Education

Developing Role Models: Peer-Led Mentoring in Schools

Module code: X3257
Level 5
15 credits in spring semester
Teaching method: Seminar, Workshop
Assessment modes: Essay, Group presentation

The Role Models Project is a peer-led mentoring project, training students to create and facilitate workshops for groups of young people (aged 12-15) at BACA (Brighton Aldridge Community Academy), a local secondary school.

The aim of the Role Models Project is to provide young people in the local community with role models, a safe supported space to be listened to and ask questions, and an appropriate environment in which to engage with important PSHE topics. We deliver 1-1 workshops with Sussex students and young people to enable the peer-mentoring element, rethink traditional education models and focus on small group work and conversations.

‘Developing Role Models: Peer-Led Mentoring in Schools’ is the second module in this area, and can be taken independently or as a follow up to ‘Discovering Role Models: Mentoring’. This second module allows you to create more in-depth workshops, with a focus on developing the young people’s agency and critical thinking.

The topics and type of workshops created will be led by what you are passionate about within the broad PSHE framework, “what you wish you’d known”, your reflections and feedback received on the Autumn term, and what the young people at BACA feel is relevant and interesting to them. Themes in the past have included gender identity, sexuality, relationships, the media and more.

On this module you will be asked to bring your passion, ideas and reflections on your own experience. You will build your skills and confidence in participatory facilitation and working with young people. You’ll explore the project’s social pedagogic theoretical framework and topic-specific training, as well as essential safeguarding and boundaries training.

This will enable you to combine academic learning with practical application so you can research, design and deliver workshops as a team to the young people at BACA, and become involved in a national dialogue on PSHE education.

Module learning outcomes

• Demonstrate knowledge and understanding, interpersonal skills and confidence to successfully and meaningfully engage in The Role Models Project;
• Reflect on, discuss and present individual experiences of childhood, education and family life, PHSE curriculum topics (e.g. mental health, food and body image, sexuality and gender) which inform or challenge their own opinions
• Develop and employ specific study skills (including: academic writing and independent learning) and creative ways to construct and present informed positions and arguments