UCL Outreach

We currently work with twelve schools and colleges across London and last year placed over 120 mentors.

The schools and colleges we work with are all based in London and are non-selective state schools in boroughs such as Tower Hamlets, Camden and Westminster.

Last year, UCL mentors spent nearly 1000 hours working with 215 young people to enable them achieve their potential and focus on their plans for the future.

“My mentor has helped me make a clear plan of my future and has helped me achieve some of my goals”

Year 9 student, Parliament Hill School

Year 9 and 10 Gifted and Talented Mentoring programme

Our Year 9 and 10 programme seeks to raise the attainment of gifted and talented young people in secondary schools across London. By providing one-to-one support we hope to enable pupils to develop the attitudes, skills and confidence they need to succeed at GCSE. The programme will provide schools with an additional resource to help their students achieve their full potential. 

UCL mentors are matched with a school and a mentee, and meet with their mentee regularly throughout one academic year. Mentors will help mentees with their current school work and set realistic targets for their mentee to achieve over the year. This will be a subject that mentors are either currently studying or studied to A-Level or equivalent. By working towards targets with the support and guidance of a mentor, the confidence of the mentee improves, allowing them to make the most of their talents and make their own, well-informed decisions about their future. 

Year 12 Gifted and Talented Mentoring programme

Our Year 12 programme aims to maximise the potential of gifted A Level students, by stretching them academically during their first year at college. This programme will help mentees develop the necessary research and analytical skills required for academic study, as well as gain an insight into what higher education has to offer.

UCL mentors will work with small groups of students, and meet with their group regularly throughout one academic year. Unlike our Year 9 and 10 programme, mentors will be expected to devise short subject-specific seminars for their small group which will push students to think outside of the A Level syllabus. We hope this group mentoring will empower Year 12 students to meet the challenges of applying for, and studying in, highly selective universities like UCL.

All mentors will be provided with extensive training from the UCL Outreach Team which will equip them with the skills and resources to be effective mentors. 

City and Islington College Mentoring programme

Our City and Islington College programme supports Year 12 and 13 students through classroom support at after school and lunch time subject specific clubs. UCL mentors would provide help with homework and coursework to students at 'drop-in' classes at the college. For example, lunchtime Maths Drop-In Clinics to help Year 12 and 13 studying Maths/Further Maths at AS and A Level.

What makes a good student mentor?

• Commitment, perseverance and reliability
• Good organisational skills
• Good communication skills – particularly listening
• Adaptability
• Patience
• A positive approach
• Ability to be open-minded
• A good sense of humour

Time

We ask mentors to commit to one hour a week, plus any additional traveling time to the schools from UCL which could range from 20-50 minutes. We expect mentors to commit to weekly sessions throughout the academic year from November – June.

Commitment

We have built strong and lasting relationships with schools and colleges across London and expect mentors to help us maintain these relationships and represent UCL in the best possible light. This involves mentors being on time for scheduled sessions and giving plenty of notice if they are unable to attend.  

Applications for this year's Outreach Mentoring Programme have now closed.

The mentor application form for the 2013 - 2014 Outreach Mentoring Programme will go online in June 2013.