A few weeks ago, Wilson’s School launched its Outreach program for its current Year 12 cohort. I was lucky enough to be allowed to take part in the mentoring section of the program, and I’d like to explain a little bit about what it has been like, so far.
Outline –
The Grammar Schools Outreach program, in Sutton, aims to encourage local grammar schools to give back to local primary schools.
Part of this program is the mentoring section, which comprises of weekly after-school sessions, where pupils, in Year 5, from various local primary schools, come into the school, are assigned a mentor in Year 12, and are taught a lesson in either English, or Maths, by a member of the teaching staff at the school.
Each session involves a starter activity, whole-class discussion, and other longer activities, as well as homework.
However, the pupils are given a fortnight to complete the work that has been set for a particular subject because the subject of the session alternates each week.
First Two Sessions –
The first session was Maths, and it included a brief introduction to the program, and then the Year 5 pupils were given each a booklet with some activities, including column addition, word problems and multiple-choice problems.
There were opportunities for them to put up their hands and answer questions, but in the spirit of Wilson’s School, the majority of the time, the teacher, Mr Sturt, leading the session, would call on different students to answer, giving them a taste of the practice of hands-down questioning at our School.
The second session was English, and the students were asked to examine book covers, given an extract to read, and answered some comprehension questions based on it. They were also set homework at the end of each session.
Why Run The Program? -
Many students in local primary schools are very ambitious about their future, but, due to their circumstances, are at a disadvantage, and, despite being very gifted and diligent about their studies, may not have the opportunity to receive the help they need to fulfil their ambitions.
Therefore, it is important for local grammar schools, such as Wilson’s, to reach out to these schools, and provide this opportunity for students who want it.
Why Take Part? -
When I was in Year 5, I wanted to go to Wilson’s, and so did my parents, and I know that, had I had this kind of opportunity, I would have taken it.
I didn’t have this kind of opportunity, so I would like to take part in providing it for these students, who are in the same position that I was in around seven years ago.
If the opportunity to give back to your local community is available to you, in this form, or in another, I would sincerely encourage you to take it; from my short experience so far, I have walked home, after each session, after 5 pm, feeling fulfilled; helping others voluntarily, and giving up our time for them, is one of the few things in life which can bring us joy and happiness, that we can never have in excess.
