Öneri / Teklif

PROPOSAL FOR A WEEKLY LANGUAGE CAFÉ1

To: The Head of the Languages Department
From: Elif Demir, Year 12 student
Date: 14 August 2026

Introduction2
The purpose of this proposal is to suggest the creation of a weekly "Language Café": an informal lunchtime session where students could practise speaking English and other languages with one another. At present, learners have few opportunities to use their spoken language outside the classroom.

Aims3
The scheme would aim to:

• give students regular, relaxed speaking practice;
• bring together learners from different year groups;
• encourage confidence rather than perfection.

Proposed plan4
The café would be held once a week in the library during the lunch break.5 Each session would focus on a simple theme, such as travel or films, and would be supported by one teacher and two senior student volunteers. No formal preparation would be required, so that students could join whenever they wished, and a small sign on the library door would announce each week's theme in advance.

Benefits6
Such a scheme would bring clear benefits. Students would improve their fluency in a setting free from the pressure of assessment, and shyer learners in particular would gain confidence. The café would also strengthen the sense of community within the school and cost very little to run.

Conclusion7
I strongly believe that a Language Café would be a valuable and inexpensive addition to school life. I would be very grateful if the department could consider this proposal, and I would welcome the chance to discuss it further.

PROPOSAL FOR A PEER-MENTORING SCHEME1

To: The Senior Leadership Team
From: Kaan Yılmaz, on behalf of the Student Council
Date: 17 August 2026

Introduction2
This proposal recommends the introduction of a peer-mentoring scheme in which older students would support those joining the school for the first time. Every year, a number of new students find the transition difficult, and the council believes that a structured system of support would help them to settle more quickly and more happily.

Aims3
The scheme would be designed to:

• ease the transition of new and younger students;
• offer older students a meaningful role and responsibility;
• build stronger relationships across year groups.

Proposed plan4
Under the scheme, each new student would be paired with a trained mentor from an older year. Mentors would meet their mentees briefly once a fortnight, and would be available for informal advice at other times.5 A short training session, run by a member of staff, would prepare mentors for the role and set clear boundaries. Participation would remain voluntary on both sides, ensuring that only committed students take part. Mentors would keep a brief record of each meeting, allowing staff to identify any student who might need further support. The programme would be reviewed at the end of each term so that any difficulties could be addressed promptly.

Benefits6
The advantages of such a scheme would be considerable. New students would have a familiar face to turn to, which would reduce anxiety and, in all likelihood, improve attendance and engagement. Mentors, for their part, would develop valuable skills in communication and leadership that would serve them well beyond school. Research into similar programmes in other schools has consistently pointed to improvements in both confidence and results. The wider community would benefit too, as a culture of mutual support tends to reduce conflict and to foster a greater sense of belonging. In the longer term, a school known for looking after its newcomers is also likely to enjoy a stronger reputation among prospective families.

Anticipating concerns7
It might be argued that such a programme would place an additional burden on staff and on older students already preparing for examinations. This concern is understandable. However, the commitment required of each mentor would be modest, and the training and oversight would be arranged so as not to interfere with academic work.

Conclusion8
For these reasons, I firmly believe that a peer-mentoring scheme would be a worthwhile investment in the well-being of the whole school. I would be delighted to present the proposal in greater detail, and I respectfully ask the leadership team to approve a trial of the scheme in the coming term.