Results
Since the inception of One Degree in 2009, we have made a direct positive and lasting impact in the lives of 823 students.
In 2013, our students had a predicted pass rate of only 25%, which One Degree was able to increase to a 65% achieved pass rate; and in 2016 we achieved our best results to date – 77% passes in English and Maths. This was then surpassed by 92% in 2020 and 88% in 2021 with the implementation of our hybrid programme – a combination of in-person and online mentoring.
Our results are not purely academic though. One Degree turns out young people who believe in themselves and confidently advance towards productive, rewarding careers.
Now that we have consolidated our programme formula our next move is multiple locations, increasing student numbers, and impacting more communities. In 2016 we launched our first programme in Westminster, followed by a programme in Westminster and Haringey simultaneously in 2017.
In 2019 we launched our Online Mentoring platform which proved crucial in completing our 2020 programme during lockdown.
2021 to 2023 One Degree managed successful hybrid programmes which enabled more mentors and students to benefit from One Degree.
In 2024, One Degree’s 15th year of running youth development mentoring programmes, we embarked on a vital new chapter, unveiling an innovative 15-week trial of our groundbreaking 7-day-a-week online mentoring booking calendar. Read more here.
Our long-term vision is to have One Degree physical hubs in several of London’s struggling and deprived boroughs, servicing those students most in need, as well as providing students from all over London with access to online mentoring support.
Read our Annual Indicator Summary 2016-2024
Annual Improvement Indicators
Annual Reporting
Read our Annual Indicator Summary 2016-2024
Read our Reporting Summary 2009-2024
Read our Summary Graphs 2009-2024
2009-2013
One of our schools, Crest Boys Academy, was nominated for “Most Improved School 2011”
Tower Hamlets College now has an annual award, “The Adnan Jaffery Award for Mentoring Excellence”
Read more detailed reports here
Watch our 2015 film here:
Support Our Work
To continue to raise results and improve outcomes for young people, we need your help. Find out more about how you can get involved.
2009 to Present Day
Embracing Change to Maximise Impact
Since its inception in 2009, One Degree has been dedicated to mentoring and empowering students across London. Initially, our approach involved weekend meetings between March and June, focusing on one cohort of students at a time, in a single venue. This intensive program, while effective, was limited in its reach and duration.
Expanding Horizons: 2014 – 2019
From 2014 to 2018, we recognised the need for a longer-term impact. We expanded our program to start anytime from September to November, running through June. This extension allowed us to engage more deeply with students over a more extended period. The goal was simple: provide sustained support and mentorship to maximize our impact on the students’ academic and personal growth.
The Hybrid Transition: 2018 – 2020
In 2018, anticipating the need for flexibility, One Degree began integrating a hybrid model. While in-person sessions remained the core of our program, we complemented them with an online platform. This platform, purpose-built for our needs, offered students access to resources and online courses between in-person sessions. Little did we know that this foresight would become crucial.
Navigating the Pandemic: 2020 – 2021
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, our hybrid model allowed us to pivot swiftly to a fully online format. The transition was seamless, thanks to our existing online infrastructure. However, the shift wasn’t without challenges.
Post-COVID Era: 2021 – 2023
Resuming in-person sessions during the post-COVID era we witnessed a dramatic 60% drop in mentor numbers, likely due to the new work-from-home culture and the reduced presence of professionals in central London.
Funding also took a hit, with reductions in private donations, corporate sponsorships, and grant availability. Schools, adapting to new realities, began running their own intervention programs, further affecting our collaboration dynamics.
With these factors highlighting the need for adaptability, One Degree had to reinvent itself.
The New Era: 2024 and Beyond
Rising costs and the shifting landscape of educational support necessitated a new approach.
Our new model is predominantly online, supplemented by in-person workshops. This reversal—from in-person programs supplemented by online resources to online programs supplemented by in-person interactions—aims to address the economic and logistical challenges we face.