Within our academy tutor groups are known as Vertical Mentor Groups (VMG) made up of students of differing ages from Year 7 to Year 11, with approximately 5 students from each year group. Vertical mentoring supports learning conversations and personal development. It helps remove social and cultural barriers encouraging students from all year groups to engage positively with each other. The VMGs make up different continents e.g. Africa, Europe, Asia etc. VMG time is mid-morning and lasts for 20 minutes. Each group has a Mentor (usually a teacher) who delivers a comprehensive programme of discussion and activities to complement the curriculum. VMG focuses on attendance, conduct, and praise. Students are engaged in peer mentoring, quizzing and tutors focus on personal development and organisational, literacy and numeracy skills etc.