Feature

Trust brings its rewards

Trust is usually given as a reward for doing the right thing. At Penrice Community College they have turned that convention on its head and put faith in pupils who had been causing disruption. The results are striking.

The idea came from the need to engage with a group of disaffected Year 9 girls who were giving up on learning and proved a source of disruption for other pupils. Assistant Head of Year and Healthy Schools Coordinator, Clare Stephens, saw an opportunity to make a lasting difference for their emotional health and wellbeing.

The result was the 'Pink Ladies' – a group of Year 9 girls who mentor new arrivals to the school (Year 7) and help those who are finding it hard to settle. They even have their own pink hoodies to mark them out as a sign of support.

Clare explains: "Giving our Pink Ladies responsibility as peer mentors has improved their behaviour and learning and is proving a big hit with the younger pupils"

"Being responsible for other people's wellbeing has taught them a great deal about the impact of their behaviour and the benefits of working with other people. Pupils who were once regularly identified as causing concern are now at the other end of the scale and being openly praised for their progress."

Tash, one of the Pink Ladies, is pleased to have been involved. "We have worked really well as a group and supported each other. I feel more confident and can focus better on my work because of these friendships".

Shannon has also seen a different in her school life. "I've learnt that I could be good. I'm now getting on OK and not picking fights with the teacher. It feels a bit weird to feel good about yourself but I've gone up a group in some subjects and am really liking it."

Being part of this project was voluntary and the pupils must put in extra hours outside of normal school time. Yet there is a constant interest from younger girls who want to become Pink Ladies themselves. The peer mentoring approach is being cascade through the school. Some of the first group of pupils who received support last year are now themselves 'Team Leaders' based in year 8 and work alongside the Pink Ladies.

"It has been done with a sense of fun" explains Clare Stephens. "They have coped very well with now being noticed for the right reasons and they are learning because they really want to. It's their project and that shows in the buzz it has created."