Students in Schools Mentoring

The University of Derby's Students in Schools Programme connects primary and secondary schools with trained student mentors who inspire young people to think ambitiously about their future.

Through mentoring and literacy-based support, pupils benefit from positive role models who help them build confidence, develop key skills and explore the opportunities available to them. Designed to complement your school's wider personal development and aspiration-raising activities, the programme supports pupils to recognise their strengths and take positive steps towards their goals.

Programme Overview

An 8-week mentoring programme delivered during term time.
Student mentors work with the same group of pupils throughout the programme to build positive and meaningful relationships.
Pupils receive a minimum of one hour of mentoring each week for eight consecutive weeks.
All sessions are delivered on school premises during the school day.
All student mentors are DBS checked through the University of Derby.
The University of Derby recruits, trains and supports all mentors before they begin delivery.
A range of structured resources and activities are provided to mentors to support session delivery.

What We Offer

Mindset Mentoring for Year 10 pupils

Our trained student mentors work with individual or small groups of pupils through an 8 week series of goal-setting and attainment raising sessions focused on:

Building confidence.
Developing study and organisational skills.
Exploring future education and career pathways.
Raising aspirations and motivation.

Reading Heroes for Year 5/6 pupils

Reading Heroes supports primary school pupils who would benefit from additional encouragement with reading and comprehension. Aimed at pupils with lower than average reading age identified by the school as requiring extra support.

University student mentors work with pupils through an 8 week series of reading sessions, helping to:

Improve reading confidence.
Encourage a love of reading.
Develop literacy and communication skills.
Provide positive role models for young learners.

What We Ask From Schools

To support the successful delivery and evaluation of the programme, participating schools will be asked to:

Nominate a member of staff to act as the main programme contact.
Support the completion of baseline and end-point evaluations to help measure programme impact, for teachers and pupils.
Identify students who would benefit from participation.
Provide participant data required for programme administration and evaluation, including HEAT tracking data in line with the Collaboration Agreement and relevant data protection requirements.

How to Get Involved

If you would like to register your school for the Students in Schools mentoring programme please complete the online application form below.

As part of the application process, schools will be required to review and complete the Collaboration Agreement, which outlines the responsibilities of both the University of Derby and participating schools. The agreement helps ensure that the programme is delivered effectively, safely and in partnership with your school.

Please download our Students in Schools Collaboration Agreement (downloads as a PDF) to sign and attach to complete the registration form.

If you require the parent/guardian guarantee in an alternative format, please contact sclteam@derby.ac.uk.

The signed Collaboration Agreement should be uploaded as part of the registration process.

Programme Eligibility Notice

Please note that participation in the Students in Schools programmes is subject to eligibility criteria.

Mindset Mentoring is available to local eligible secondary schools listed in the form below.
Reading Heroes is currently available only to primary schools within Derby.

For more information, check eligibility or to discuss Students in Schools, please email sclteam@derby.ac.uk

Students in Schools Registration

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