Other Students as Role Models

Getting Older Students to be Role Models for Younger Students

There are two windows of opportunity for students to coach pupils. They exist in the transition periods between two levels in the Education System, before the Summer Holidays.

Transitions

1. Primary to Secondary
2. Secondary to College.

The Situation

Pupils in their last year of Primary are going to a Secondary school after the summer holidays. It would be helpful for the pupils to get to know the school and the teachers in advance.

Students in their last year of Secondary. Having spent months swotting and working hard to get through their final exams, they have a lot of waiting time until they start again after the summer.?

In schools, near the end of the academic year, there is usually a lot of activity especially around transitioning to the next level of education. The details vary from country to country. Here is an explanation of the different ages at which schoolchildren move through the education system, in different countries.

The Solution

Pair up younger pupils with older students, and let them spend the day together.

Let them talk with each other, informally. Let the younger pupils see and hear what lessons are like at their next education level.

Encourage them to dream. Set goals!

Plan for the Day

9 am Primary pupils begin at their own school and are transported to the Secondary school

10 am Student-Pupil pairs meet for a late breakfast at the Secondary school

11 am Tour of the buildings and facilities

12 pm Lunch

1 pm Student-Pupil pairs attend Maths lessons and/or English lessons

2 pm Games with the teachers

3 pm Primary pupils return to Primary school

Benefits

• Younger pupils get the chance to see what the next education level looks like.
• Observing lessons, they see teachers and other students interacting, and learn what's expected of them.
• The informal conversations as the pairs walk around the school, sit together at lunch or in lessons offers coaching opportunities which help to reveal ambitions, set goals, and name any fears there may be lurking.
• The older students can be rewarded with a Thank You letter from the School Head to add to their CV and exam certificates.?
• Teachers gain a first impression of the pupils they will be teaching after the summer and can ask their Primary teachers for specific information as needed in an informal way.

Where does coaching come into this?

Students can be briefed on what a coaching approach entails: non-judgement, curiosity, listening etc.

They can be given suggestions for open-ended questions to ask about the pupils' backgrounds, dreams, fears etc.

Such questions can be used on a 1-1 basis. They can be posted on the corridor walls and used as the pairs walk around the school.

In this way, the pupils will have their first encounter with the Secondary school’s coaching culture.

Mentor programs - already happening

Many Secondary schools run informal mentor programs pairing up first year and final year students. Informal meetings with teachers (and snacks and drinks) can help form additional supportive relationships. Some schools offer training for the final year students in informal leadership, coaching, mentoring etc. The schools issue certificates for attendance and participation.