order to produce a poster detailing "a typical day in the life" of that person  - for example a typical day in the life of a sports development officer.  Each group present their findings to the group.

Session four - Speed Mentoring

Students then have the opportunity to spend five minutes with each mentor discussing roles responsibilities, progression routes into training and employment, pay, skills, conditions and career aspirations. Students record this information so that they can research further should the job interest them.

The Outcomes:

Each pupil develops a good understanding of different job opportunities and what key skills/abilities and qualifications are required to be successful in the world of business.  Wider learning outcomes included:

• Development of communication skils
• Appreciation of team work skills
• Information gathering processes
• Communicating and working with adults other than teachers
• Understanding the importance of GCSE results and future training
• Raise and realise career aspirations

This activity covers all elements of the WRL framework and contributes to the Every child Matters outcomes.

Testimonials from Mentors:

Mentor:         Sarah Williams

Profession:   Sports Development Officer

Company:     Active Sports - Surrey

"This workshop really does help to educate pupils on the skills and abilities employers require.  The workshop provides pupils with the opportunity to gain real-world examples and advice from working business professionals."

Mentor:          Samantha Holloway

Profession:    Assistant Manager

Company:      Woolworths

"I really enjoyed being part of this workshop.  It's great to see the confidence and enthusiam grow in the individuals as the day proceeds.  Each pupil gains a comprehensive understanding of how different professions operate through fun and challenging activities."

Mentor:           Sarah Dolbear

Profession:     Training Manager

Company:       Woking Borough Council

"I left school with very few GCSE results and therefore my route into employment was twice as long as my school buddies.  I talk from experience when I say GCSE results really do count."

Testimonials from Pupils:

"I loved working with the ladies' football team, they were fun and told us all about lots of different jobs we could do.  They have made me think about how important GCSE results are and I will try even harder now at school."

 Pupil

"This workshop relly helped me to decide that I certainly would like to become a personal fitness trainer.  The lady from Bracknell told me about what she does, how much she gets paid, when she works, what her clients are like and what qualifications I need and stuff."

Pupil