School Mental Health Qualification Framework

> Peer Mentoring – Secondary School

Empower your students to lead on Mental Health

Train 13–18 year-olds to become confident peer mentors who support wellbeing and strengthen your school’s culture.

Delivered in partnership with The Lily Jo Project
Students gain an RSPH accredited Level 2 Award in Peer Mentoring for Mental Health
Flexible programme that fits into a half-term schedule
Practical skills in empathy, listening, and resilience
Encourages early peer-to-peer support

Who is this for?

Secondary schools seeking to strengthen their wellbeing provision
Students aged 13–18 who want to take a leadership role in supporting peers and gain an accredited qualification with the help of an adult lead
Staff looking for a structured, impactful programme with minimal additional workload

No prior peer mentoring programme is required — we provide everything you need to get started.

Length

6 hours delivered at a time and pace to suit your setting and requirements

Why Peer Mentoring Matters

One in five children and young people in England (ages 8-25) had a probable mental disorder in 2023 (NHS, 2023)
Among secondary school pupils (ages 11-16), the figure rises to almost 23% (SecEd, 2023).
When struggling, 7% of young people turn to their friends first (YoungMinds, 2023)
88% of teachers say they have seen a rise in student mental health needs, and 47% report more absence linked to poor mental health (NEU, 2023)

Schools face increasing pressure around wellbeing. Training students as peer mentors taps into natural peer support networks, provides timely help and compliments staff capacity.

By equipping pupils with the right tools, schools can create a positive culture where students support each other.

Overview

This programme is for schools with an adult lead for peer mentoring who are seeking to provide training and a qualification to their pupils, aged 13-18. You will be provided with a teaching resource pack, guidance and student workbook as well as support from a Minds Ahead professional development specialist to answer any questions that the teacher may have.

Programme summary

Delivery partner

Length

6 weeks

Dates

On going

The Secondary Peer Mentoring Programme is designed for students aged 13–18, supported by a member of school staff. Participants develop skills in:

Active listening and empathetic communication
Understanding mental health and wellbeing
Problem-solving and supporting peers appropriately
Knowing when and how to escalate concerns

Through the six 1-hour lessons, pupils will cover topics essential to understanding youth mental health, such as how mental health changes; the main links between mental health and outside factors; strategies to promote and protect mental health of others and their own mental health. As well as develop skills of listening, questioning and other skills essential to an effective peer mentoring relationship within the school context.

The programme comprises 6 lessons, each designed to last 50-60mins. So that it can fit within a half-term. Students are provided with a workbook that they complete as they progress. This can then be submitted for assessment resulting in the level 2 Award in Mental Health Peer Mentoring from the Royal Society for Public Health.

Qualified peer mentors will increase their self-esteem, confidence and wellbeing, through helping other people. They will gain insights into a career in counselling, coaching and mentoring and will have highly transferrable skills for their future education and workplaces.

Modules

Our programme delivery is as follows.

Unit 1 – Understanding youth mental health
Pupils will learn what is meant by mental health and that mental health is a critical component of health. Pupils will learn that mental Health fluctuates and that changes in mental health can impact one’s physical and social well-being. Pupils will learn that a range of factors can affect one’s mental health, including socioeconomic, biological and environmental factors. Pupils will explore some of the ways that changes in mental health can be seen, or experienced. Pupils will understand that mental health concerns can have wider implications in and out of school.
Unit 2 – Self leadership and personal resilience
Pupils will learn to recognise changes in mental health and positive steps that can be taken to address these, including seeking help from trusted adults and the need to maintain safety. Pupils will develop an understanding of anxiety and depression, as these are two common mental health issues among young people. Pupils will discuss how to look after their own wellbeing and safety as a peer mentor.
Unit 3 – Mentoring skills
Pupils will learn support strategies to help maintain or improve mental health, both of themselves and their peers. Pupils will discover a range of resources and services to turn to for mental health support and guidance, including school-level support and strategies that your setting will have in place. Pupils will learn and practice effective skills of active listening, building empathy and questioning which are essential to good mentoring practice.

Learning and assessment

Learning

We provide a quality assured online resource pack that teachers or other staff can pick up and use in their classes.

This includes training materials, delivery notes, ideas, suggestions and an assessment book to give to pupils.

It can fit into your timetable and build the peer mentoring team and ethos within the school.

Assessment

A structured workbook provided by Minds Ahead mirrors the lesson plan, so pupils can complete this as they progress through the programme. This is subquently submitted to Minds Ahead for marking and submission for award from the Royal Society for Public Health.

Entry

To be eligible for this programme you must:

The school needs a suitable adult able to deliver the programme, support the pupils and, following completion of the programme, lead the peer mentoring programme within their setting.

This is open to any pupil aged 13-18 able to submit a written workbook at level 2 standard. Answers must be in English.

If your pupils have additional needs, which may be a factor in their ability to complete the assessment please contact us so we can support their achievement on the programme.

