Product reviews for Mentoring in Schools

Drawing upon her vast experience, Haili Hughes has produced an insightful, challenging and thought-provoking book which provides a range of supportive ideas within proven systems and structures to promote mentoring of colleagues. It is primarily aimed at developing the mentoring of new entrants to teaching to support the development of their skills and confidence; however, I can envisage a need to extend the support to other, more experienced colleagues too.

The emphasis throughout Mentoring in Schools is on promoting a framework within which new entrants experience opportunities linked to clear systems of support and guidance. The structure of the book is excellent in discussing strategies to promote subject and curriculum awareness and knowledge. The sections to promote skills of mentors in assisting with planning, tracking, modelling, worked examples, scaffolding and dialogic teaching linked to CPD are extremely beneficial. Linked to this are additional strategies to ensure assessment is effective, promoting the technique of verbal feedback during the lesson, traffic lights, colour highlighting, etc. The book is also packed with really positive and practical ideas for mentors to raise the impact of their work - for example, the -˜I have, I am, I can' model for developing resilience.

I highly recommend this book for all school- and college-based mentors and subject leaders to ensure that teachers will receive the support, guidance and tips to ensure they are confident, happy and can build, or re-engage with, successful careers.