On the first day of Term 1, parents of all boys in Years 8-12 were invited to attend meetings with their sons’ Mentors to connect them in a formal way with their primary carers at school. The interviews allowed the parents and boys to receive feedback on last year’s final report and set some goals for the year ahead. Other relevant family issues were covered which allowed each Mentor to gain helpful insight into the boy’s family life. Issues such as effort levels, co-curricular involvement, Service Learning options and an outline of the well-being focus for the year, were discussed.

The anecdotal feedback from parents was overwhelmingly positive with many enjoying the very personal connection with their son’s Mentor. The boys also enjoyed the experience and were allowed to outline their goals for the year within a realistic and supportive framework.

The Mentor structure at Newington has been in existence for many years with the Mentor in Year 8 travelling through school life with the boy all the way to Year 12. This allows a more personal relationship with the family and significant support that is both sustained and detailed, allowing the boy to flourish. The title ‘Mentor’ is quite deliberate as opposed to ‘homeroom teacher’ or ‘tutor’. Mentoring allows a more personal relationship that is focused on the whole boy and not just his academic or administrative needs. Between Year 8 and Year 12, a great deal of change occurs and this growth needs careful personal management in an age-appropriate way. Mentoring can also be a powerful personal development tool. It allows and encourages boys to be themselves and be honest about their goals, strengths and struggles. The term ‘Mentor’ also suggests a partnership, a sharing relationship based upon trust and respect. The Mentor often asks questions of their boys; challenges them and their thinking on a range of issues.

The Mentor is often an advocate for the boy when dealing with other teaching staff. They are able to personalise the situations and put some demanding school-based issues into a personal and relational context. The concept of Mentoring at Newington is ‘boy-centred’. It reflects our desire to really know our boys and help them grow in their own personal way so they can become young men of good character.

In many work situations, mentoring has proved to be hugely successful and the Newington model is an adaptation of that. The other key issue for young men is that good mentoring is a protective factor against issues such as mental ill-health. Professor Ian Hickie from the Brain and Mind Institute at Sydney University spoke to Prefects from several schools and addressed our parents in our Ethics Centre lecture last week where he highlighted the strengths of good mentoring, especially for young men. The knowledge that support is ever-present with a measure of accountability is hugely significant in reducing risky behaviour and feelings of social isolation. Research shows that boys and men do not often seek help in the area of mental health and to have a critical friend, a mentor or partnership with an adult who can guide them, is priceless.

The Mentors at Newington are teachers of academic disciplines who are also professionally developed in their role of mentoring teenagers. They often cover sensitive topics and guide the boys in decisions from careers to their social life. The well-being of the boys is our primary focus at Newington and the highly relational nature of the Mentor allows well-being to flourish in our young men as we work in partnership with our parents.

Mr Bob Meakin
Deputy Head of Stanmore (Students)