What's it like working as a learning /academic mentor in schools?

[superpossible]

Final year uni student currently applying to jobs with different titles like learning mentor, behaviour mentor, academic coach, personal development tutor etc.

The main thing I want to do is work in small groups or one to one to support students with their learning and development. I prefer secondary school or college.

I'm really curious to hear experiences from anyone in this role. The good the bad, everything!

1. What did your typical day look like in the role?
2. What types of students did you work with, and what were their most common learning challenges?
3. Can you describe a typical learning session with a student?
4. What resources and tools did you use to support students? Were you expected to deliver any interventions?
5. Were you expected to do anything outside of your main job description like covering lessons?
6. What were the biggest challenges you faced in your day-to-day work?
7. How did you find the work-life balance in this role? What were the hours worked (any overtime etc)? How much autonomy did you have in the role?
8. What support systems were in place for staff wellbeing?
9. favourite and least favourite thing about the role?

10. Would you recommend this type of role to others? Any advice for someone considering this role?

What degree are you doing? Do you have any training in education? What experience do you have in education? With children? I suggest you get a bit of experience in a school if you have none.
It doesn’t sound like you do. What will you talk about at interview? Do this before you focus all your energies on applying for a role you have no knowledge of.

Finally, to add, in the college I work in, colleagues in this role spend most of their time chasing up absent students and dealing with behaviour issues. They are not involved in the the education side at all, except the ones roped in to teach personal development classes which are particularly under-attended 😟