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Futures in STEM Engineering Programme Tutor-Mentors
Background to the Futures in STEM Engineering programme:
Futures in STEM is an online academic and pastoral support programme, which started in Spring 2021, targeted at Year 12 school students who are aiming to pursue the study of Chemistry, Computer Science, Engineering, Maths or Physics at University. School participants will have the opportunity to take part in a variety of online subject specific tutorials, mentoring, guest lectures and activities designed to prepare them for University study to help make sure they are ready to apply for and succeed in Higher Education. We are now recruiting tutor-mentors for the sixth cohort of Year 12 students, who will start the programme in March 2026.
Students will experience what it is like to be a part of Durham University, with regular contact with tutor-mentors and academics from across the Science Faculty. Futures in STEM will be a fun, encouraging and intellectually stimulating introduction to Durham University and studying at University.
How does the Engineering tuition and mentoring within the programme work?
Participants will receive high quality materials and a structured study programme in 3-week cycles aligned to school term dates (not University term dates) as follows:
Week 1 – Tutorial Week: participants meet on MS Teams with their tutor-mentor for a 1 hour tutoring session on a certain topic in Engineering, e.g., fluid mechanics, maths for engineering, etc. Each tutor-mentor will be compensated an additional 30 minutes to prepare for the tutorial using the materials provided.
Week 2– Mentoring Week: participants meet on MS Teams with their tutor-mentor for a 1 hour mentoring session on a certain pastoral topic, e.g., life at University, how to write a personal statement, UCAS applications, finance at University, etc.
Week 3 – Self Study Week: participants complete independent home learning with questions and challenge material about the previous cycle's tutorial topic.
The central programme team will provide tutor-mentors with the tutoring and mentoring materials for use in their sessions.
We therefore expect a commitment of 2.5 hours every 2 weeks out of each 3-week cycle (which averages 2.5 hours per month). There are a total of 13 programme cycles for cohort 6 aligned to school term dates.
Further detail about the programme can be found at https://futures-. The Engineering programme is being led by Dr Martin Walker from the Department of Engineering at Durham University. If you have any queries about the role or project before applying, please contact.
The below role descriptor seeks to capture the main requirements of the role consistently, providing a summary of the key duties of the flexible role to help in setting expectations for applicants, flexible workers and line managers. They are not intended to cover all duties which may be required.
Role
Responsibilities
Part-Time Teacher/Teaching Assistant (Tutorials)
Casual Grade 6
Under instruction and following appropriate training:
* Maintain up-to-date knowledge of the subject area
* Plan, prepare, and deliver tutorials to individual students or small groups from an established module
* Maintain class registers and monitor attendance
* Provide and update syllabus materials
* Assist with curriculum development and the production of L&T materials
* Undertake formative marking according to published criteria
* Provide oral and/or written feedback to students as per departmental requirements
Other requirements of the tutor-mentor role:
• Ensure appropriate student conduct, implementing the University's code of conduct during the online sessions and highlighting any concerns to the Programme Lead/Project Manager after the sessions.
• Monitor the welfare of the student(s) and report any concerns immediately to the project safeguarding lead.
• Attend relevant briefings and training sessions.
• To maintain records of student engagement and performance, ensuring that all records comply with data protection legislation.
• To work within a professional ethical and safeguarding framework.
• Have an awareness of the University Access and Participation Plan and the wider Higher Education landscape relating to improving equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups.
• Managing a caseload of a group of year 12 (later year 13) school students and conducting appropriate ongoing support for their learning.
• Due to an aim of the programme being to foster a sense of belonging to the Durham University community, applicants will be a member of Durham University.
Person Specification:
The applicant should demonstrate in their application how they are able to meet the following criteria:
• Currently a Durham University student and/or staff member who has completed at least 1 year of any Engineering Degree..*
• Have an approachable, empathetic, friendly and appropriate communication manner with students.
• Able to act as a role model for your course of study, college and Durham University.
• Excellent awareness of the process of applying to Higher Education and the barriers associated with progression to Higher Education.
• Experience of teaching/tutoring/mentoring/working closely with young people, especially in Engineering or a closely-related STEM subject.
• Good awareness of effective teaching methods (especially electronically in a virtual environment).
• Confident ability to use Microsoft Teams, Zoom and other MS Office software.
• Demonstrates excellent time management and organisation skills, and able to work to deadlines, both as part of a team and independently.
• Willing to have an enhanced DBS check completed.
*Applicants in 1st year will be considered if they demonstrate extensive experience tutoring/mentoring young people in Engineering.
We would particularly like to encourage applications from students who are passionate about improving equality of opportunity for underrepresented groups to access and succeed in Higher Education.
To apply to this role, please submit the following documents in your online application:
1. A full CV.
2. A covering letter that details how you meet each of the person specification criteria (we encourage this to be in the form of a table), with reference to your skills, previous experiences and why you think you would be a good fit for the role.