Mentoring For Schools

RSHE Reforms Aim to Rebalance Emotional Literacy in Schools

The Department for Education has confirmed changes to the Relationships, S*x and Health Education (RSHE) curriculum, set to begin in September 2026. One major update is a renewed focus on helping children recognise that emotions like low mood, sadness and worry are often part of normal development not always indicators of a diagnosable mental health condition.

This move responds to growing concern that current approaches may be over-medicalising everyday emotional experiences. The revised curriculum aims to equip children with the tools to name, manage and understand emotions more realistically, while also reinforcing emotional resilience.

For schools, families and mentoring organisations, this signals an important shift. It’s a chance to prioritise emotional safety and healthy dialogue helping children feel heard without needing to be “fixed.”

The success of this approach will depend on implementation. Staff and parents will need support and training to navigate conversations about mental health in ways that are honest, balanced and age-appropriate.

Our activity book support staff and children with their Emotional Literacy! Available in the UK and USA from Amazon.

The power of Active Listening and Mentoring

Mentoring in schools plays a vital role in supporting students' emotional, social, and academic development and active listening is at the heart of its success. More than just hearing, active listening means truly focusing on and responding to what a pupil says. This builds trust and creates safe spaces where students feel valued.

Research confirms this. Wesely et al. (2017) found that mentors who practiced active listening connected more deeply with at-risk youth, reducing behavioural issues and increasing trust. Similarly, Coyne-Foresi and Nowicki (2021) showed that pupils rated mentors highly when they felt genuinely listened to. These moments of connection help students become more confident, engaged, and emotionally aware.

Active listening doesn’t just benefit students, it also helps develop future leaders. Anderson and Wasonga (2017) highlighted that aspiring school leaders mentored with strong listening practices were more likely to adopt empathetic leadership styles themselves.

However, challenges exist. Lomberk et al. (2022) noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic, mentors struggled to maintain active engagement due to virtual barriers. This reveals the importance of training mentors to listen actively, even in difficult contexts.

Ultimately, when schools foster mentoring programs rooted in active listening, they create stronger relationships, better learning outcomes, and more resilient communities.

Mentoring Isn’t Just a Buzzword – It’s a Lifeline in Schools

Let’s be honest, education is full of trendy words that come and go. But mentoring? That’s not just a buzzword. It’s something real. Something that sticks, and more than anything, it’s something schools need.

Mentoring is about connection. It’s about one human saying to another: “I see you. I’ve got you. Let’s do this together.” And in schools especially, in the chaos of a tough week, a tricky class, or a struggling child—that kind of connection can change everything.

For kids, mentoring can be the thing that keeps them going. That one adult who checks in, listens, and actually cares can turn a bad day or a bad year into something hopeful. For staff, mentoring can be the difference between burning out and digging in. Feeling supported, understood, and not alone matters more than we admit.

It’s not about fancy programmes or ticking boxes. It’s about real relationships, small conversations, and quiet encouragement. Someone saying, “You matter. You’re not on your own.”

So no, mentoring isn’t a buzzword. It’s the heartbeat of a school that wants to do more than just teach it wants to care and in education today, that’s more important than ever.

That’s why we created our Worth Listening To activity book, designed to guide mentors and mentees through a purposeful journey together. With 38 sessions of meaningful, light conversations, it helps young people reflect, build trust, and work through the everyday challenges they face.

Want to learn more? Head over to MentoringForSchools.org

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Do it more often! ⁠
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Take a moment to reflect. ⁠

Ours is listening

Thank you, mum, 😊⁠

Take a moment to reflect while listening to something that helps you focus.⁠

Don't forget the marshmallows!