College welcomes HE Geography Mentors as part of a new accredited programme developed with University of Liverpool

Thirteen Geography undergraduates from University of Liverpool joined us at the College to begin part of an accredited unit developed between the University’s Geography department and our HE Mentor Scheme.

The Mentor Scheme, which launched at the College in 2013, involves University students from Liverpool University and John Moores providing extra support and guidance to our A-Level students with their work and helps them to prepare for exams and provide insight into what to expect at University. The scheme grew from just two Higher Education mentors in one subject in its pilot year to 16 across six subjects last year.

This has now developed even further with the Geography Department at the University of Liverpool introducing it as an accredited part of their students’ degree course. Whereas all the HE mentors in the College up to now have been volunteers, our new Geography HE Mentors joining us from January 2017 will be attending as a specific part of their course until the end of the academic year. This will involve weekly 3-hour sessions allowing the HE Mentors more access to our students. They will continue to work on a 1-1 basis with students as well as being able to hold small group sessions, observe lessons and get involved with field work and trips.

Geography undergraduate, Jess Hosier who also volunteered as a HE Mentor last year at the College added, “I’m looking forward to working with the students again, it helped me to confirm I wanted to go into teaching. I noticed a real difference with the students and their work throughout the year – they were a lot more forthcoming with ideas after the first couple of sessions and began to prepare work to go through with me at our 1-1 sessions, so it definitely benefits them.” Fellow HE Mentor, Bethan Williams commented on how the introduction of the accredited unit is also benefitting them as University students, “I’ve noticed when applying for PGCE courses they are all really interested in this unit and are impressed as it shows we’re ahead in terms of understanding schemes of work.”