MORE youngsters than ever before are being helped to overcome barriers that prevent them from progressing at school thanks to a successful mentoring scheme.

The town's mentoring initiative has gone from strength to strength and has now placed 45 learning mentors in primary and secondary schools. The role of the mentors is to identify problems facing pupils and to work with youngsters outside of the classroom to help them break down barriers to their learning.

This might involve helping a youngster to face up to difficulties they have with a certain subject or to deal with particular emotional problems. The mentors also liase with parents where necessary and advise families who may need help or support.

Recent projects involved pupils who had responded well to mentoring being invited to St Helens Rugby League Club where they explored motivation and lifestyle choices, shared successes and challenges and witnessed a player's training session.

Highlighted success

Education officers Eileen Horrocks and Martin Cox were recently invited to a conference in London where they highlighted the success of the Borough's Mentor Strand which forms part of the ongoing Excellence in Cities programme - a national initiative which aims to raise expectations and standards in schools.

Eileen said: "Learning mentors are proving to be a great success in supporting young people in St Helens and a real strength to the work of the Excellence in Cities Partnership. At the conference we demonstrated how the close partnership between learning mentors and the Education Action Zones is identifying and supporting young people in greatest need".

Launched in St Helens a year and a half ago, Education Action Zones operate in the Thatto Heath, Parr and Broad Oak areas. They aim to improve pupils' literacy, numeracy, science and information technology skills and to promote new partnerships and new ways of working which will benefit children and young people.