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The Barry Jones MBE Award for Outstanding Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) Mentor
Winner: Janette Robinson
Childrens Support Service
Barry Jones MBE
Former Metropolitan Police officer Barry Jones MBE is a founder member of the Police Community Clubs of Great Britain. Having worked with troubled youths both as an officer and as the director and development officer of the community clubs, he understands the challenges that many young people face and so wishes to offer his personal commendation for the work of PRU learning mentors.
“I’m delighted to be associated with the Community Education Awards and particularly with this category,” he said. “It recognises those who demonstrate extreme professionalism and dedication in what can be a difficult area of work.”
Janette Robinson (centre) receives The Barry Jones MBE Award for Outstanding Pupil Referral Unit (PRU) Mentor from Barry Jones MBE and Esther Rantzen CBE.
Janette’s dedication to her role as a learning mentor is evident from the many challenges she has worked with in the field.
One example of this was when she worked with a year 10 pupil who had not been in a school setting for the best part of two years. The student was initially very reluctant to engage with Janette and would refuse to come out of his room or cancel whenever Janette planned a home visit.
After nearly a year of slow progress and a few setbacks, Janette was able to re-integrate the student back into school.
Janette also demonstrated an innovative method with her idea of running an alternative lunch club provision for anxious or less confident young people. She decided that it was not appropriate, in many cases, for anxious students who had major reservations about school to be thrown into a playground or lunch room with more boisterous or lively students.
The alternative lunchtime provision therefore enabled anxious students to come together while socialising and also take part in a range of activities.
Being the first ever learning mentor at the school, Janette was required to build up her department from scratch bringing her vast experience and expertise to the role. In a short space of time, Janette made the work of the learning mentor integral to the running of the school.
Describing Janette’s contribution to the school as a whole, Paula added: “The success of the learning mentor department Janette created has led to the catapulting of social and emotional concerns to the top of the schools agenda.”
Finalist
Julie Cresswell - Gloucestershire
Gloucester and Forest Pupil Referral Service
