The course is mapped to the UK National Standards for School-based Initial Teacher Training (ITT) Mentors (2016) download PDF here.
Course Aims
The course draws on the main aims of the non-statutory UK National Standards for school-based initial teacher training (ITT) mentors (2016) in order to promote excellence in professional practice in mentoring. These are:
- To foster greater consistency in the practice of mentors by identifying the effective characteristics of mentoring, leading to an improved and more coherent experience for trainees so that they develop into effective teachers.
- To raise the profile of mentoring and provide a framework for the professional development of current and aspiring mentors. This aim recognises the contribution that mentors make to their colleagues’ practice and how this will help raise standards and improve the quality of teaching across the profession, leading to improved outcomes for children. This recognition will, in turn, lead to the development of a sense of identity for ITT mentors and support the growth of ITT mentor networks.
- To contribute to the building of a culture of coaching and mentoring in schools, in which the standards have a resonance beyond the training period and into teachers’ early professional development, where high-quality mentoring and coaching are just as valuable.
The course further aims to extend these principles in order to promote creativity in mentoring and a shared sense of inspirational and outstanding professional practice.
Course Objectives
Having completed the course you will be able to:
- Identify the mentor standards and understand their relevance and application to mentoring practice.
- Understand the set of knowledge and skills that constitute competence in mentoring and how these can be developed.
- Reflect critically on your own mentoring practice and understand how to identify gaps and weaknesses in your current practice and that of others and to use this knowledge to improve mentoring practice.
- Participate effectively in professional communities of mentors in order to share individual professional practice and to draw from the practice of others.
What does the curriculum cover?
Workbook 1: Introduction and induction
Workbook 2: Modelling & Developing Professional Relationships
Workbook 3: Developing Mentees’ Professionalism
Workbook 4: Supporting & Guiding Mentees
Workbook 5: Mentors, Mentees and Professional Development
See E-learning page to hear about our pedagogy and for an outline of course learning activities and the workbook programme.