A GROUP of year 12 students from South Bromsgrove High School have completed a special course so they can help support younger students with their lessons.
The innovative ‘An Introduction to Coaching and Support’ usually aimed at adults was run by Chris Giles and Helene Rogers and saw the 48 sixth-formers improve their coaching skills and knowledge and learn about different theories.
The intensive six-hours worth of training enables the participants to develop their leadership skills and help their fellow students in the lower school overcome emotional and academic barriers in the subjects they enjoy doing.
Suzie Dunster, one of the pupils trained, said they were encouraged to think about how to interact with new people and make people feel relaxed.
“I can use careful questions to dig deeper into issues and get students to provide the solutions they need to help them move forward.”
Headteacher Chris Smith said it was fantastic for the sixth-formers to serve the wider South community.
“It makes me feel very proud to be the headteacher of a school that has the desire, expertise and determination to put a programme like this in place.”
Course developer and author of several internationally-recognised books on coaching, Will Thomas, described the school’s implementation of the course as ‘a beautifully ground-breaking piece of work that’s such a contribution to these young people and all those they work with’.
