Peer Mediation

You probably need some help the first time you are doing this, so finding a provider of quality peer mediation training is the first step. Use the search function on these pages to search in your area or google Peer Mediation training.

Is the school ready for mediation? Is there a space that can be put aside for confidential mediation – that has an adult(s) nearby? Is there adequate time for the training? Is there an staff member who can be the mediator lead in the school, looking after the mediators, meeting them regularly and doing top-up training?

In a primary setting, mediators are commonly drawn from Year 5 and mediate for a year. This means that in Year 6 they can help train and prepare the new cohort of mediators. However, years 4,5 and 6 have all been trained successfully in the past, including in mixed year group combinations.

In an average size primary school, you might train 24 students to work in pairs on a rota. In a secondary school there is much more variation. We know of schemes where Year 8 students mediate for Year 7s, where some of the 6th Form are trained to mediate for young people from the lower year groups and still others where there are mediators drawn from each year group, mediating for the year below.

Students need to find out what is involved in peer mediation in order to know whether they want to or are suited to mediate. Most training providers will give you materials to run some sessions with a whole year group on conflict and mediation, covering what qualities does a mediator need and what is involved.

Different providers may suggest different methods to choose the potential mediators, it is usually either an election process or an appointment process. Listening is a key skill for mediation, so in many settings quieter children have done very well in mediation roles and having the role has resulted in a growth in their confidence.

Three days training is good practice for new mediators, depending on how much preparatory work has taken place. During the training the provider will build the sense of team among the mediators and develop skills of mediation such as listening, questioning, removing the blame, encouraging problem solving etc.

They will also learn the stages of mediation, the promises of mediators and what situations are suitable for them to mediate and what needs to go to an adult in the school. Finally they will learn how to cope with difficulties that arise in mediation.

At the end of the training, the young people are asked if they want to be a mediator in their school and the trainers will give feedback from having assessed the young people in the role plays of mediation who is ready and who might need further support. It is an important principle of all mediation that it is voluntary and this applies to being a mediator as well as taking part in a mediation.

This is important from the beginning of course, but once the mediators are being trained staff need to be aware and informed about the scheme and how it works. This crucially includes lunchtime supervisors, who are often involved in a part of the mediation training so they can see how it works and trust the young people to be able to carry out their roles. A session at a staff meeting is also an excellent way to make sure that everyone knows about and can encourage use of the scheme.

This will normally form part of the training, but thought needs to be given to how students will learn of the scheme and be encouraged to use it. Young people are usually full of ideas of how to do this including assemblies, posters, going class to class to talk about it etc.

This includes setting the rota for when mediators will be on duty, getting them some form of identification such as badges or tabards, setting up regular meetings with the mediators to check in with them and trouble shoot.

Keeping records of what happens, evaluating outcomes with mediators, disputants and staff.