The Power of Mentoring: Guiding Your ECT to Success

As a mentor, you play a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of teachers. You are the expert in the room the bridge that connects theory to the reality of your specific subject and school context. Through weekly observations and targeted instructional coaching, you give your Early Career Teacher (ECT) the best possible start to their career.

What Does a Mentor Do?

Your core impact comes from a regular, structured cycle of support designed to bridge the "knowing-doing" gap for your ECT:

• Low-Stakes Observations: Spend roughly 15 minutes observing your ECT. This happens weekly for ECTs and fortnightly for ECT+1s, recorded seamlessly via Steplab.

• Weekly Mentor Meetings: Dedicate 45 minutes to instructional coaching. This session focuses on deliberate practice, allowing your ECT to rehearse and refine their skills in a safe environment.

• Your Own Professional Development: Mentors learn too! During your first year, you will attend:

• Two Conferences: One at the start and one at the end of the academic year.

• Two Online Clinics: Interactive sessions to sharpen your coaching techniques.

Networking Note: Our training events are fantastic opportunities to connect. In fact, two of our mentors met in an online breakout room, became close friends, and are now Visiting Fellows delivering our clinics! You never know where this journey might take your career.