UCL Academy pupils supported in their education journey by UCL student mentors

UCL Academy, Brightside Mentoring and UCL partner so university students can mentor Year 8 and Year 12 pupils to make confident and informed decisions about their future options.

About UCL Academy

UCL is the first university in the country to be the sole sponsor of an academy – a non-selective mixed state school in our home borough of Camden.

We took this step because we believe that by sharing facilities, expertise and providing support to teachers and pupils, we can bring about a fundamental improvement in the educational experience of students in the school and beyond.

The UCL Academy opened in September 2012 with 180 students in Foundation and 125 students in Level 3. It reached its full capacity of 1,150 students in the autumn of 2016.

Collaborative mentoring project

The Brightside Mentoring Project, established in 2013, is just one example of how UCL staff and students work to support and maintain strong links with the Academy.

Through this project, UCL undergraduate and postgraduate students act as mentors to groups of Level 1 (Year 8) and Level 3 (Year 12) students – using their knowledge and experience to support Academy students at key transition points in their journey through education. The mentors are recruited on a voluntary basis by Brightside mentoring, an education charity working with the Volunteering Service at UCL.

Project structure

Mentoring takes place in the spring term and is delivered over 4 in-school sessions for each year group, and through extended one-to-one online mentoring for Level 3 (Year 12) students. The project adapted to online mentoring for both groups this year, due to Covid-19.

UCL mentors are role models and sources of advice and support for Academy students, helping them to think about their GCSE options in Year 9 (L1+). Mentoring gives our students an insight into post-16 and post-18 options, increases their human and social capital, and supports them to make confident and informed decisions about their future options.

The specific outcomes for Level 1 (Year 8) are:

• Awareness of own skills
• Understanding of university life
• Confidence about choosing GCSE subjects in Level 1+

Level 3 (Year 12) students complete the scheme with:

• An understanding of university application process
• Knowledge about communicating skills and experience in applications
• An understanding of university study and student life 
• Confidence about applying for university or an apprenticeship

Mentor training and support

The mentors are supported by Brightside – a mentoring organisation that connects trained mentors with young people who are exploring options for their future. Brightside supports UCL students to be inspiring role models, enabling young people to develop skills, grow in knowledge and awareness of their future options, and supporting them to make confident and informed decisions about their futures.

“A tip for anyone implementing this type of project? Always have in mind that the student is the ‘beneficiary’ of the project objective in the end; and with this in mind only the best should be provided. - Eranda Aliu (Careers and UCL Links Coordinator, UCL Academy)

Reach and impact

Over 270 UCL mentors have taken part in the project since it began in 2013. Over that period, 1900 Level 1 (Year 8) and over 750 Level 3 (Year 12) UCL Academy students have benefitted from their mentoring.

A survey of 2020-21 mentors and mentees shows both participant types had a broadly positive experience:

• 83% of mentors agreed that they felt they had a positive impact on the students they spoke to
• 66% of mentors agreed that students were well engaged in the project.

• 61% mentees strongly agreed that they learned new things from the UCL student mentors
• 67% mentees strongly agreed that the mentors spoke about things that were relevant to them
• 63% strongly agreed that they learned more about life as a university student
• 59% strongly agreed that the experience helped them feel more prepared to choose their GCSE subjects.

Future development

To anyone considering a similar project, we'd recommend ensuring that Level 1 mentees are introduced to the project accordingly and well ahead, its aims and purpose, and its timeline; this is so that the first session can support students in contextualizing their mentoring. We’re planning on making sure a Welcome Video is shared appropriately via L1 Tutors in an assembly or in tutor groups in future.

The Brightside Mentoring Project will continue well into next year but, Covid-dependant, we are considering a change into the delivery of the format of our L2 students. Watch this space!