15-year-old Jasmina* moved to the UK in 2024 from Romania to join her mother, starting secondary school in Bristol mid-term. Jasmina had enjoyed learning English at school in Romania but she had been out of education for two years, and said the transition to English school was ‘hard at the beginning when I didn’t know anyone, I was upset in the first week and I didn’t know where the classes were.’
"My tutors helped me, asked me questions about what I do in my free time, who I go out with, what lessons I had, and this helped me a lot because I didn't speak at all and I was shy, but now I can speak English a little better even if I make mistakes sometimes." - Jasmina
Jasmina's school referred her to Jacari, who matched Jasmina with peer-tutors, Ava and Zahra, sixth form students in her school. Every week, they met with Jasmina for 45 minutes in school to support her with her English language skills. Ava told us that she noticed Jasmina becoming more confident speaking in English over the time of their tutoring. Jasmina’s school noted Jacari peer tutoring enabled her to thrive at school.
"Jacari has helped Jasmina to make great progress in her English as well as in her self-confidence this year. She appears much happier in school. Her teachers have commented that she engages more in lessons as her confidence grows." - EAL Support Teacher at Jasmina’s school
Jasmina now speaks positively about school: ‘I love it and I love learning new things!’
*All names have been changed
