Aimhigher Norfolk

Norfolk Undergraduate Mentoring Partnership Aimhigher Norfolk supports the largest student mentoring programme in the county, and this is coordinated from the University of East Anglia.

The UEA recruits around 100 students from the university who participate in mentoring in Norfolk’s secondary schools. In the past two years the Scheme has expanded three-fold, now reaching more than half of our secondary schools from across the county, in both city and rural locations, supporting more than three hundred school students each year.

This is a fantastic achievement, and is largely due to the commitment of our student mentors, who dedicate their time and energy to developing the aspirations of their mentees. All secondary school student mentors complete a comprehensive 2-day accredited training session to help prepare them for their mentoring experiences and 87% of those student mentors participating during 2005/6 felt that this prepared them well or very well for their sessions.

 "If just one child is inspired and given the chance to realise their potential, I have achieved something, therefore I have gained!!”

The school-based coordinator holds a very important role in bringing the mentors and mentees together, and the feedback from schools participating last year has been extremely positive:

‘The mentors this year have been excellent, enthusiastic and clearly enjoy being with teenagers.’

‘Students now have higher levels of aspiration and self-belief, a calmer approach to lessons.’

‘Mentees are more confident in their work, able to focus on work better.’

 A number of face-to-face and e-mentoring projects are being developed, both with schools and colleges in Norfolk. If your school is not currently involved in this programme, please contact Alex Cole at the UEA on 01604 591514 who will provide further details.

For more information on the Norfolk Mentoring Network which encompasses a whole range of mentoring projects then contact Andy Hodgson at the Norwich Learning Partnership.