​​This is a professional learning resource about peer mediation. Peer mediation is a process where those involved in a disagreement volunteer to discuss the issues and explore how best to take matters forward. It requires them to operate within a whole school ethos, which is itself restorative.

How to use this exemplar

This resource includes training materials that can support schools in taking this approach forward in their own context. This resource will support schools when:

• training children and young people to be peer mediators
• explaining to parents what peer mediators are and what benefit they can bring to the work of a school
• further developing staff training in restorative approaches

Explore this exemplar

What was done?

The following two videos show pupils describing what peer mediators do and what impact they have had in their school context. A third video shows a member of staff describing how peer mediators are trained and the impact they have had.

What was the impact?

The children and member of staff describe how children relate better and are more able to resolve minor conflicts. There are also benefits to wider school ethos and to the communication skills of the pupils. Children and young people can be more comfortable talking to someone their own age who understands their concerns and their perspective. Pupils learn to listen to others’ points of view and to accept differences.

Reflective questions

• How can I develop children relationships in my class or school?
• How can I support children to learn how to resolve conflict with respectful dialogue?
• What is our capacity to support peer mediation in our school?

Videos

A pupil's view

Has peer mediation made a difference

A support assistant's view

Downloads

PPT file: Introduction to Peer Mediation for parents (523 KB)

PPT file: Introduction to Peer Mediation for teachers (588 KB)