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European School Education Platform: Survey on school mentoring programmes

Mentoring usually refers to the process of an experienced person, the mentor, assisting another person, the mentee, in developing specific skills and knowledge that will enhance the mentee’s professional and personal growth. At school level, mentoring opportunities are available for pupils, usually focusing on their educational performance and social-emotional support, and teachers, in the context of initial training or continuous professional development programmes, for example.

The importance of mentoring within school education is acknowledged in EU level policies and practices. For instance, the recent Council Recommendation on Pathways to School Success suggests that mentoring schemes, including peer mentoring, may contribute to better educational outcomes and socio-emotional support, in particular for socioeconomically disadvantaged pupils or those at risk of underachievement.

Moreover, the accompanying staff working document notes that sustained, structured mentoring with a set time and opportunities for modelling, practice, assessment, support, and feedback by school professionals is an important factor to support student teachers in initial teacher education and newly appointed teachers. Mentoring can help them better understand their roles and apply innovative teaching techniques and is strongly related to teacher well-being (work enjoyment, motivation, self-efficacy, and teacher retention).

Share your views in this short survey – The results will be published on the European School Education Platform.

Image: Pixabay / Geralt