Peer Mediation Working Group – Strengthening Practice Through Dialogue
Peer Mediation Working Group – Strengthening Practice Through Dialogue
Gathered at Doughty Street Chambers, members of the Peer Mediation Working Group came together to discuss engaging students, school culture, and what makes peer mediation work in practice. Conversations centred on real challenges, shared insights, and practical ways forward.
REPORT BY VICTORIA HARRIS
On Tuesday 13th May, members of the CMC Peer Mediation Working Group met for an in-person event at Doughty Street Chambers. This diverse group with backgrounds in law, mediation, peace-making and education made the most of a unique opportunity to learn from one another and to share ideas to strengthen the sector.
The common theme of engagement was the thread that ran through the activities expertly planned by Ben Harper.
In small groups ideas for engaging school leaders and school staff were shared looking at what we know works and how we can build on that. Richard Stevens from the Resolution Centre in Jersey reflected on how the values of leadership filter in to school culture.
Engaging children to become peer mediators and also, for those with disputes, how to encourage them to seek out the peer mediation service was also explored. In this section the group looked at looking at how pupils may be selected to become peer mediators and also what barriers or resistance there might be to using a peer mediation service.
Sarah Beckett from Ocker Hill Infant and Nursery School spoke about the positive impact on her school of having a service in situ and how she felt that incorporating peer mediation within teacher training would give a massive boost to school engagement with peer mediation programmes.
The group spoke about the cost of conflict in education impacting everything from learning and teaching time to mental health and teacher retention. Dave Walker from CALM Mediation examined the cost of conflict and compared it to the small daily cost of running a peer scheme in schools.
Discussion circles gave everyone a chance to share their thoughts and there was much to take away from the event which will filter in to a review of the Peer Mediation Network Training Guidelines later this year.
If you wish to become a member of the CMC Peer Mediation Working Group please email our Deputy Chief Executive Victoria Harris to projects@civilmediation.org.
