Erdington Academy mentors scheme: A pioneering scheme at a Birmingham Academy is delivering big results – by focussing on the little things.
Erdington Academy, which is part of the ambitious Fairfax Multi-Academy Trust, has been working with health and wellbeing company MW Impact for three years.
The ambitious partnership began by organising sports activities designed to inspire and motivate the students but has since grown to provide support across the school, connecting with students and their families to nurture a sense of belonging.
Founded by former professional footballer Marlon Walters, MW Impact’s team members are now a fixture of life at the school.
Marlon said, “We support them in a mentoring capacity, in pastoral duties, liaising with parents and providing therapeutic classes.
“We started working with Erdington Academy after COVID, working to a clear brief – they wanted us to provide structure for students in what is normally unstructured time, with plenty of interactions. We expanded from there, supporting not just the kids but the staff, families and the broader community.”
Head of Academy Liz Cross believes a focus on ‘belonging’ at Erdington, supported by the MW team members, was now delivering tangible results.
She said, “I think that schools should look to work openly with others to ensure students are succeeding – sometimes as educationists we need to be outward facing and think outside the box to ensure we reach the students in our care,
and their families.
“Our work with MW Impact is a great example of this approach in action, with real results. Suspensions and permanent exclusions have been skyrocketing across the country – but not here at Erdington.
“I think our focus on belonging is what’s helped our students so much. We’ve been thinking a lot about building social connections, and sport, which is my background, helps young people forge relationships in a structured time. Other games can help too, like playing cards and boardgames.
“Marlon and the team initially came in at lunchtimes to put on football, basketball, dance and games for the students.
“The MW team members can be a bridge between us – the institution – and the students. Since the pandemic there’s been an erosion in the trust of institutions, so the way MW Impact teach conduct and behaviour often resonates more with the students.
“It’s important for them to feel part of something bigger than themselves, even through little things by making eye contact. It’s these small interactions, the little things, that are having a big impact.”
Marlon, who during his footballing days captained Wolverhampton Wanderers, explained that sports have always provided a way to connect with children who are naturally looking for that sense of belonging.
He said, “Some kids who are lacking that social input, that group dynamic, might seek it in problematic places. Basically, if a kid feels cold, they’ll go anywhere that’s warm. So, channelling their energy and social drive through organised sports and other structured actives helps them develop those social skills in a healthy way.
“But kids have so many complexities, and I want our organisation to cater to all their backgrounds and interests. So, in terms of activities, we also have boxing classes, a DJ class, art classes and more.”
Marlon initially launched MW Impact as a mentoring organisation, but it now offers a more holistic approach that specialises in services that complement the educational settings its teams work in.
Erdington Academy mentors scheme shows real results
After the initial success of their activities programme in Erdington, the academy expanded the scope of the work, with impressive results.
Liz said, “We have specific teams now working on attendance, hard-to-reach students and general pastoral work. Some of Marlon’s team members go into lessons and just observe how the children are doing.
“The students can see the support around them, and that’s what has created the ethos of belonging here.”
The MW team also play an active role in supporting inclusivity in a diverse part of Birmingham.
“We’re a very culturally diverse school,” Liz said, “and MW Impact are helping us to connect with local communities too. We want diverse students to be represented at every level of education.”
Marlon sees this as a key part of his work.
“As an organisation we’re big on inclusivity,” he said. “I never wanted it to be accessible to one component of the community – we want every young person and parent or carer to relate to us.
“I’m from a council estate, and I grew up surrounded by all kinds of people, all speaking different languages. I realised the importance of having that community. Being part of Wolves really showed me the value of a diverse team, and the resilience it creates.”
Beyond the school gates, the mentors in the Erdington Academy mentors scheme also play a key part in connecting with families – again providing a bridge between them and the institution.
Marlon said, “If you want to build meaningful connections with young people, you can’t ignore their families. Parental encouragement means the world to some students and can be the difference between them choosing to do something or not.
“So, we go out to see parents and build proper relationships through home visits. We use the same communication we’d use every day – even writing emails is daunting and impersonal to some parents, so we use WhatsApp.”
“The students can see the support around them, and that’s what has created the ethos of belonging here,”
– liz cross, head of academy
This approach could explain the success of the partnership between MW Impact’s team and Erdington’s dedicated teaching staff; ultimately, the mentors are not teachers and are able to connect with students and their families in a less formal way.
Marlon explained: “For kids, interacting with someone who ‘gets’ them makes all the difference. Whether it’s the way they greet them, the way they talk or even the way they look, it can help a student feel more understood, and more comfortable opening up to us.
“The same goes for families. We can support each other on so many levels. For example, we can help with safe travel and uniform problems if a young person is having financial troubles.”
The support on offer extends to the academy’s staff too.
Marlon said: “Staff need the same support and understanding that the young people need. Most of the team have got children, so we know that happier teachers will translate into happier and more successful children.”
After three years, the mentoring scheme is delivering improved behaviour, stronger connections withing the community and students who are invested in their school – that sense of belonging that began with lunchtime sports and activities sessions.
Liz said, “It’s what we like to call ‘the Erdington way’ – it’s just what we do here. We want the students to know they’re custodians of the school just as the staff are.”
Marlon added: “Children face so many challenges these days which prior generations never had to – they’re under so much pressure with social media validation. We want them to go home thinking, ‘the school do care’.”
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To visit the Fairfax Multi Academy Trust website, click here.