Mentoring PGCE trainees, apprentices, or Early Career Teachers (ECTs) is a rewarding opportunity that allows more experienced teachers to help shape the future of the profession. It’s a chance to inspire, guide, and share the wisdom gained through classroom experience.
Being a mentor is a professional commitment but can also be a positive role giving you the opportunity to support and inspire the next generation of teachers. As education continually evolves, staying informed about the latest systems, research, and best practices is key. With training routes and expectations varying across providers, this resource hub offers tailored support to help mentors confidently guide our trainees through their school experience—ensuring they thrive and grow into exceptional teachers.
London Metropolitan University provides training for Mentors and Professional Coordinating Mentors (PCMs) specifically on the Initial Teacher Training and Early Career Framework (ITTECF), which is invaluable for those mentoring trainee teachers and Early Career teachers.
Mentor training should ideally be completed prior to hosting a trainee or during the early stages of a placement. This takes place over the Autumn and Spring terms both online and face to face. Please contact ITEPlacements@londonmet.ac.uk for any upcoming mentor training events.
If you are a mentor who has not attended an online or face to face event with London Met, there are two alternative ways to access essential guidance:
- New mentors - Access recordings of Sessions 1, 2 and 3, designed to introduce you to mentoring at London Met and provide foundational support.
- Returning or experienced mentors - Watch the Refresher Training Recording, tailored to help you revisit key mentor principles and updates.
Please see the links below to access the relevant recordings.
Session 1: Introduction to mentoring at London Met
- To introduce the specific focus and values of our London Met ITT programme
- Gain an understanding of the statutory requirements of the PGCE / Apprenticeship Courses
- Become familiar with the course content and curriculum
- Deepen your understanding of the Mentor role – the requirements and the non-negotiables
- Understand the systems and tools available to you
- Know who to go to for support, including understanding the layers of support in place at London Met
See recording for Session 1 - New mentor training - session 1
Session 2: Supporting the planning of effective lessons
- To share good practice
- To discuss the planning needs of novice teachers
- To layout our curriculum, frameworks and sources for teaching planning
See recording for Session 2 - New mentor training - session 2
Session 3: Assessment, target setting and difficult conversations
- To continue to build your confidence as a mentor
- To explore how mentor meetings are recorded in the Professional Development Journal (PDJ)
- To discuss trainees’ assessment using the Trainee Progress Booklet and Progress points
- To discuss how mentor meetings, link with the ITTECF in order to create a structure to develop reflective classroom practitioners
- To increase your understanding of what makes an effective target
- To share some of the challenges of mentoring, including difficult conversations
- To explore the personal rewards of being a mentor
See recording for Session 3 - New mentor training - session 3
Our one hour refresher training is for experienced / returning mentors and covers the following aspects:
- Gain an understanding of the statutory requirements of the PGCE / Apprenticeship Courses
- Share with the course content and curriculum
- Be reminded of the requirements of the Mentor role (including the non-negotiables)
- Explore the systems and tools available to you
- Know who to go to for support at London Met
Returning mentors or experienced mentors - Refresher mentor training
As part of our quality assurance process we kindly request that you complete this short questionnaire after viewing the mentor training sessions:
Mentor training questionnaire 2025-26
Additional training opportunities
Free Master’s-Level Course: Effective Mentoring for Teacher Development
We’re offering a short course worth 10 Master’s credits, free to current mentors from schools partnered with London Met
It supports career progression, strengthens mentoring skills in schools, and provides accredited recognition.
To learn more, email ITEplacements@londonmet.ac.uk.