Stansted Airport staff mentor Forest Hall School GCSE students for ninth year

Stansted Airport staff are mentoring GCSE students at Forest Hall School for a ninth year.

The scheme pairs Year 11 students at the Stansted Mountfitchet secondary with MAG (Manchester Airports Group) employees who lend extra support during a challenging examination year for the youngsters by drawing on their experience both in the business world and in life.

This year, 11 workers will participate, including those from project management, the airport skills academy, security and compliance.

They have each been matched with a student with whom they will work once a fortnight throughout the school year.

Alex Smith, Stansted Airport’s education manager, said: “The feeling of looming exams and thinking about the future is something we all remember from school.

“The scheme, now in its ninth year, allows pupils to hear from professionals outside their school environment about how to prepare for life in the workplace, and hopefully pick up some valuable hints and tips ahead of their exams.

“Mentoring also allows us to hear first-hand from the workforce of the future about their hopes and ambitions.”

More than 100 Year 11 pupils have been paired with MAG staff over the course of the partnership, which was set up as part of Stansted Airport's community education programme.

Charlie Coe, head of Year 11 at Forest Hall, said: "We are very grateful for the opportunity offered by Stansted Airport; I'm certain the pupils will benefit greatly from this experience. Thank you to all the staff that are involved."