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Learning mentor

Learning mentors help students and pupils deal with any difficulties they have with their learning.

Annual Salary

£14,500 to £25,000

Working hours

36 to 38 term time

You could work: evenings; attending events or appointments

4%
Future employment

There will be 4% more Learning mentor jobs in 2027.
In your local area

What's it all about?

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In your day-to-day duties you may:

  • develop one-to-one mentoring relationships with pupils
  • support pupils while they take part in lessons and activities
  • inspire, motivate and promote positive behaviour and relationships
  • do home visits to give families advice about dealing with issues and concerns
  • develop action plans with students and monitor their progress
  • keep up to date records and prepare reports
  • work with teachers and other professionals, like social workers, educational psychologists and education welfare officers

Working environment

You could work at a client's home, at a school or at a college.

Your working environment may be emotionally demanding.

Entry requirements

You can get into this job through:

  • a college course
  • an apprenticeship
  • applying directly
College

You could take a college course to help you get started in this career. Courses include:

  • Level 2 Award in Mentoring
  • Level 2 Certificate in Supporting Teaching and Learning in Schools
  • T Level in Education and Childcare

Entry requirements

You may need:

  • 2 or more GCSEs at grades 9 to 3 (A* to D), or equivalent, for a level 2 course
  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths for a T level
For more information
Apprenticeship

You can do an advanced learning mentor apprenticeship.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English and maths, for an advanced apprenticeship
For more information
Volunteering and work experience

You can volunteer to mentor children or young people.

Direct application

You can apply directly to get into this type of work. You'll normally need:

  • a good standard of general education, especially in literacy and numeracy
  • experience of working with children or young people, either through paid work or volunteering

Experience of other types of mentoring outside of education may also be helpful. Examples are:

  • peer-to-peer mentoring on anti-bullying projects
  • supporting people with disabilities
  • helping young people with mental health-related issues
  • young women's employment or enterprise mentoring

Requirements and restrictions

You'll need to:

More information

Further information

You can find out more about working in learning support from FE Advice.

Employment by region

Career path and progression

You could specialise in working with particular groups, like excluded students.

You could also move into more senior mentoring roles, with supervisory or co-ordinating duties.

With further training, you might work in student advice and guidance, teaching, speech and language therapy, educational welfare or social work.

Skills required and how your skills match up

What skills are required?

  • counselling skills including active listening and a non-judgemental approach
  • knowledge of teaching and the ability to design courses
  • sensitivity and understanding
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • customer service skills
  • the ability to work well with others
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • the ability to understand people’s reactions
  • to be flexible and open to change
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
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