Peer mediation

The concept of peer mediation entails trained student mediators helping their peers to resolve conflicts. If implemented with appropriate limits, it can prevent teacher involvement in time-consuming disputes. It also develops the life skills of pupil mediators.

There’s no doubt that disputes will arise within any group of children. These disputes can be time-consuming for teachers and, on occasion, they are emotionally draining to settle. But previous schemes have shown that when the mediating task is shared by pupils the results can be extremely effective. Pupils are empowered with the skills of conflict-resolution, and precious teaching time is freed up. Imagine a classroom with minimal bickering, teasing and threatening. Peer mediation is a useful route towards a calmer school environment.

What is peer mediation?

The student mediator is an impartial third party in a dispute between their peers. This pupil facilitates communication, negotiation, understanding and problem-solving between the disputants. Coercion is not an option.

Student mediators should reveal any conflicts of interest that they may have. This ensures that the dispute is dealt with in the most impartial manner possible. Mediators should be taught to recognise when the nature of the dispute has gone beyond their sphere of expertise. They should then refer the matter to another mediator or to an adult. Similarly, all parties should agree not to unnecessarily divulge the details of the problem to others. However, serious elements may need to be reported to a member of the teaching staff, so mediators must be taught the limits of peer mediation.

One of the most crucial components of the mediation process is that it remains non-judgemental. The aim is not for a student to sit in judgement against another. It is to enable useful dialogue to take place and solutions to be sought by the disputants. Evidently, each party should enter into the mediation process voluntarily.

Students acting as peacemakers gain a developmental advantage over those who depend on adult intervention in a dispute. Student mediators learn to manage conflicts and to regulate their own behaviour. This is one reason why schools around the world have adopted peer mediation. These programmes suggest that all pupils are taught how to mediate and offer constructive solutions to conflicts, but there is usually a rotation of ‘duty’ mediators.

Peer mediation and citizenship

A peer mediation scheme develops speaking and listening skills, negotiating and teamwork, emotional intelligence and problem-solving. Having the scheme running in your classroom or school will provide support education on citizenship. The help that pupils can offer to classmates at vulnerable times promotes a sense of belonging. Pupils can see that a community is limited in its effectiveness unless it recognises how disputes, squabbles and arguments impact on others.  

How should we go about setting up the scheme?

There are several ways of setting up peer mediation in schools. Organisations such as Mediation UK will be able to support the process. But for the scheme to be successful there needs to be agreement on the steps of mediation. For example, allowing each disputant to tell their story, then verifying and discussing the stories, before moving towards a solution. Agreed rules on the conduct of participants should also be discussed: being honest, respectful, and listening.

The benefits of peer mediation summarised

• In time, peer mediation can be adopted by all pupils. It will become second nature as they not only identify disputes, but learn the steps necessary to resolve them.
• Pupils can think about the nature of conflict. They can establish that it is not, by any means, always bad. Peer mediation teaches that for all conflicts, a negotiated resolution is possible. Students learn that adult intervention is not always necessary, or practical.
• Once peer mediation is set up in your class or school, it should free up time for teaching and relating to pupils. Conflicts become less likely to jeopardise relationships between pupils, or between staff and pupils.
• Peer mediation can help to develop leadership and language skills. Critical thinking, as well as basic problem-solving, are also improved.
• A reduction in exclusions, violence and even absenteeism could be a by-product of peer mediation.      

As with any initiative in schools, peer mediation has the greatest chance of success with the support of the entire school community. It needs to be administered by an adult team, responsible for its smooth running. But, once set up, it should be pupil-led on a day-to-day basis.

For further information visit Leap at www.leaplinx.com or email info@leaplinx.com. Leap raises awareness of conflicts facing young people in the community, helping them to find possible solutions. Leap coordinates and facilitates the Young Mediators’ Network. It is the only national resource where peer mediators can get their own support, sharing ideas and skills with each other. Leap can be telephoned on 020 7272 5630.

Alternatively, see www.mediationuk.org.uk or email enquiry@mediationuk.org.uk. Mediation UK is a national voluntary organisation dedicated to developing constructive means of resolving conflicts. Mediation UK can be telephoned on 0117 904 6661.

Originally published on Teachernet