Peer Mentoring: Students Helping Students

This year, as part of a wider anti-bullying initiative, we have introduced a system of peer mentoring in the lower school.

In July, we used the services of the Essex Behaviour Support unit to train approximately 30 students in active listening skills, mediation and problem solving. These students are now attached on a permanent basis to Year 7 and 8 tutor groups, spending tutorial time with them, attending assemblies and being available in the tutor base at lunch time.

The role of mentors is to counsel students who may be experiencing problems with friendships. They cannot hope to solve every difficulty, but the can advise the children when it is necessary to involve an adult and they can provide a sympathetic ear – which is often the most important thing.

The peer mentors have been actively involved in parents’ evenings and spent time talking to the parents of Year 6 students on the September taster days. They have proved a real asset to the school and have also gained a skill which we hope will hope them in good stead throughout their lives.

In October, a number of the peer mentors were involved in making a television programme for Teachers’ T.V. designed to explain and promote the maturity of the students and their ability to discuss their role.

We are delighted with the success of this new venture and will be training the next cohort in the second half of the spring term.

Prefects, some of whom are peer mentors are now also working with all the tutor groups in lower school. They join the tutor groups during tutorial time and help tutors in running these sessions and support the students in the tutor groups generally. It has been amazing to see how mature and proactive these prefects can be when working with younger students.