Why become a mentor? This is a big question! Mentors are the cornerstone of early career teacher induction, and key to the success of initial teacher training trainees. While the mentoring role is an additional one for many teachers, the benefits to your own practice can be extensive - from access to the most up-to-date evidence around what makes good teaching, to dedicated training and networking events. Successful mentors develop their interpersonal skills as well as seeing improvements in their own teaching.  

According to the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), mentor drop-out can have detrimental effects on mentees, and it is important to consider how to support mentors.

ITT providers are required to ‘establish a professional network of well-trained and expert mentors’, from 2024 as a result of the ITT Market Review.

This is why the Julian Teaching School Hub is committed to supporting mentors working with us.

On Thursday 9 March teaching school hubs from across the East of England welcomed Deans for Impact to support their third annual mentor conference. Drawing on the Science of Learning, over 150 mentors from Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex came together to share an understanding of how to support their mentees.

The Julian Teaching School Hub, in partnership with NASBTT, is currently piloting an Advanced Instructional Coaching course, aimed at experienced mentors. Over 100 mentors have been exploring examples of effective approximations of practice, culminating in recomposition of practice in a lesson context, including video examples from both primary and secondary teachers.

The National Professional Qualification in Leading Teacher Development (NPQLTD) is ideal for those who have, or are aspiring to have, responsibilities for leading the development of other teachers, such as Senior Leader, initial teacher trainee/early career teacher mentor, faculty leader and classroom teacher.

NPQs remain fully funded for Autumn 2023 and Spring 2024.

Register your interest in our NPQs here.