Being a partnership mentor

Becoming a Mentor  

If a school wishes to enter Partnership with the university it is a requirement of the Partnership that there are recognised and trained mentors in each school. These mentors are seen as the key contacts in the partnership with the University of Worcester. The mentor is responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the trainee teacher in school. Full responsibilities can be seen in the Primary Partnership Handbook.

The training is made up of 3 sections, Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3.

• Tier 1 is general mentor training and covers Effective Mentoring, Instructional Coaching and Giving Effective Feedback.

Tier 1 can be completed face to face on the dates below OR an online course.

Tier 1 also incorporates our Skills Audit.

• Tier 2 is New to Worcester training (The Worcester Way) and covers The Trainee Curriculum, Phase and Subject Specific Coaching and Mentoring on Mentoring.

Tier 2 can be completed face to face on the dates below OR an online course.

• Tier 3 are the School Priority briefings cover the information specific to the appropriate course, phase, subject and cohort.

Tier 3 are online sessions which mentors can either attend ‘live’ or watch a recording.   

The training is being held throughout the year and you can book into the sessions on our portal.

Where a group or consortium of local schools require mentor training, we can look to deliver at the local level.

For dates of initial mentor training courses, please see below and if you need any further information contact Natalie Taylor (Mentor Training Coordinator) – natalie.taylor@worc.ac.uk

Continuing Professional Development

There is a full range of training and professional development opportunities available through the University of Worcester for both individual, group or school consortium-based activities or programmes. Details of bespoke and consultancy services can be found here. Alternatively, you may want to consider continuing onto our MA Education or Professional Doctorate programme.

Other aspects of professional involvement in teacher education include working in partnership in the programme development, governance, and other professional opportunities for course moderation. Mentors are also represented and contribute to each Course Management and Governance Board meetings.

Mentor training days

The following mentor training days are organised for this academic year. Places are booked online on the placement portal or by emailing natalie.taylor@worc.ac.uk.  

Onsite school-based training can be arranged if there are sufficient numbers.  

Tier 1

All mentors need to complete this training once.

Applicable to all cohorts.

Tier 2

Mandatory for all new mentors and mentors who have not previously engaged with training.

New mentors need to complete this training once.

Applicable to all cohorts.

Tier 3

Online School Experience Briefings and Course Updates

The range and scope of training for mentors changes to meet the needs of the partnership in response to course priorities. There is an expectation that all mentors hosting a trainee attend school experience briefings. These all take place online and only one briefing needs to be attended per cohort.

Places are booked online on the placement portal. All briefings will be recorded.