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
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Core Aims of Mentor Period |
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Reflective, creative and innovative |
To explore issues in the wider world in order to become more informed of relevant community, national and global events |
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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 |
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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 |
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Considerate, confident, independent individuals |
To develop positive relationships with peers across different ages, growing the necessary skills to collaborate with and learn from others |
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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 2024-25
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Term 1 |
Mentor Tasks |
Personal Development |
Rationale |
Assembly Themes |
Overall Theme |
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2 September 2024 |
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Reflective, creative and innovative Being Creative and Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- working as a team, learning about the Highworth community,local charities and leadership skills Reflecting on last year and creating REACH goals. Aiming to achieve their full potential SMSC - social Cultural- culture days reflecting communities in Highworth, staff interview on arts & music etc. Literacy skills
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Mentor achievements box - this is a box where each Mentor Group will gather any successes and achievements throughout the year both inside and outside of school Building community spirit and developing community relationships Exploring new concepts/ topics Building links with the local community
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RReflective, creative and innovative
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9 September 2024 |
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16 September 2024 |
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23 September 2024 |
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30 September 2024 |
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7 October 2024 |
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14 October 2024 |
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Term 2 |
Mentor Tasks |
Personal Development |
Rationale |
Assembly Themes |
Overall Themes |
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04 November 2024 |
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Eager for lifelong learning Character development voting and politics, leadership skills. resolving conflict, listening to the point of view of others, respecting others, British values, learning about the world around them, developing cultural awareness Happy in a caring, respectful community SMSC - cultural (Culture days of communities in Highworth, staff interview, uniquely British culture), social, moral British Values - respect & tolerance
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Building community spirit and developing community relationships Exploring new concepts/ topics Opportunity to develop creative problem solving Opportunity to teach others what they have learned
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EEager for life-long learning
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11 November 2024 |
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18 November 2024 |
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25 November 2024 |
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02 December 2024 |
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09 December 2024 |
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16 December 2024 |
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Term 3 |
Mentor Tasks |
Personal Development |
Rationale |
Assembly Themes |
Overall Themes |
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6 January 2025 |
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Aiming to achieve their full potential Character development- working as a team, learning about each other's community, local communities and leadership skills. Looking after your mental and physical health Creating revision structure and leadership skills Literacy skills Reflecting on previous aspirations. Aiming to achieve their full potential. Aspirations to create goals. SMSC - spiritual (developing yourself), Cultural (staff interview into the arts, culture days of communities in Highworth)
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Building community spirit and developing community relationships. Opportunity to develop creative problem solving Opportunity to teach others what they have learned Exploring new concepts/ topics
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AAiming to achieve their full potential
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13 January 2025 |
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20 January 2025 |
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27 January 2025 |
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3 February 2025 |
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10 February 2025 |
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Term 4 |
Mentor Tasks |
Personal Development |
Rationale |
Assembly Themes |
Overall Themes |
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24 February 2025 |
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Considerate confident, independent individuals. Reflective, creative and innovative Eager for life-long learning Looking after health and relationships for the future. Character development- developing curiosity and seeking improvement, creative solutions to problems. SMSC - spiritual, social, Cultural (Cultural days of communities in Highworth,uniquely British) Literacy skills
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Building community spirit and developing community relationships. Opportunity to develop creative problem solving Opportunity to teach others what they have learnt Exploring new concepts/ topics
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CConsiderate, confident, independent individuals
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03 March 2025 |
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10 March 2025 |
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17 March 2025 |
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24 March 2025 |
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31 March 2025 |
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07 April 2025 |
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Term 5 |
Mentor Tasks |
Personal Development |
Rationale |
Assembly Themes |
Overall Themes |
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21 April 2025 |
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Considerate confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring, respectful community Character development- taking responsibility own happiness within themselves and supporting British Values SMSC - Spiritual, Cultural (staff interview of arts, food etc. uniquely British) Literacy skills
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Building community spirit and developing community relationships. Exploring new concepts/ topics
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HHappy in a caring community
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28 April 2025 |
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05 May 2025 |
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12 May 2025 |
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19 May 2025 |
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Term 6 |
Mentor Tasks |
Personal Development |
Rationale |
Assembly Themes |
Overall Themes |
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02 June 2025 |
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Celebrating success.
Reflective, creative and innovative looking back on the year and celebrating theirs and others achievements. Eager for life-long learning Looking at highlights of the years and making future achievements Aiming to achieve their full potential. Considerate, confident, independent individuals Happy in a caring community. SMSC - cultural (staff interview on arts etc, summer etiquette), social, moral British Values - respect & tolerance Literacy skills
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Building community spirit and developing community relationships. Opportunity to develop creative problem solving Opportunity to teach others what they have learnt
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Celebration and success
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09 June 2025 |
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16 June 2025 |
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23 June 2025 |
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30 June 2025 |
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07 July 2025 |
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14 July 2025 |
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21 July 2025 |
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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.