Headteacher: Mentoring effectiveness is proven
Tuesday, 18 Mar 2008 15:12
The government's proposals to offer mentors to the most disruptive schoolchildren has met with an enthusiastic welcome by Edison Schools' executive headteacher.
Trevor Averre Beeson said that, when used alongside other measures, mentoring "does work".
He explained the importance of recognising positive progress while maintaining strong sanctions against poor behaviour.
Under proposals published today the behavioural contracts would see 1,000 of the nation's most troublesome children face "assertive and persistent" attention from careworkers.
"The great thing about this announcement is it is going to put resources into giving time to troubled youngsters and they do need that," Mr Beeson said on BBC2's Daily Politics programme.
"[The focus on 1,000 children] is a small number, but I think it is symbolic and I think it is right to show that there is a kind of rigorous approach when you get to the top end of very poor behaviour."