The peer mentoring course has been a brilliant way to explore situations and reflect on wellbeing in all forms in a comfortable open space, which I have really enjoyed. It has heightened my own self awareness and overall sensitivity whilst also being a great forum for developing self leadership skills”

Year 12 student

Fees and funding

The new annual pricing is as follows:

0 to 5 students: £150
Each additional student up to 20 students: £30 per student
More than 20 students: Flat fee of £600

Optional submission of your students’ workbooks for the award: £80 per pupil

Testimonials

Year 12

Student

“We have been able to discuss the variation of mental health and redefine the factors that impact it as well as contributing our own ideas in a collaborative way. These sessions have given me the opportunity to refine my communications skills and have introduced us to coping strategies and helpful devices for supporting others and ourselves. All of which I have consequently been more mindful of in my own experiences as well being able to suggest to others.”

Dom Jones

Teacher, Dame Alice Owen’s School

“We have LOVED doing this course. The materials, tasks and reflection is having a huge impact not only on the students who are doing the course, but also on the younger members of our school community who they are mentoring. Our students have learnt and gained so much (so have I) it is such an incredible way to better understand mental health, ourselves and how we can start to support others. They have developed mentoring / coaching skills but also strategies to support and develop their own resilience, mental health and self leadership skills. One student was telling me they are using some of the positive thinking strategies as they get nearer to their Y12 mocks. I am sure there are many others who are applying what they have learnt in practical ways in their own lives too. I think everyone should do this course!”

FAQs

Who is this programme for?

Secondary pupils (13-18 year old) in either a school or college setting.

Who delivers this programme?

When is the next start date?

This program can be run by you at anytime through your academic year.

How long does the course last?

Designed to fit within a half-term, this programme comprises 6 lessons, each lasting 50-60mins.

What resources are provided?

You will be provided with a teaching resource pack, guidance and student workbook as well as support from a Minds Ahead professional development specialist to answer any questions that the teacher may have.

What is the level 2 Award in Mental Health Peer Mentoring?

Accredited the Royal Society for Public Health, this mental health and wellbeing qualification offers an understanding of attitudes and beliefs about mental health and wellbeing. It will enable learners to explore theoretical models used to describe mental health and wellbeing and the strategies that may be used to promote wellbeing of the people in their community. It will be be a Level 2 qualification that students can put on their CV to help with future progression in the chosen career.

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Apply Now

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Please fill in your details in this form below to register for the Secondary Peer Mentoring Course. By completing registration, you will officially enrol onto the programme and be liable to pay your course fee in full.

School Name*

First Name*

(school staff)

Last Name*

(school staff)

Email*

(email address)

Your Role*

(teacher, school staff)

Would you like to sign up to the School Mental Health Digest?

Payment options

When filling in and completing each of the 3 payment sections:

First 5 students*

Whether you are enrolling 1 - 5 students or more, there is a flat fee of £150.

Additional Students

Including the first five students, please select how many students in total you would like enrol on this peer mentoring course.

Course with assessment Quantity

Please add the number of students (at £80 each) you wish to receive the RSPH Level 2 ASSESSMENT. Please note: If you select this option, we WILL ask you for a list of student’s names when they complete the course so certificates can be issued.

Price: £ 80.00

Total

Payment method:*

Invoice

Card

Bank transfer

After clicking "Submit" below, you will be redirected to Stripe to take payment.

To pay for your course via bank transfer, please send £15.00 per student using the details below. These will also be shared in your confirmation email after submitting this form.

Your course will not be confirmed until payment has been received.

Account name: Minds Ahead CIC

Bank name: Co-operative

Sort code: 08-92-99

Account number: 65 83 51 39

Please use the school name as the reference.

Please provide the invoice details below:

First name*

(Invoice details)

Last name*

(Invoice details)

School name (if applicable)

Contact number

Email address*

Postal address*

Our Peer Mentoring Programmes

Primary KS2
Peer Mentoring

Who’s it for?

8-11 year old pupils who are keen to support their own mental health, as well as their peers’ mental health and wellbeing.

What will they learn?

Pupils will gain the skills to support and guide their peers as a Mental Health Peer Mentor

Length

A series of 6 online lessons, with each pupil receiving a Children’s University stamp upon completion

Secondary KS3/4
Peer Mentoring

Who’s it for?

14-18 year old pupils who are keen to support their own mental health, as well as their peers’ mental health and wellbeing.

What will they learn?

Pupils will gain the skills and confidence to support other pupils’ mental health in your setting. Leading to a Level 2 Award from the Royal society for Public Health.

Length

A series of 7 in-person lessons, with a workbook which pupils submit for assessment.

Staff/Colleague
Peer Mentoring

Who’s it for?

Those working in an education setting who wish to support their peers.

What will they learn?

This innovative programme is designed to train your staff in providing essential support to their colleagues, fostering a culture of care and collaboration.

Length

Your can complete this course at your own pace.

Still unsure of the best qualification for you?

Minds Ahead’s pioneering approach to school mental health is about much more than providing reactive support. It is about schools embracing a vital public health role to support pupils to thrive and to prevent mental health issues from arising in the first place.

We believe a new mental health paradigm is required in education. Schools and colleges need to take a whole school approach that is holistic, strategic, preventive, proactive and reflective.