Per Mediation in Schools

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of peer mediation in schools in Scotland. Peer mediation involves school students acting as impartial third parties to help their peers resolve conflicts, from name-calling and bullying to arguing and fighting. The pupil mediators facilitate communication and conflict resolution by working with their peers to find solutions where both parties feel that the outcome of the agreement reached is fair. This chapter begins by describing how peer mediation works and highlighting its benefits before presenting two case studies that illustrate the two favoured styles of peer mediation: transformative mediation and problem-solving mediation. It also considers the ‘whole community’ approach to peer mediation, recruitment and selection of peer mediators, the sustainability of peer mediation, important issues for schools to take into account before setting up a peer mediation service, and options for peer mediation in Scotland. Finally, the chapter looks at the Scottish Government Education Department's restorative practices pilot programme for peer mediation in schools.