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The above might seem like a no brainer, however I have learnt (and am forever learning) the most simplest of things, can elude and escape us all. After all I am finding common sense is not common.

“Children are people first and students second” was one of those life changing epiphanies that I have ever experienced in my working life. This simple truth, has changed how I develop relationships with those I work with, which in turn has transformed my personal and professional effectiveness and others also.

At the start of my career, I predominantly worked with students who were about to be kicked out of school. If my work with them (which was a final intervention) never worked, their education would have ended. This put a lot of pressure on me, so I had to find ways and means to communicate the severity of the situation in a way that was empowering and not seen as just another threat from a member of staff.

I can’t say when I noticed, but when I did it was a penny dropping moment. As obvious as it seems, in work it can become easy to forget that you are a human first and a professional second. I mean, we must remain professional but we should not forget our humanity, which happens everywhere especially in education. What I realised was, I need to learn how to win the inner person, to gain their permission to inspire their inner student!

This is key to keep at the forefront of your mind if you want success with young people especially those who present challenges. The child is a person first with needs that have nothing to do with education! With needs such as: to be respected, understood, considered, validated, affirmed, valued and cared for. So this acknowledgement and addition to my mode changed my approach, dramatically improved my engagement levels and transformed my practise.

In a day where children are forever becoming data, a grade c, a level 4 (even though soon obselete ) a number, a GCSE, a potential whatever! Let us not forget that they are people, adults that are not yet fully developed and in need of being understood and engaged in a way that makes them know they matter. And I have been very fortunate to do what I do as mentoring is one of those things that make children know that they are more important than the grades that they can achieve.

Have you tried mentoring some children? or those in your school? if you do you’ll be glad you did.

At Every Child Needs a Mentor, these are our values and if in your new academic year you would like to add mentoring to your school or academy’s bow, gives us a call as we have some exciting programmes that could make it happen.

For more information contact me directly and I can forward you some material.

Herman Stewart 2015 ©

Herman Stewart is passionate about inspiring people. Herman is a CEO, award-winning consultant, a Chair of Governors at Victoria Park Academy and the Author of “Every Child Needs a Mentor”. With 20 years mentoring experience, Herman’s work has been regarded as ‘High Quality’ by Ofsted and his RAMP ® – Raising Achievement Mentoring Programme received a Leading Aspect Award for closing the achievement gap in education.

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