Peer Mediation (mediation for children and young people in schools)

What is Peer Mediation?
According to the Institute of Citizenship (IOC):
“Peer mediation involves pupil mediators acting as an impartial third party to help their peers resolve conflicts, such as name calling, … arguing and fighting. The pupil mediators facilitate communication, empathy and conflict resolution. The pupil mediators work with their peers to find “win-win” solutions, where both parties feel that the decision is fair.”

Common Ground Mediation can help schools set up their own peer mediation project. For more information contact us.

In the autumn of 2008 Common Ground Mediation trained all the P6 and P7 pupils at Ormiston Primary School, East Lothian in peer mediation. Feedback from the training was overwhelmingly positive:

‘It was enjoyable and we learned a lot’.
‘It was really fun and good Thank You!’
‘Hard Fun’.
‘Peer mediation was good I liked it I felt safe’.

Following the training Ormiston Primary School set up their Peer Mediation Service, and the mediators organised a whole school event  in January 2009 at which they shared their knowledge about how mediation works.

Next, at the Curriculum Evening in May 2009, the mediators delivered training about mediation to parents.  They gave out flashcards to their parents with questions about the steps of mediation and ideas about how to deal with difficult situations.

In May 2009 Common Ground Mediation returned to Ormiston Primary School to meet the mediators again, to review casework and refresh mediation skills.
The feedback was predominantly very positive:   

 
‘I think we help the teachers because if we weren’t here they would have to deal with these silly problems.’
‘I had a case where someone was getting called names by others and that got sorted out.’
‘Some people think that if they’re being asked to come to mediation then they’ve done something wrong, but it’s not that, it’s just that someone is feeling a bit upset.’

Feedback from the Head Teacher:
She said that she is very impressed with the professionalism of the mediators; they are always there on time.  Lots of parents have commented that the mediators have helped their children.  Teachers also say that they don’t have to deal with so many playground incidents.  Pupils are coming in from the playground more settled and ready to learn.  The whole school is aware of the mediation project, and the pupils are finding a language to sort out their own problems; this is of great value to the school.

Peer mediation helps pupils develop:

• New skills
• Team work
• Critical thinking
• Negotiation skills
• Emotional intelligence
• Problem solving skills
• A recognition that they are taken seriously, resulting in increased confidence and self esteem.

What are the potential benefits?
Peer mediation trainers brings added value to schools. If  a whole school approach to peer mediation and conflict resolution is adopted and nurtured, then peer mediation can help to change the culture in schools.
 

Research shows that school communities can benefit from:

• Improved behaviour and attendance
• Improved relationships
• A more inclusive calm, caring environment.
• More teaching time as teachers’ time is less often taken up by resolving
• disputes between pupils.
• The creation of listening and democratic schools.

More information about peer mediation.