UCL mentors significantly improve inner city school GCSE grades.

UCL mentors significantly improve inner city school GCSE grades. A pilot mentoring scheme at South Camden Community School involving UCL students is resulting in most pupils exceeding expectations and gaining GCSE points significantly beyond predictions. Research at the school demonstrates that school students are achieving better than expected grades at GCSE as a direct result of the two-year project. Chris Gibson, Excellence in Cities Manager at South Camden Community College, says: "Our students need more than soap stars and sporting heroes to look up to. They need strong role models with as much in common with them as possible. We never doubt our students' potential but often they lack the necessary support to succeed in education. UCL mentors have faced similar barriers to those faced by inner city pupils and have overcome them to achieve academic success". Michael Sulu, a UCL chemical engineering undergraduate and mentor at South Camden Community School says: "Whilst I obviously benefit myself from the project, the biggest reward I get is seeing a student from a less privileged background achieve success at GCSE level". The scheme is part of UCL's Widening Participation strategy which aims to put in place procedures and activities which will lead to an increase in the number of students from under-represented groups at UCL, and to ensure that, once on course, they do as well as students from other backgrounds. ULC students who opt into the scheme are paid to work for one or two hours a week with individual underachieving students from Key Stages 4 & 5. The scheme offers undergraduates the opportunity to improve their own communication skills as well as gaining a greater understanding of the teaching and learning process. Further Information: Heidi Foden, UCL Media Relations, 020 7679 7678, h.foden@ucl.ac.uk Note to Editors: 1. A presentation ceremony to recognise the work of the mentors will take place at University College London, Gower Street, London, Monday 22 April 2002 at 12pm. For press attendance please contact Heidi Foden, Media Relations Officer. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/19/20020419BIT00910/wkr0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2002/04/19/20020419BIT00910/wkr0002.pdf