We recognise the vital role Mentors play in the success of the Early Career Framework. To celebrate their dedication and contributions to the programme, we have launched 'Mentor of the Month'. This initiative is a chance to shine a light on Mentors who go above and beyond to support Early Career Teachers.

Our winners are chosen based on engagement with the programme, attendance at events and nominations from their Headteacher or Induction Tutor. 

This month's winner is Adele Bradley-Minter from the Kingsbrook School. We spoke to Adele about her time as a Mentor and the skills she has developed from the Early Career Framework programme:

What is your name and role within your school?

I'm Adele Bradley and I work at The Kingsbrook School in Aylesbury. We are a new school with a fairly small staff so I wear a lot of hats, I am currently Head of MFL, Head of PSHE, Lead Practitioner, Staff Governor and since September, ECT mentor too.  

How long have you been a Mentor and how many Early Career Teachers do you support?

Longer ago than I care to admit, right after my NQT year, I became a mentor for PGCE students and NQTs, working alongside the wonderful team at the University of East London.

I really enjoyed it and did some work at the University and with the QCA to support their programme. That was a long time ago though and I've been an Early Careers Mentor since my mentee, Tom, started back in July 2023. 

What aspects of being an Early Career Mentor do you find most rewarding, and why? 

Without a doubt, I find it incredibly rewarding to enable my mentee to identify his strengths and pinpoint the skills that he is already using with some proficiency in his planning, teaching, and learning and progress evaluations.

Building confidence in ECTs is so important in order to nurture their own autonomy and prepare them for the next stage in their careers. Furthermore, building confidence and nurturing the ECT in a supportive environment goes some way towards retaining the ECT in teaching in a climate where teacher recruitment and retention is at a crisis level. 

From your time on the programme, what skills have you developed and how has it helped you to support your ECTs? 

I've previously completed courses in both mentoring and coaching and becoming an Early Career Mentor has provided me with an excellent opportunity to practice and develop these skills.

The session guidance provided by Best Practice has been invaluable in giving me some structure for each hour of mentoring. These session outlines offer a platform on which to build mentoring and coaching. Personally, I have reaped the benefits from the revision of the Early Careers Framework and the reflective conversations which I have with my mentee.

It offers me an opportunity to think deeply about how I use these skills in my own practice and as a result, I have been able to refine my own skills further. In turn, by modelling this self-awareness, I can then nurture this self-awareness from my mentee. This took some time to embed at first but it was during module 3 that my mentee said 'I find I am questioning myself when I am planning'. 

What advice would you give to someone considering becoming an Early Career Mentor? 

The Early Careers Framework is designed to give Early Career Mentors ample time to train and also to mentor. There is an excellent bank of guidance online, provided by Best Practice, that facilitates the role well.

It helps you build relationships with different staff in the school and can also provide a route for career progression. 

Where have you been able to get guidance and support in your role as Early Career Mentor? 

The online resources from Best Practice have been like a handbook for how to mentor and what to do. We also have termly ECM meetings and this has been invaluable in terms of giving you an opportunity to talk with other mentors, to share ideas and best practice as well as discussing challenges you may come across.

As we are in a MAT, we also have support from Julie who is a Lead Practitioner for ITT who gives both myself and my mentee regular and invaluable support. 

Do you know an Early Career Mentor that goes above and beyond? Nominate them below:

Nominate a Mentor 

Looking for more information?

Find out more about our Early Career Framework programme here

If you would like any more information on our ECF programme, get in contact with us:

 Email: ecf@bestpracticenet.co.uk

 Tel: +44 (0) 117 920 9200 (8.30am-5.30pm, Mon-Fri)

Visit our ECF page