Chelsea Academy
Programme
Over the 2024/5 academic year, Oppidan mentors are running our Peer Mentor Training Journey at Chelsea Academy. 34 Year 12 mentors were trained in January 2025, with one-to-one peer mentoring sessions taking place with their Year 7 mentees throughout the Spring and Summer terms.
We will be back in the Summer Term for our Reflection Day with the Year 12 mentors: each will receive a one-to-one session with an Oppidan mentor, reflecting on their experience on the programme, the skills they learnt and making a game plan for how they are going to use these skills and this experience moving forward.
Thanks very much to our school lead at Chelsea Academy, James Flitcroft, who said this about the programme: “The programme is efficient, insofar as a large number of students gain something valuable from both Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 5. Year 7 students gain emotional and educational support at a critical time in their journey through formal schooling. Y12 students are empowered to become future leaders/trusted experts and to enrich their own CV in a world of competitive entry into both Higher Education and employment.’”
Outcomes from previous programmes at Chelsea Academy
Mentoring programme led to significant growth in self-awareness among Y12 mentors
35% increase in understanding feelings, 45% increase in recognising reasons behind emotions, and 31% increase in comprehending behaviours.
Enhanced speaking skills observed in both Y12 mentors and Y7 mentees
27% increase in speaking clearly to unfamiliar individuals or small groups for mentors, and 5% improvement for mentees. Additionally, mentors showed a 35% increase in speaking engagingly, and mentees demonstrated a 6% improvement in this area.
Development of leadership skills among Y12 mentors
4% increase in supporting others through motivation and a substantial 42% increase in supporting others through active guidance and empowerment.
Improvement in resilience and self-efficacy for Y7 mentees
16% increase in belief as good students, 17% increase in belief in having excellent skills, and a 13% increase in ability to concentrate on projects.
Increased sense of belonging and significance for both Y12 mentors and Y7 mentees
30% increase in mentors feeling they matter a tremendous amount to others at their school, and 59% of Y7 pupils feeling a complete sense of belonging.