Dear All,
I thought I'd post and share my (first-hand) experiances of vertical tutoring. In my time at secondary, I was in both types of forms, both the standard year group form which we have currently, and also the Vertical tutoring type also.
There a number of VT scheme advantages, one of the major ones is as follows. Currently, the form tutor, will only have a set year group every five years, so when they give you advice on (for example work experiance), the last time they have done this was five years ago when their form was last in year 10. Although they try their hardest for you, and do know what they are talking about, it will make it easier for them to give you more if every year they are going through this. This works for all the year groups, with settling in as a year 7, choosing options as a year 9, or taking (your often stressful!) GCSE's as a year 11!
During my time in a VT form, I did share my experiances with those more junior in the school in my form. I helped the form tutor when she asked for it, and helped "mentor" those below me. I helped with just general things, but also gave my opinions/experiances on options, and year 10 mocks etc. I also helped the year sevens as they were settling in, and sometimes acted as a friendly face in a crowd :) . Oh and of course I helped those in need of help with their homework, often the lesson before it was due in! (We older ones do sometimes have our uses!
Some of you in older years may be worried about being split up as a form, it's quite understandable, as you will probably be like a family now! You'll still see the majority of each other in lessons, and seeing most of you have facebook, why not make a "10XMPLE" facebook group? Arrange (out of school) social trips together and still get together as a form if you wish, it's remarkably easy to organise things together if you get your heads together, and also looks great on a CV!
If any body does wish to speak with me about my experiances/thoughts, you are more than welcome to speak to me in school, or email/msn me at amw1234@hotmail.co.uk.
Hope this helps,
Adam Waudby
13AF
. I'm a student, get me out of here!